Graham Smyth explains latest details behind Leeds United’s bid to clear Javi Gracia amid Brexit confusion - YEP 24/2/23

-

The YEP’s sport team has explained the latest as Leeds United attempt to clear new boss Javi Gracia to work.

By Jamie Kemble

Leeds United’s process to get Javi Gracia cleared to manage the team has been detailed.

Gracia was announced as Jesse Marsch’s successor earlier this week, but he is not yet able to get to work. That’s because post-Brexit rules mean managers who don’t automatically have the right to work in the UK must meet certain criteria to get their work permit, and Gracia does not meet the initial criteria.

That doesn’t mean he will not eventually get the clearance he needs to take up his new job, but it does mean the process will take time, likely meaning he will not be officially in charge for this weekend’s relegation six-pointer with bottom club Southampton.

As the situation continues to unfold slowly, Graham Smyth has explained the process, saying on The Inside Elland Road Podcast: “The FA can issue a governing body exemption to the current post-Brexit immigration guidelines. The Home Office and the FA came up with this criteria that managers and players have to meet to take up a post.

“It’s all really based around the calibre of the person you are bringing in. They want the person you are bringing in to have full control of the team, they want the team to not have a manager in place, they also want you to have managed in what they call a ‘top league’ in three years of the last five or two years consecutively out of the last five.

“There is also stipulations over managing an international team, but that doesn’t matter in this case. Gracia hasn’t managed in what they call a ‘top league’ for three years or two years consecutively in the last five. He comes pretty close to the three years given he was at Watford for 18 months in that period, he was at Valencia for nine months and Al-Sadd for six. But the Qatar Stars league does not count because it is not in bands 1-5 that the FA count towards top leagues.

“Band one, you are talking European big five, while Band 5 includes the Chinese Super League and the Polish league. The Qatar league is, I believe, band six, so it doesn’t apply, and Gracia doesn’t quite meet the threshold.

“So, if he doesn’t qualify automatically, which I don’t think he does, he has to go to an exemptions panel, which is convened by the FA, with a legally qualified chair, and then two persons who have relevant experience at the top level of the game. Then, what the club has to do is put together evidence to show that they can be satisfied that this man is of the highest calibre and can make a significant contribution towards football at the top level in this country.”

Popular posts from this blog

The huge initial fee Leeds are set to receive for Crysencio Summerville’s move to West Ham — Leeds United News 31/7/24

-
Will Butcher West Ham United are closing in on a deal to sign Crysencio Summerville from Leeds United, and Ben Jacobs has shared how much Leeds will receive for the Dutchman. The 22-year-old has been strongly linked with the Elland Road exit door all summer and was targeted as the one big sale Leeds needed to make before the Profit & Sustainability Rules deadline this month. But instead, Leeds sold Archie Gray for £40m to Tottenham. Leeds have since sold five more players in the form of Diego Llorente, Marc Roca, Kris Klaesson and Charlie Cresswell – raking in around £60m in total. But more exits were always likely and Fabrizio Romano reported on Wednesday afternoon that West Ham had agreed personal terms with Summerville, and talks for a fee were ongoing with the Yorkshire side. Now, the story has moved on with multiple sources claiming a deal is done between Leeds and Angus Kinnear’s old club. The Dutchman is expected to sign a five-year at the London Stadium, until Jun...
Read more

Leeds United board break silence after transfer window with statement on upcoming Elland Road development — YEP 2/9/24

-
By Joe Donnohue Leeds United have confirmed supporters' commemorative stones at Elland Road's Centenary Square will be replaced free of charge in a bid to improve their longevity. Beginning next month, Leeds supporters' personalised stones will be replaced with exact replicas, courtesy of a new company, to ensure of a 'much better quality' installation. The work is expected to take around two months to complete. An official club statement confirmed 'three larger stones dedicated to former managers Don Revie, Howard Wilkinson and Marcelo Bielsa' will also be installed, 'similar to those located in Bremner Square', while additional space for supporters to purchase new stones has also been factored into the project. “The club have taken on board recent feedback from supporters on the stones at Centenary Square, and we are really happy that we can now announce that all of the stones will be replaced," chief executive Angus Kinnear confirmed,...
Read more

Leeds United transfer state of play as Whites knock back low bid and assert wing pair stance — YEP 3/7/24

-
By Graham Smyth Leeds United are not actively looking to cash in on Crysencio Summerville and Willy Gnonto and believe any further outgoing transfer business will be done on their terms. The Whites, who sold Archie Gray to Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday for £40m, expect that there will be continued interest in wing pair Summerville and Gnonto as the summer transfer window progresses. Summerville has been a target for Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion but their interest has not yet materialised into a bid. The Albion did, however, send a £30m proposal for Georginio Rutter, which Elland Road chiefs rejected. Rutter is not expected to try and force an exit this summer and appears settled at Leeds after a far more positive second season in English football. The sale of Gray has helped put Leeds into a position where they do not need to sell star players and can dictate any moves that do happen. Club sources say they are not actively looking to sell the likes of Summerville o...
Read more