Doubt cast over Daniel Farke’s Leeds United future with 49ers tipped to ‘take a fresh view’ in 2025 — Leeds United News 8/1/25
Luke Phelps
Leeds United’s form has dipped of late. The Whites are so
far winless in 2025 whilst those behind them in the Championship table have
found form. Inevitably, it’s led to some unrest among fans, with anger aimed at
Daniel Farke and his players.
So far, the New Year hasn’t been a happy one for Leeds
United. Last time out, Leeds drew 3-3 against Hull City, despite leading the
game 3-1 at one point. But a nightmare performance from Illan Meslier played a
huge part in the Tigers’ eventual comeback.
Whilst a lot of Leeds fans are angry at Meslier for those
dropped points, there’s also plenty of Leeds fans questioning Daniel Farke. The
German hasn’t had complete support of the Leeds fans since last season’s
play-off final defeat, despite the team starting well this season.
After the opening 26 games of the 2024/25 season, Leeds sit
in 1st place of the Championship table but now boast a one-point lead over
Burnley in 2nd and Sheffield United in 3rd, with Sunderland in 4th now just
three points behind.
Writing in a recent Q&A on Yorkshire Evening Post,
journalist Graham Smyth was asked about Farke’s position at Elland Road, and
the possibility of the 49ers sacking Farke should Leeds earn promotion to the
Premier League.
Smyth responded: “You do have to wonder though if Farke’s
position will be rock solid even in the event of promotion. It is not beyond
the realms of possibility that the owners take a fresh view in the summer based
on the gulf in standard between the Championship and the Premier League.
“There was the transfer tension in the summer, there’s a
section of fans who have not taken to Farke or not forgiven him for coming so
close to promotion without securing it, there’s rumbling in the fanbase about
the entertainment levels being delivered.
“There’s always something for a manager to battle, away from
the game itself, and owners are never deaf to that noise.”
Farke is aiming for what would be a third career promotion
from the Championship as a manager, having won the title outright with Norwich
City in 2019 and again in 2021.
But in 49 Premier League matches in charge of Norwich City,
Farke won just six. He lost 35 and conceded a staggering 101 goals in those 49
games, so there’ll be inevitable caution about Farke leading the Whites into
the top flight.
But when Leeds appointed Farke in the summer of 2023, the
club handed him a four-year deal. That may already signal the club’s intentions
to stick with Farke should they earn promotion this season.
And Norwich City was a different challenge in itself. Their
investment and recruitment was poor overall whereas Leeds may assume that their
recruitment would be much more thought out, and likely boast a bit more capital
too.