49ers need to cough up cash for new Leeds United appointment now after key twist
After a relatively smooth and near-perfect start to their time in charge at Leeds United on the pitch, the 49ers Enterprises have finally been hit by their first blow.
It has been confirmed in the past 24 hours [13 November] that Michael Skubala has decided to quit the club to take up a senior management role at Lincoln City.
Despite having little impact on proceedings in the first-team at this moment, this is a big blow for Leeds, who have lost another key member of their set-up.
This is very similar to when Mark Jackson left the club to make the switch to MK Dons.
Both Skubala and Jackson were key figures in the academy set up at Elland Road and helped new managers settle into their roles over the past couple of seasons, even taking charge themselves at times.
Despite not working directly with the first team, Skubala clearly had a great bond with nearly every player in that group, and was there glue between each level at Thorp Arch.
Identity.
This is another opportunity for Paraag Marathe to mould the club and its future in the exact manner he wants.
The Leeds chairman went above and beyond to bring Daniel Farke in over the summer, likely paying a premium price after his time in the Bundesliga with Borussia Monchengladbach.
Now, we could see another example of that, with a potentially adventurous hire on the cards with the help of Farke to help shape the academy to his exact needs.
Having said that, getting that perfect hire may mean that Marathe and the 49ers will need to cough up a larger amount of money than the usual academy appointment.
That would show huge ambition, and while this is an immediate blow to the set-up in West Yorkshire, it may also open the door to a change that could shape the entire club moving forward.
This is certainly one to watch in the near future, with an announcement likely coming soon.
In other Leeds United news, a “good value” permanent exit is now increasingly likely according to Phil Hay.