Chairman Paraag Marathe spoke to the press earlier this week after Leeds United’s play-off final defeat to Southampton on Sunday.
Marathe was keen to address how Leeds would approach the season and summer ahead after becoming the only one of the three relegated clubs not to win promotion back to the Premier League.
With the EFL’s PSR constraints becoming more of an issue in the second season after relegation, Marathe was quick to assure fans Daniel Farke would have funds to spend this summer.
He also spoke on the future of Archie Gray, what staying down means for Leeds’ Elland Road expansion plans, and the situation regarding the returning loanees.
It has to be said, the majority of what he said was reassuringly positive, even if he didn’t hide away from the fact that some key players will have to depart in the coming weeks.
Hay shares what he noticed on Marathe in Leeds interview
With it almost now 12 months since 49ers Enterprises completed their full buyout of the club, this is only the second time Marathe has spoken publicly in his role as Leeds chairman.
Unlike his predecessor Andrea Radrizzani, Marathe is someone who likes to do his work in silence, and allow those he has appointed in their necessary roles to get on and do their job.
Marathe will have been desperate for Leeds to seal an immediate return to the Premier League so the 49ers could really flex their financial muscle, but unfortunately it wasn’t to be.
However, speaking on the latest episode of the Square Ball Podcast, Phil Hay revealed that having interviewed him earlier this week, Marathe certainly isn’t someone who will ever panic, regardless of the situation.
He said: “He’s definitely not a panic merchant, Marathe. That comes from years and years of being right in the thick of it with the 49ers in the NFL. I know there’s no relegation over there, or no impact in terms of league status depending on how your season goes, but you still do come under pressure when your team underperforms or signings don’t work out when the team is looking poor.
“He knows how that feels. I have always found, though I haven’t spoken to him that much over the years, but when I have, I’ve always found him to be pretty calm, steady and not easily rattled by things such as that [play-offs]. It made sense I thought to nip any talk about Farke in the bud, in the sense of him staying.”
Leeds finally seem in a good place off the pitch
Though clearly Leeds’ ability in the market will be impacted by not going up, it does not feel as though it is in anyway panic stations off the pitch.
With previous owners in years gone by, Leeds simply haven’t had the structure behind-the-scenes of a club that is aspiring to get to the top.
This summer, though, Leeds now have a large recruitment team who will no doubt have already been well prepared for the scenario of staying down, and that is due to what Marathe has done since becoming chairman.
Hopefully the decisions he is making off the pitch will eventually prove beneficial on it soon.