Keith Wyness lambasts Leeds for ‘cruel’ Daniel Farke move
Leeds players are still fighting for manager Daniel Farke despite their current struggles in the Premier League.
That is according to ex-Aston Villa, Everton and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who thinks it is “cruel” that Farke may only have two games left to save his job.
Farke has a historically poor Premier League record, and fans have started to turn against the German after just one win in seven league games.
Leeds’ 3-2 defeat at Man City leaves the club in the bottom three, but Farke’s side were just minutes away from leaving the Etihad with a point.
Leeds ‘pressure’ in January transfer window
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes Farke should be given more time at Leeds to improve results.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness states that the January transfer window will be crucial for the club.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “It’s so unfair that the rumours are saying that he’s got his next two games to save his job and you’ve got Chelsea and Liverpool. I think that’s a little bit cruel.
“But anyway, look, I think there is a move that is going to give him more time. I think the performances have been good for Leeds. The players are definitely playing for him. There’s no doubt about it.
“And they showed the second half against Man City that Leeds have got something there about them. I think there’s a few issues that we’ve got to consider that may not just be all about Daniel Farke. I mean, look, he has built a team that was supposed to be physical and was supposed to be able to overpower the opposition and were able to handle a relegation battle. And he’s got to stick to that plan.
“At the moment, sometimes they sort of go take their foot off the gas and aren’t physical and they start trying to play football and they haven’t quite got the players to do that. He’s got to get back to his own plan. But also, look, the pressure will be on them certainly in January.
“Don’t forget, we’ve been discussing in the last few months about the new stadium renovation plans at Elland Road. So there’s a lot of money going to be invested there. And that really was, we were talking about the green light for that being given when they got promoted back up to the Premier League. So there’s big investment there from their owners on that.”
Contenders emerge to become next Leeds manager
Gary O’Neil is a “leading contender” to replace Farke, should Leeds sack the 49-year-old, with former Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers also a possible candidate.
It is now four straight defeats for Leeds, and upcoming home games against Chelsea and Liverpool will prove difficult to end that run.
Leeds will know they need to stop that run of results, and Farke therefore could pay the price despite a previously solid start to life back in the top-flight.