Good Morning. It's Friday 7th March, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road YEP categorically deny Arabi rumours Following widespread reports of Angus Kinnear's anticipated departure to Everton, Leeds United’s ownership group, 49ers Enterprises, are reportedly exploring potential candidates for the crucial Chief Executive Officer position. Among the names surfacing as a strong contender is German football executive, Samir Arabi. According to Sky Sports Germany, Arabi is firmly on Leeds United’s shortlist as they seek to restructure their executive leadership. Arabi, currently unattached, boasts a wealth of experience garnered from years of dedicated service in German football, most notably during his lengthy tenure at Arminia Bielefeld. Leeds United are understood to be prioritising the appointment of a CEO who can provide substantial support to manager Daniel Farke, particularly with regards to strategic recruitment and navigating the complexities of the transfer market. Arabi’s career to date, entirely within the German football landscape, positions him as an intriguing candidate with a potentially different perspective. During his twelve years at Arminia Bielefeld, and prior to that at Aachen, Arabi demonstrated resilience and expertise in managing both periods of success and adversity, frequently operating under financial constraints. His accomplishments include guiding Bielefeld to Bundesliga promotion, alongside the less desirable experience of managing subsequent relegations. After a two-year hiatus from club football since his departure from Bielefeld in March 2023, Arabi's emergence as a potential leader at Elland Road signifies a significant opportunity for both the individual and the club. However the Yorkshire Evening Post have swiftly and emphatically refuted any interest in Arabi. The publication stated unequivocally that there is “zero” interest in the German executive. The strength of this denial is noteworthy and may be linked to the close professional relationship Arabi shares with current Leeds United manager, Daniel Farke. The connection between Arabi and Farke stretches back to Farke’s early managerial career. When Farke was managing amateur club SV Lippstadt (between 2009 and 2015), he undertook an internship at Arminia Bielefeld where Samir Arabi was already established as the club’s sporting director. Their professional association and long-standing acquaintance are well-documented. This existing rapport, as highlighted in a Sky report, raises the possibility of a reunion at Elland Road. Should 49ers Enterprises ultimately decide to appoint a close associate of Daniel Farke to the CEO role, it would serve as a strong indication of their confidence in Farke’s long-term vision for Leeds United. Such a move could be interpreted as a clear commitment to Farke's continued leadership, particularly as the club aims to secure promotion back to the Premier League in the upcoming season. While Leeds United have officially dismissed the rumours, the potential appointment of Arabi remains a compelling narrative within the ongoing restructuring of the club's hierarchy. please log in to view this image Double scoop - Leeds Dominate EFL Awards Leeds United dominated the monthly EFL awards for February, with Daniel Farke picking up the Manager of the month award and Dan James scooping best player. These awards are a direct reflection of the Whites impeccable performance throughout February. The club achieved a flawless record, securing victory in all five of their Championship fixtures including coming from behind to beat promotion rivals Sunderland and Sheffield Utd. With eleven games remaining, Leeds’ current form strongly suggests a return to the Premier League is firmly within their grasp. Their relentless pursuit of promotion has propelled them to the top of the league table, where they currently hold a three-point lead over the Blades, and a significant five-point advantage over third-place Burnley. The accolades bestowed upon Daniel Farke and Dan James are well-deserved acknowledgements of their critical contributions to Leeds’ February success. Daniel Farke's tactical expertise was instrumental in orchestrating his team's victories, most notably a sensational 7-0 triumph over Cardiff City. Upon receiving the Manager of the Month award, Farke modestly attributed the success to collective effort, stating, “We were delighted to win all of our matches in February, which was a great collective achievement. This award is a result of the hard work of everyone involved and we hope to continue in the same vein.” Danny Wilson, Chair of the Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month judging panel, reinforced this view, commenting, “With the race hotting up for the top two places in the Championship, Farke and his side put pressure on the chasing pack with a 15-point return from their five games in February. They put seven goals past Cardiff, but more importantly, beat close rivals Sheff United and Sunderland.” Equally deserving of recognition is Dan James, who has been a consistently influential figure for The Whites. The Welsh winger demonstrated exceptional attacking prowess throughout February, delivering an impressive three goals and four assists. His impactful and consistent performances rightfully earned him the Player of the Month award. Sharing his gratitude for the award, James emphasized the team's unified efforts. “The last month has been great for the whole team and we put together a brilliant winning run. It’s nice to be recognised and win individual accolades, but I couldn’t do it without my teammates,” he stated. please log in to view this image
Morning all Surprised Burnley didn't win all the awards with their five or six nil nil draws. SKY were certainly excited about them.
Morning all No point appointing a CEO just because of history with Farke, everyone knows Farke will be sacked by November. Crikey, I think there is an Eiritis Epidemic going round
Bamford slowly back in full training. Wober back after international break. Ampadu responding positively so far and is on track to be back after the international break. Joseph fully fit after his knock last weekend.
He left on a free presumably Have Everton inserted a 60% wage cut or loan deal option for him in case of relegation?
No. Apparently we’re paying his wages at Everton for first season. They want to try before they buy ….. again
that's ok... even if we pay his wages, we can amortize his value.... err... or something... whatever accounants do so it looks like we actually made a profit even though we quite clearly really didn't Are we getting Jack Harrison back as a swap deal? I imagine Jack could make a good job of rebuilding Elland Road ( he probably needs to retrain so why not construction?). Either way, if Jack just sat drinking cups of tea all day, scratching his arse and wolf-whistling at anything in a skirt, he'd still make more progress than Angus... the guy who was brought in to us as a stadium re-development specialist.
Pathetic isn't it. I didn't mind Kinnear to be honest but the stadium progress was a joke. He even ended up roasting himself about it.
I know others will disagree but tbh, I thought he did quite well overall. He latterly was prepared to be interviewed at length by one of the fan groups, each season. Apparently nothing was off the table, he didn’t duck stuff, though there was clearly some stuff he couldn’t discuss in detail. He was prepared to laugh at himself. He seemed ok to me, he was a (very well paid) employee who is required to tow the company line. Re the stadium upgrade that’s down to the 49’s. Clearly Radz never had the means to kick that off. However If we clinch promotion, then they will be held to account, if redevelopment doesn’t follow. Personally I can’t see any way, even if things were to happen quickly, that construction would happen till 2026 or 2027 at the earliest.
