Leeds United are in for a major upheaval behind the scenes this summer. While Daniel Farke looks to script their promotion tale in the remaining ten games of the season, major changes are set to take place behind the scenes at Elland Road. Angus Kinnear will leave his role as Leeds’ CEO at the end of the season and take up a similar position at Everton. The Whites have already moved to fill up the impending vacuum but there is expected to be more flux at Leeds behind the scenes in the coming month. There is set to be a major reshaping of the management structure at Elland Road and Kinnear’s departure won’t be the last.
Despite dropping five points in their last two league games, there is no denying that Leeds United have been excellent this season and are still favourites to get promoted to the Premier League.
However, ahead of a pivotal summer, Leeds are set to undergo dramatic changes behind the scenes that could have long-term ramifications on the club moving forward.
There is uncertainty around chairman Paraag Marathe, who could acquire Rangers in the coming months, but more importantly, there is set to be a major change behind the scenes due to the impending departure of Kinnear.
He has been at Leeds for eight years and has been a key part of the club’s decision-making process, which includes hiring of managers and recruitment.
Kinnear will jump ship to join Everton, but there are now claimed to be more changes coming to Leeds ahead of the end of the season, which is tied to their outgoing CEO.
Angus Kinnear won’t leave Leeds United alone
Kinnear has been the number one choice for Everton since the new owners took control of the club last year and a deal is now in place for him to move to Merseyside at the end of the season.
His experience of handling stadium transitions at his previous clubs – Arsenal and West Ham – has been a key factor since Everton will move to a new stadium in the summer.
Leeds have a plan in place for Kinnear’s departure but it has been claimed that the bleeding won’t stop at the outgoing CEO for the Yorkshire giants.
According to journalist Alan Nixon, Kinnear is likely to poach two or three key faces from behind the scenes at Leeds and take them with him to Everton.
The outgoing Leeds CEO wants some of his trusted lieutenants to follow him to Goodison Park at the end of the season, where he is keen to have some familiar faces around him.
The two clubs would likely reach a deal for the departures of the two or three key faces, but that would put Leeds in a bind ahead of the summer transfer window.
Leeds would have to move quickly to fill the vacuum soon as ahead of a big summer, the Whites would not want to be shortstaffed in key areas behind the scenes.
49ers must have a plan in place for the departures
Kinnear’s impending departure is already a massive upheaval since he has been at Leeds for eight years and has been a steady hand as their CEO.
They are bringing in an experienced interim in the form of Peter McCormick, who was previously at Leeds as a director and has held chairman’s roles at the FA and the Premier League
However, if Kinnear takes two or three key personnel from the Leeds management to Everton, it would leave a vacuum that must be filled soon.
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If Leeds get promoted to the Premier League, they cannot have gaps in key areas behind the scenes as that could seriously hamper them in the transfer window.
The 49ers may wish to move in a different direction under a new CEO, but they need to have everything in order and the management team lined up before the end of the season.
If the Whites are in the Premier League next season, they will have very little time to waste in the summer and need to start planning of the squad almost immediately.
Having a CEO in place and the rest of the management team sorted out would be paramount if the Whites want to be in a good position to attack the market.
