Uncertainty reigns as Leeds United head into June. The Whites know they will be a second tier club next season, competing in the Championship for the right to win back their place in the Premier League.
But, when it comes to ownership, the director of football, the head coach, recruitment and departures, there are still so many questions to be answered, even after the statement Andrea Radrizzani released on Wednesday night. Indeed, four days into the first week of summer, Leeds remain in a holding pattern as they come to terms with the loss of their top flight status.
Leeds aren’t blessed with an endless amount of time to get things in order this summer. In fact, given the late finish to the top flight campaign and the Championship’s early start, it could well be one of the shortest off-seasons the club has ever seen. It’s vital then that progress is made and things start moving quickly at Elland Road if Leeds are to avoid falling behind the curve.
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It seems there can be some optimism taken from the completion of Andrea Radrizzani’s purchase of relegated Serie A club Sampdoria and the following statement, in which he apologised for the relegation and gave certain assurances. The chairman has been in Italy for the last two weeks with the purpose of thrashing out the deal and news of the agreement was confirmed publicly on Tuesday night.
What that means in regards to his ownership of United and the prospect of a 49ers Enterprises takeover is unconfirmed at this point, but the news is enough to suggest that the wheels could be in motion. Plenty is up in the air and more clear communication is needed from those at the club when it comes to the direction it will be moving in this summer.
However, the green light in Genoa implies answers are on the way, be that Radrizzani’s concrete plans, if he intends to stay, or whether the Sampdoria deal is his way of for plotting life after Leeds, which would surely be the signal the Whites’ minority investors have been waiting for. Radrizzani already knows that any takeover wouldn’t be quite as lucrative as he had initially hoped, with a deal likely to value the club at around £300m less now they’ve been relegated from the top flight.
But, with no guarantees of promotion available, that might be a financial blow he has to take on the chin if he is to pass his majority stake into the 49ers Enterprises’ hands this summer. Even without the possibility of a takeover to consider, there’s plenty of decisions to make as the club begin to plan for what they hope will be a challenge for promotion at the first time of asking.
At present they are without much direction. Dragging their heels much longer simply isn't an option and those days that have already passed since relegation was confirmed on Sunday cannot be allowed to become weeks spent sat on their hands, waiting for some form of action to be taken.
Hopefully Radrizzani’s purchase of Sampdoria represents the first summer domino falling.
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