Norwich City’s Stuart Webber has claimed he has received no contact from Leeds United regarding replacing Victor Orta as the club’s new sporting director.
Webber was speaking in an interview with the Athletic last week, where he claimed Leeds’ reported interest remains all ‘hypothetical’ at this stage.
The 39-year-old is one of two names to have been linked with the vacant role at Elland Road, with Middlesbrough’s Kieran Scott also having been mentioned.
That said, the Whites are reported to have not yet made any progress on appointing Orta’s successor, amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding the ownership, and, of course, what division they will be playing in next season.
Webber reveals no Leeds contact
Despite his age, Webber already has an abundance of experience in similar roles during his career, finding success at both Norwich and Huddersfield Town.
Webber oversaw the Terriers’ promotion to the Premier League in 2016, and has also been involved two Championship title winning seasons in East Anglia.
He has, however, come in for criticism from Canaries supporters in the last 12 months after two failed attempts at securing Premier League survival, and a very poor campaign this term.
In the aforementioned interview, Webber reiterated his desire to Norwich, before insisting he has received no approach from his boyhood club Leeds to replace Orta.
He said: “We’ve still got some things to achieve here. The training ground is not quite finished and that’s something I started. I want to leave this looking like a Premier League club. We’re close to that. Very close.
“Ultimately my future is important to my staff, players and the people who matter. I don’t know. It’s hypothetical. They [Leeds] haven’t rung, so let’s see if they ring.”
Stay away. Leeds can and should be aiming much higher than this in their push for a new sporting director, with fan protests at Norwich hardly a ringing endorsement.
While he does have promotions on his CV, his inability to build a team to compete in the Premier League suggests he does not have what it takes to really take Leeds forward.