Sam Allardyce has called on Leeds United’s ownership situation to be resolved as the club faces up to life back in the Championship. In a statement, both Allardyce and the club apologised for the relegation that was confirmed by a 4-1 home loss to Tottenham, with Leeds also stating they are in a “strong position” to mount an immediate promotion bid. However, Allardyce feels the ownership issue has to be resolved as a priority. It is understood a deal is in place for the owners of the San Francisco 49ers, who currently own 44% of the club, to complete a full sale by buying chairman Andrea Radrizzani’s remaining shares in a deal that could ultimately be worth £500m. Radrizzani bought Leeds for £45m in 2017 and there have been reports that there is no fall-back figure in the event of relegation, which would inevitably impact the valuation of the club.
Allardyce says he is likely to have talks with the club hierarchy in the coming days about whether he will stay on after initially only signing a contract for the final four games of the season. He does have the experience of Championship promotion campaigns with Bolton and West Ham, but he accepts no decision has been made from either side about his continued presence at Elland Road. Leeds’ statement called relegation “painful” and admitted this season’s efforts had “not been good enough”. However, it added that “behind the scenes we have worked hard to ensure that the past will not be repeated. Our focus is now on how we get straight back to the Premier League” and “Leeds United remains in a strong position to build a team that can challenge for promotion from the Championship next season”. Allardyce feels the addition of a goalscorer could make that aim a reality.
There is uncertainty over some key members of the Leeds squad, such as Jack Harrison, Tyler Adams, Illan Meslier, Robin Koch and Wilfried Gnonto, who are likely to have their suitors. Decisions must also be made about the youngsters who have spent this season out on loan, including Charlie Cresswell and Joe Gelhardt, plus defender Cody Drameh. Moving some members of the Leeds squad on may not be easy as striker Georginio Rutter was signed in January in a deal that could eventually cost Leeds £36m.
As the day panned out, Leeds could not have saved themselves. However, the manner of their defeat to Tottenham summed up their season as a whole. Needing to win, they conceded after two minutes, conceded a second two minutes into the second half and a third two minutes after Harrison had halved the deficit. While Allardyce called Leeds’ finishing “inept”, his most damning words were for the goals Leeds conceded. He said they had “gifted” three goals and that they should have learned from their mistakes. Allardyce believes recruitment is 100% the most important factor in building a squad and that a coach might add one or two percent but it is the better and more intelligent players who make you a better coach.