Graham Smyth believes Daniel Farke’s future at Leeds United is no longer “as certain as it once did” following recent occurrences.
On 15 September, a journalist for the Yorkshire Evening Post stated on the paper’s website that pressure was “always” going to be on the German this season after failing to secure promotion last season, and it is now “unknown” how his link with the 49ers will hold up if the pressure increases.
The Whites were beaten 1-0 at home by Burnley on September 14, leaving them five points behind the Championship pace in ninth place, while Farke’s indications of dissatisfaction with the transfer window have “hinted that the relationship between manager and club might not be as entirely structurally sound as originally thought”.
CEO Angus Kinnear admits to “tension” over the summer [The Square Ball, 12 September], dismissing it as nothing more than what happens at any club and believing Farke is the perfect manager for Leeds right now.
But Smyth asked, “And what about the right manager for where Leeds United will be in a year’s time?” The question naturally arose as Kinnear’s statement hovered in the air.
“There is, of course, only one way Farke will be at Leeds in September 2025: if they play Premier League football.
“Even then, it does not feel as certain as it once did, because of the way the window played out, because of what he said, what Kinnear said and what fans were left saying after the 1-0 defeat by Burnley.”
Leeds United manager’s bond with the 49ers is in jeopardy.
No relationship remains untouched when enormous strain is exerted, even if it survives, so it’s no wonder that the situation at Elland Road isn’t looking so well a year later.
Missing out on a quick return to the Premier League was not part of the plan, forcing the Whites to address financial challenges they could have avoided.
Farke’s comments about the club not signing a number 10 to replace Georginio Rutter were the first public indication that the mask was slipping slightly [Smyth, 2 September].
The 49ers may claim that the manager and his players should have ensured promotion if they did not want such complications to occur, while the German may legitimately query why the club was not better prepared for star departures.
Arguably, neither side has done their complete job, since Leeds were scurrying late in the window to replace players like Rutter and Crysencio Summerville, despite knowing the release terms in their contracts.
Despite having those talents in his side last season, Farke appeared to be out of ideas as the Whites struggled to break down Burnley at the weekend.
Granted, if Mateo Joseph and Willy Gnonto had scored fantastic first-half chances, it would have made little difference, but none of the substitutions helped when down after the break.
A first league loss of the season does not have to be disastrous, but it appears that there are fault lines at Elland Road that could become an issue if the team does not maintain its lead at the top of the table early.
