Following the Trust’s meeting with Angus Kinnear yesterday, we are providing an update to fans on the topics of our discussion. The main purpose of the meeting was to share the frustrations and the feedback we have received from our members and the wider fanbase, particularly around the playing squad, their contracts and club communication. We collated fans’ feedback in preparation for the discussion and received the following updates:

Jack Harrison

Firstly, we discussed the specific and unexpected loan of Jack Harrison to Everton. We asked if it was the club’s decision for Jack to go on loan. Angus said that the club were equally as disappointed to see Jack leave and significant efforts from the end of last season right up until his departure were made to keep him, but it was symptomatic of the situation we find ourselves in. It is simply more difficult to compete with the lure of the Premier League for many players, as it is with the other top leagues across European football.

Loans and player contracts

Following the topic of Jack Harrison, we pressed Angus on loan and exit clauses in player contracts. We said that fans wanted to understand why the club agreed to these clauses, which appeared to make no sense.

In response, Angus said that the situation stems from the financial position the club were in at the time of contract signings, as previous ownership simply could not have funded the club in the event of relegation (and in the event the 49ers Enterprises’ takeover did not go ahead as a result). This meant it was financially prudent to ensure players would have had to accept significant wage cuts. Angus explained that, when negotiating contracts with players and agents, their insistence was on these exit and/or loan clauses as a trade off for the wage cut clauses. Their position was that if the club were to sign the players and fend off competition for their signatures, the exit clauses needed to be written in. The players that left would have preferred to leave on permanent deals but their market values had fallen behind both their exit clauses and their book value and for profit and sustainability/FFP reasons it is problematic to sell players below their book values. He told us that the loans had saved over £30m in salaries which could be reinvested in players who want to play for Leeds United.  The hope is that their sell-on values would increase again (from the low position of a relegation season) during a year playing on loan, meaning the club will be able to generate profits from player sales.

He added that this contract strategy would not need to continue under the new ownership, but in this instance the club has had to balance retaining “top talent” with building a squad of players who want to wear and fight for the shirt.

Angus stressed that Daniel Farke and the board are working with the players closely to build a squad that is talented, mentally strong and determined to deliver success this season. The belief is that come the closure of the transfer window the players remaining at Elland Road will be the ones Daniel Farke believes can deliver and who are united in the fight. It seemed fitting at this to raise the speculation around Gnonto. It was clear from the conversation that Gnonto is a player the club see as someone who can be a talisman and that should be retained. Angus was keen to get across that if players are here at the end of the window it will be because they are ready for the fight.

Incomings

While we know we are still in the middle of the transfer window and don’t expect the club to discuss specific targets with us, we raised that fans were expecting a more aggressive transfer window, as previously stated by the club. Concerns were put that we are seeing more outgoing than incomings and asked if fans could be re-assured that there are more incomings on the horizon. Currently four players having been signed in this transfer window, with 7 having left on loan or permanently, alongside an extensive injury list. Angus said that he is still very confident that the squad will be much healthier by the end of this transfer window. A number of incoming players are anticipated, with possibly only one further outgoing amongst first team players (we now assume this to be the transfer of Tyler Adams to Bournemouth).

Club Communications

We explained that fans feel there is a general lack of communication from the club – especially at times of big change. We asked the club for more regular updates and reassurances for fans, without the need for this to become a running commentary. We praised Daniel Farke for his recent interview that gave fans an insight and then suggested that the club board engage with fans on other channels such as the club podcasts and programme notes as an example.

Quite rightly, Angus pointed to the difficulties of publicly discussing incomings and outgoings, during a transfer window where negotiations are at key points. But we challenged that it was less around individual detail but again re-assurances to fans that we’re actively looking and ready to build the squad to be competitive. Angus has agreed to hold an in-person Q&A session for Trust members after the transfer window has closed and a provisional date has been agreed for the international break. This will be open to Trust members to attend and a chance for you to put your own questions forward.

Club Finances

We asked directly whether the club are generally in a healthy position financially to compete at this level. Angus said that we are and that with the significant backing of 49ers Enterprises we were in a strong position to be able to compete.

We are sure there are still many unanswered questions for a lot of fans, and we have committed to regular 1-1 meetings with Angus to ensure we can continue to challenge and keep dialogue open.

Angus ended the meeting by saying how everyone at the club is impressed with Daniel Farke and is confident that he will get the best out of those players still at the club, and any coming in during this tumultuous month. Daniel will get the commitment required from players to push the team back in the right direction and calls on the fanbase to continue to show their support for the players and manager whenever they go on the field to represent this great club.

Leeds United Supporters’ Trust

MOT