Leeds United CEO Criticizes Tyler Adams’ Departure and Discusses Managerial Choices
Leeds United chief executive Angus Kinnear recently expressed his disappointment with the way USMNT midfielder Tyler Adams handled his departure from the club. Adams recently joined Bournemouth for a fee of around £23 million, plus add-ons. The transfer deal was complicated, with Bournemouth believing they had met a time-limited relegation release clause of £20 million, while Leeds maintained that it had expired.
Although the clubs eventually reached an agreement over the transfer, the legal argument surrounding both Adams and Luis Sinisterra’s departure left a bitter taste for Kinnear. According to The Athletic, Adams did not initially agitate to leave during the summer, but as the release clause approached its expiry date and Bournemouth intensified their pursuit, it became clear that he was ready to move on from Leeds.
When asked if he would have wanted Adams and Sinisterra to stay under the circumstances, Kinnear responded with a firm “No.” He acknowledged players’ desires to play at the highest level but criticized their handling of the situation. Kinnear stated that while Leeds United sells itself as a Premier League team on a trajectory to become consistent performers in the league, Adams and Sinisterra did not want to join a Championship side. However, Kinnear believes there are better ways to handle the desire to play at a higher level, emphasizing the importance of discussion and mutual agreement. He expressed disappointment in their behavior towards a club that had taken care of them.
In addition to discussing Adams’ departure, Kinnear also opened up about Leeds United’s previous managerial choices. He admitted surprise at the drop-off under Jesse Marsch, who was chosen to succeed Marcelo Bielsa. Although Marsch managed to stave off relegation at the end of the 2021-22 season, he was sacked midway through the following season, and Leeds was ultimately relegated.
Kinnear acknowledged that finding a manager who could deliver in the same way as Bielsa was challenging. The club believed Marsch’s pressing and running stats would leverage the team’s fitness, but they were disappointed when the fitness levels dropped. They also expected Marsch to bring a more pragmatic style of play better suited to the Premier League. However, the plan did not work out, and Kinnear accepted that it failed both on the field and in terms of recruitment.
After short spells with Javi Gracia and Sam Allardyce, Leeds United, now under new ownership by 49ers Enterprises, has turned to Daniel Farke as their new manager. Farke previously secured promotion to the Premier League twice with Norwich. Kinnear praised Farke’s approach, noting that during contract negotiations, Farke insisted on being called the first-team manager rather than the head coach. This semantic change reflects Farke’s desire to have control over all aspects of the team, similar to Bielsa’s approach. Kinnear believes this is exactly what a club of Leeds United’s size needs.
Leeds United’s CEO also discussed various other topics, including relegation, the club’s new ownership, player sales, and their decision to appoint Farke. Kinnear’s insights provide a glimpse into the inner workings of the club and shed light on their future plans.
In conclusion, Angus Kinnear’s recent interview highlights his disappointment with Tyler Adams’ departure and sheds light on Leeds United’s managerial choices. Kinnear expressed his belief that there are better ways for players to handle their desire to play at a higher level and criticized Adams and Sinisterra for their behavior towards the club. He also discussed the challenges of finding a successor to Marcelo Bielsa and praised Daniel Farke’s approach as the new manager. Leeds United fans will be eager to see how the team performs under Farke’s leadership and whether they can regain their Premier League status.