Leeds United manager decision was due Friday after interviews for Daniel Farke, Scott Parker and Patrick Vieira - MOT Leeds News 27/6/23

By George Overhill

Leeds United were supposed to have decided on their new manager on Friday (23 June) yet there still no announcement into the next week, according to Alan Nixon.

The interview process led by Angus Kinnear and Paraag Marathe was reported to have included Daniel Farke and Scott Parker on the basis of their previous achievements in the Championship, as well as Patrick Viera who emerged late but impressed with his presentation [The Athletic, 23 June].

But with that process thought have been carried out over the previous two weeks the delay is dragging on, with plenty of transfer business to conduct, and Nixon isn’t clear what the hold up is.

The Sun journalist responded to a question on Twitter Monday night (26 June) about the appointment to say: “There’s been a process. There was meant to be a decision on Friday. Don’t know what delay is. This happens a lot at clubs with owners all over the place. Wearing.”

It seems likely that the new owners may be waiting for approval of their takeover from Andrea Radrizzani before announcing who their first appointment as manager will be.

But unless they have received some sort of indication from the EFL on the timeframe of the ratification that would be a risky strategy as it continues to push offseason work further and further through the summer.

Players are starting to come back for preseason next weekend and the club is thought to want everything in place by then, and while they may have informally decided on who the next boss is enough for whoever it is to start making moves behind the scenes it would have been preferable to have a solid week in place officially and they are cutting it fine now.

Farke seems like the logical choice after two previous league wins in the second tier, especially in light of the links to former Norwich City colleague Stuart Webber as potential sporting director.

But there have been long-standing links to Vieira in the dug-out as well so there is clearly an attraction to bringing in the former Crystal Palace boss now that he is available.

If a decision has been made behind the scenes it is being kept tightly under wraps, and every other day that passes will have fans increasingly on edge.