Leeds United are considering sacking manager Daniel Farke this summer, despite leading the club back to the Premier League.
The Whites recorded an emphatic 6-0 win over Stoke City on Easter Monday to put them on the brink of promotion. This was confirmed only hours later when nearest challengers Burnley beat third-placed Sheffield United at Turf Moor, a result which also saw Scott Parker’s side guaranteed a top two finish.
The two sides are now in a fight to be crowned champions. They are locked on points with two games remaining, although Leeds do possess a vastly superior goal difference.
Farke’s Premier League Record A Concern
Should the Yorkshire side lift the Championship title, it will be Farke’s third triumph in this division. He twice won the division with Norwich City in 2019 and 2021, although he suffered instant relegation from the Premier League in 2020 before he was sacked just three months into the 2021/22 season.
It’s this record which is reportedly a concern to Leeds’ owners, 49ers Enterprises. According to The Daily Mail, potential replacements are being explored, although they are unlikely to pull the plug unless they are confident the right man can be found.
The Elland Road chiefs are well aware that all three promoted clubs have been relegated back to the Championship at the first time of asking in the last two seasons, with the ever-growing gulf seemingly increasing year by year. As such, they are keen to ensure that they give the club the best possible opportunity to survive.
Farke joined Leeds in 2023, penning a four year contract. His first season saw him lose out on automatic promotion, despite finishing the campaign on 90 points. They subsequently lost in the play-off final against Southampton last May.
Writer’s View
Given Farke’s success, this would be a very harsh decision. However, playing devil’s advocate, his record in the Premier League is exceptionally poor so it is perhaps right to question whether he is the right man to guide them to safety next season. This does potentially re-raise the question about the ever-growing gap between the 17 Premier clubs who survive and the three that come up from the Championship though. It would take an insurmountable effort from any of the promoted clubs to break that cycle, but Leeds will feel they are the ones best placed to achieve just that.
