Sam Allardyce opens up on possible Leeds United return and gives latest on 49ers takeover talks - Leeds Live 7/6/23
The outgoing Leeds United manager says he could return to the club in a director of football role.
Outgoing Leeds United boss Sam Allardyce says he would love
to return to the club in a director of football role despite parting company at
the end of last season. The former Whites boss claims ex-sporting director
Victor Orta was the reason behind his appointment coming so late in the season,
with Javi Gracia the preferred choice following Jesse Marsch's dismissal.
Allardyce picked up just one point from his four games in
charge of the club but has thrown his support behind his backroom staff, Karl
Robinson and Robbie Keane who he believes should take on the role.
Allardyce told the No Toppy Tappy Football podcast: "If
I could stay in touch with Leeds, I'd only be too happy in a different position
in terms of helping restructure from behind and not on the frontline, where it
hits you the most. If that's the case I'd be only too willing to talk to them.
"In my short spell, as much as it was disappointing we
didn't get there, it's such a big club and such a great club, such a great
bunch of fans and I'd be only too willing to help restructure in terms of where
the club wants to go in it's short and long-term future.
"My feeling is that, the need is now, obviously at the
top end there's a bit of a dispute about the ownership of the club. Is it with
Andrea and the 49ers or do the 49ers want to buy it out? Andrea isn't getting
the price he wants by the sound of it and that causes a lot of confusion when
there really doesn't need to be any confusion.
"There needs to be a track set out and follow
that."
When asked if he was in talks with Leeds United about a
sporting director role, Allardyce said: "Not at the moment. Angus Kinnear
who I've known exceptionally well from his West Ham days when we worked
together.
"He saw me work there, in all fairness Angus would have
wanted me in a lot sooner and I would have wanted to be in a lot sooner but I
think that was the Director of Football at the time that poo-pooed that
situation.
"I've known him an awful long time and he's a key
element in the whole structure at Leeds United. I think going in the right
direction and planning out as quickly as you can is what you want to do and if
I'm involved in that, I'd be only too happy to."
The ongoing ownership issue at Leeds United needs resolved
before any managerial or sporting director appointments can be made, with the
Whites hopeful of returning to the Premier League. Allardyce claims the
takeover with 49ers Enterprises was a done deal, had they managed to stave off
relegation, but now talks are ongoing over a reduced asking price.
"He is reducing his price to the 49ers," Allardyce
added. "I have no real knowledge of what both financial positions are but what
are the financial implications for both parties?
"I think Leeds, we all know, to try and get back up
again they're going to have to lose money next season and who can afford to do
that? Which party? Can both parties come together and say we're probably
looking at a loss of this amount and can you afford that loss?
"I know the 49ers want to buy it and I know the 49ers
had it bought had I stayed up, which would have been the ideal scenario for
Andrea, for me and for everybody. Unfortunately that didn't happen but I think
if he's looking elsewhere, which I hear rumours he's looking to buy Sampdoria,
I don't know how true that is, then he's almost choosing that he wants to go
somewhere else.