Tony Dorigo has written in his Yorkshire Evening Post column that a Leeds United takeover has got to be done sooner rather than later and should have been on the agenda at 9am on Monday – so the club can move forward.
The lingering prospect of the 49ers buying out Andrea Radrizzani has loomed over Leeds for some time now. The 49ers have a stake of 44%, Radrizzani still has the majority at 56%. But there are agreements and clauses in place.
Basically, the overriding belief is that the 49ers will buy Leeds outright from Radrizzani. Survival means a takeover will occur this summer. Relegation – well, who knows? Does Radrizzani stay, hoping for an instant return to the top?
Or does he admit defeat, and sell for a smaller price that being in the Championship brings? Who knows – but he did perhaps show his cards, when arriving at Sampdoria’s training base this week, admitting he wants to buy the club.
With relegation now on the cards, Leeds need to sort out upstairs. A new manager, director of football and many transfers in and out will take place. None of that can happen without the board being sorted. Dorigo commented.
“The takeover. That in the background for such a long period of time hasn’t helped. If we go down, what needs to change, what is going to happen? It has to look different. It’s difficult but the sooner it’s resolved the better.
“That will be the first thing on the agenda at 9am on Monday. There’s still a tiny glimmer of hope and we’ve got to somehow grab onto that, the football still has to come first, but I’d expect big changes afoot for the summer.”
Dorigo: Leeds takeover should have been on agenda at 9am on Monday
It is a real worry. Leeds are going to go down this weekend, unless something crazy happens. Leeds fans have, for some time, been dreading the worst. That at least, makes Sunday easier to swallow when the inevitable happens.
But after Sunday, what happens? Leeds cannot appoint a sign players without appointing a manager, we cannot bring in a manager without a director of football and without sorting out the takeover – we cannot bring in a DoF.
If, and when, we do go down, an instant return to the Premier League is crucial – especially with the first season being our best chance, due to parachute payments. Everything needs to be sorted out, and as quickly as possible.
