Leeds considering shock replacement of Daniel Farke

Reports have emerged that Leeds United are considering a shock move to replace Daniel Farke, just days after he guided the club back to the Premier League.

There has been growing dissent against the former Norwich City boss in recent weeks as Leeds’s promotion push faltered, winning just one game in six to briefly fall out of the automatic spots.

The Whites did eventually get over the line with a couple of games to spare after promotion rivals Sheffield United lost five games in six, but Farke’s position isn’t secure, despite taking Leeds back to the top flight.

Leeds were amongst the favourites to go up last season but fell away at the death, with Leicester City and Ipswich Town securing automatic promotion and Leeds having to settle for a play-off spot.

Farke’s men lost the play-off final to Southampton and remained in the second tier, but were widely fancied to go up at the second time of asking, which they’ve done so with relative ease, and could still become only the fifth Championship club to reach 100 points.

However the fortunes of the recently promoted sides to the Premier League suggest it’s as hard as it’s ever been to stay in the top flight, and Leeds are considering drastic action in a bid to secure survival.

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Farke has proven himself as something of a specialist when it comes to getting sides out of the Championship; he took Norwich up in his second term and despite suffering relegation the following season, led the club to another promotion the season after.

His efforts with Leeds means he’s now won three promotions from the Championship, but his record in the Premier League is what has given the owners pause.

In Farke’s defence, he was given next to nothing to spend for the Canaries’ survival bids, but Norwich meekly went down both times, with Farke in charge for six wins across 48 games before being sacked.

Norwich’s approach to the Premier League was to take the money and run, accepting their fate and leaving themselves in a position to rebuild in the Championship, but if Leeds show more ambition, they’ll likely require well in excess of £100m of investment, and they may not trust the German with such an outlay.

The Daily Mail have reported that Leeds’ US-based owners, 49ers Enterprises, are considering parting ways with Farke, but would only do so if they felt a manager became available who they strongly believed would keep them up, and finding such a manager as a newly promoted club these days is easier said than done.

Leeds are 10/11 to go down next season and 4/5 to stay up.

(Odds correct at the time of writing and subject to fluctuation)

Liam Williams

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