Leeds fans will be left reeling by brutal Heckingbottom transfer confession

Thu 22 March 2018 9:07, UK

COMMENT By Richard Parks

With one comment that seemed innocuous but feels brutal, Paul Heckingbottom punctured the hopes of Leeds fans pinning their hopes on a 2018-19 turnaround on big summer investment.

In an interview with Radio Leeds last night (Wednesday), the recently-appointed manager vaguely outlined his transfer plans but warned the club will be operating with a “mid-table” transfer budget in the forthcoming window.

As quoted by the West Yorkshire Sport Twitter account, Heckingbottom remarked that the management team are “going to have to do a lot of things better” next season especially if we are going to have a mid-table budget”.

????️PH on squad: “As people they have been good and the response has been good. We are going to have to do a lot of things better next season if we are going to try and get in that top 6 especially if we are going to have a mid-table budget” #lufc
— West Yorkshire Sport (@WYSdaily) March 21, 2018

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So, for anyone hoping that Andrea Radrizzani’s intention to mirror the Wolves recruitment model will mean Jorge Mendes bringing his £10million-plus clients Leeds’ way, the message is clear. Forget it. Won’t happen.

Leeds will be operating in a not too dissimilar way to last summer, the summer before and all those dispiriting summers before, when the budget was middling and the aim was to source hidden gems.

While major investment does not guarantee Championship success – just ask Middlesbrough or Aston Villa fans – shoestring budgets rarely secure a ticket to the big time.