The 49ers Enterprises would be expected to keep director of football Victor Orta and managing director Angus Kinnear at the club should they increase their control of Leeds United…
What’s the word?
That is according to the ever-reliable Phil Hay of The Athletic, who dropped a pretty intriguing claim during a pre-game Q&A on Wednesday, where he replied to one supporter’s question about the futures of the two.
“If and when the 49ers do acquire more shares, I’m pretty sure they’d want to keep both Kinnear and Orta on board. I get the frustration and I can see why the programme notes might have riled you. This season hasn’t gone to plan. But over the course of four years with Bielsa, they’re very much in credit I feel. If Leeds stay up, the question from here will be how the club regain their old impetus.”
Right call?
This is unlikely to go down well with much of the Elland Road faithful as many have been left frustrated by the way in which they conduct business and the recent January transfer window was another reminder of that.
The Yorkshire giants failed to bolster Marcelo Bielsa’s playing squad with a single signing, leaving the Argentine head coach hugely light on options due to an ongoing injury crisis.
And whilst that is showing signs of easing up, it’s still not a good situation as there are several first-team stars on the treatment table right now, including last season’s top goalscorer Patrick Bamford, influential midfielder Kalvin Phillps and captain Liam Cooper.
For instance, Bamford does not have any backup, so Bielsa has been without a senior centre-forward for the bulk of the season, whilst no one can play the Phillips role like the man himself.
Leeds have now gone eight transfer windows (four years) without signing a central midfielder with the last signing being Adam Forshaw from Middlesbrough in January 2018.
That’s just not good enough and the fault somewhat lies at the feet of the Spanish supremo, who has a very dubious relationship with the fanbase, especially after he was seen ‘violently gesturing’ with supporters in the stands at Elland Road earlier this season.
Any anger towards Kinnear is probably a bit misguided but the fact that Orta could be kept on with increasing involvement from the 49ers is certainly going to be a cause for concern for many fans.
On some occasions, he has delivered with impressive signings – the likes of Pascal Struijk and Raphinha spring to mind – but this season has been a reminder that he has his faults and if Leeds want to elevate themselves onto the next level, which further investment would hint at, then they maybe need to move on from the Spaniard.
This claim from Hay isn’t likely to sit well.
AND in other news, Signed for £5m, now worth 740% more: Leeds struck gold with £42m-rated “rare talent”…