Phil Hay delivers Bielsa update with Leeds contract set to expire before season end
Athletic journalist Phil Hay has said that he can’t see Marcelo Bielsa “walking away” after one Leeds United fan asked about his contract running down.
Hay said Leeds were now waiting for FIFA to provide “firm guidance” on expiring contracts.
Bielsa agreed to another 12 months with Leeds after narrowly missing out on promotion last season.
That happened at the end of May last year with Andrea Radrizzani quoted as saying they were going to “have another go”. [Guardian]
Writing on Twitter, one Leeds fan asked, “Know it’s not been at the forefront of anyone’s minds and the world/footballing world have a lot going on just now… but Bielsa’s contract runs out in just over 2 months, any chance you know if club have been discussing anything with him covering every eventuality?”
Hay responded saying, “I don’t see him walking away with things poised like this – but everyone is waiting for firm guidance from FIFA about how expiring contracts will be managed.”
He added that this was “one of a million issues at the moment.”
Bielsa had previously said it would be hard to reach the same heights with the same group of players but, if anything, he’s made them even better this season.
With football currently suspended, Leeds are top of the Championship and seven points clear of Fulham in third with nine games to play.
With the 19/20 season likely to run late, contracts are going to be a big issue going forward – mainly for players but, as the Leeds’ case shows, for managers too.
We can’t see Bielsa walking away. He’s stayed in Leeds whole the crisis has been going on, despite being given the option to return to his family in Argentina.
The issue of contracts expiring has been labelled a “nightmare” [Athletic] but we can only really see this being an issue where players/managers aren’t happy.
Bielsa seems wedded to the Leeds cause at the moment, although some clarity would be good to put the fears of Leeds fans to rest.
In other Leeds United news, Billionaire-owned club want to extend contract of goal-scoring CB and loan him to Leeds – report