Angus Kinnear makes bold Leeds United academy claim amid Stuart Dallas future plans — YEP 8/5/24
By Kyle Newbould
The Leeds United chief executive has been speaking to fans
about the academy, Stuart Dallas and the decision to scrap FA Cup replays among
other topics.
Angus Kinnear insists Leeds United’s academy set up is among
the most productive in the country for bringing through home grown talent.
United’s under-18s have been in the spotlight recently after
reaching the FA Youth Cup final, where they face Manchester City at the Etihad
on Friday evening. Rob Etherington’s side will look to win the coveted trophy
for the just the third time in the club’s history, with the likes of Charlie
Crew and Daniel Toulson looking to follow in the footsteps of past Whites
prospects.
Academy progression has always been at the forefront of
Leeds’ identity and other recent examples include the likes of Charlie
Cresswell and Archie Gray, with the latter now among the country’s most
promising young stars. And Kinnear believes that path to senior football has
been key to the academy’s success.
The club recently released minutes of a Supporter Advisory
Board (SAB) meeting that took place at Elland road last month, with chief
executive Kinnear pointing towards the FA Youth Cup team as a clear example of
a well-run academy.
Minutes from the report read: “AK [Kinnear] says he believes
the academy is strong for homegrown talent. It says LUFC is in the top eight UK
academies for productivity. He says a clear path into the first team is
important for academy players. The club recruited a new academy manager (Martin
Diggle) and also a great achievement to reach the final of the FA Youth Cup,
showing more progress.”
At the other end of the footballer life-cycle, Stuart Dallas
announced his retirement from playing last month. The 33-year-old has not
kicked a ball for over two years after suffering a fractured femur during a
nasty collision with Manchester City’s Jack Grealish.
Dallas remains a much-loved figure at Leeds, having been
central to Marcelo Bielsa’s promotion-winning side, but the midfielder’s
contract was due to expire in the summer and the prospect of playing football
remained some way off. The Northern Ireland international has spent nine years
of his career at Elland Road and Kinnear appeared to suggest that could be
extended.
More notes from the SAB confirmed that Kinnear and those in
charge at Leeds had been looking at ways to keep Dallas involved beyond this
season. The Whites chief also revealed that Dallas is ‘extremely thankful for
all support received’.
Kinnear also had his say on the controversial decision to
scrap FA Cup replays from next season. The shock decision was announced last
month with the FA insisting ‘all parties’ had accepted the proposals amid
ongoing concerns over player welfare.
But a number of English Football League (EFL) clubs
suggested otherwise, with replays often providing a much-needed cash boost to
the lower leagues, particularly when up against Premier League or well-followed
Championship teams such as Leeds. And a ‘disappointed’ Kinnear outlined the
club’s clear stance during the meeting, echoing other EFL clubs in stating the
72 member clubs were ‘not part of the decision’.
