The process to find Jesse Marsch’s replacement is already underway and Leeds United are hopeful of making a quick appointment. Time is not on their side with Premier League games coming thick and fast over the next few weeks but it would benefit the Whites to find a successor quickly.
Only 18 league games remain and therefore, the more time he can have at Thorp Arch to work with his inherited squad, the better. Shortlists have been drawn up and some big decisions will be made in the coming days and weeks, but who will be making them?
As the majority shareholder Andrea Radrizzani’s voice is the loudest. The Italian owns 56 per cent of shares and therefore he is the man with the most responsibility resting on his shoulders to make the right call on the new head coach.
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However, the influence of minority shareholders 49ers Enterprises has been growing increasingly bigger in recent times, it seems. The investment arm of NFL franchise San Francisco 49ers own 44 per cent of the club at present, but the suggestion is that they are gearing up to complete a full takeover at Elland Road in the not-too-distant future.
Reports in November stated the Americans were putting the necessary funds in place to activate the option they hold to acquire the club outright before January 2024. It has also been claimed that they could be keen to push through the deal in summer.
As such, they have been having a bigger say in certain decisions, with The Athletic claiming they were the driving force behind the addition of Georginio Rutter and it’s thought their influence was pivotal when it came to fighting off interest in Jack Harrison on deadline day, too.
Paraag Marathe represents the 49ers in the boardroom with the rest of the board being made up by Radrizzani, chief executive Angus Kinnear, Peter Lowy, Sandro Menucci and Massimo Marinelli. They all have a say.
Ultimately, though, the opinion of sporting director Victor Orta is trusted implicitly. Orta is the man who draws up the shortlists, he scouts targets and starts negotiations. As such, Orta’s recommendations generally carry a lot of influence even if he isn’t the man signing things off.
It stands to be an interesting few days throughout the corridors of power at Elland Road, that is for certain.
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