Brian Barry-Murphy once labelled new Leeds United staff arrival ‘exceptional’
Leeds United have poached Matthew Jenkins from Cardiff City.
He had been with the South Wales outfit for eight years, working his way up to Chief Analyst position.
He will work as a First Team Performance Analyst at Elland Road, helping Daniel Farke's side to make decisions about the team.
MOT Leeds News has regularly covered Leeds' staffing changes including when they overhauled their sporting leadership in 2024.
The structure has been refined since then, and the hope will be that Jenkins can help the Whites expand on their 14th place finish in the Premier League last season.
The new LS11 man has already earned significant praise from Bluebirds boss Brian Barry-Murphy.
What did Brian Barry-Murphy say about new Leeds staff member Matthew Jenkins?
The 36-year-old took to LinkedIn and changed his profile to reflect his move to the LS11 club, but has not posted a message to say goodbye or confirm his move.
It will be an emotional exit, given his journey through the ranks with the Welsh EFL side, and he has made a big impact in Barry-Murphy's time there.
The chance to work with the likes of Ethan Ampadu and Harry Wilson was likely tempting.
The 47-year-old has viewed the new Peacocks staff member as a key asset, and that is clear from quotes he made in August 2025 about him.
In quotes reported by Wales Online, the former Leicester City boss said: “What I’ve been blessed with is Matt Jenks has been there for a long time.
“He’s Cardiff through and through and his level of work is of the highest quality.
“So one of the biggest things I wanted to do with the squad, and with the staff, was to secure the numbers of staff who are exceptional at the job, which he is, and to make him really valuable.”
Why Jenkins' arrival could help Leeds with marginal gains
The 49ers Enterprises group are always looking for marginal gains, and adding another voice into the analyst room helps them to achieve that.
The top-flight of English football and their status within it, will no doubt be helped by Jenkins' knowledge and potentially different approaches that he will bring.
While supporters often focus on the names on the pitch, often it is those off it, that have the biggest affect on how the campaign progresses.
Jenkins' name will likely be lost in amongst the coverage of the team and how they perform, but his impact may well be felt greatly in the squad for the upcoming season.
Only time will tell how he does in Yorkshire, but Barry-Murphy's praise is a glowing reflection on what Leeds are adding to their ranks, and hopefully he can rub off the same way on Farke in his time with the Whites.