Angus Kinnear's exit gives Leeds a question to answer

New York Times

07-03-2025

When Angus Kinnear departs Elland Road for the last time this summer, he takes with him the final substantive fragment of Andrea Radrizzani's Leeds United tenure. Paraag Marathe and Peter Lowy were board members under the Italian, but they have always represented a post-Radrizzani future, the next iteration of the club.
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Kinnear has been the overlap, the facilitator, the bridge between two eras. He was the surviving member of the trio responsible for the watershed moment in the club's modern history: Marcelo Bielsa's arrival. He outlasted Victor Orta, who left in May 2023 on the eve of relegation, and Radrizzani, who eventually sold up in July 2023, two months after they returned to the Championship.
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It speaks volumes that Kinnear continued in the most important day-to-day role at Elland Road during an immense period of change. Marathe, as chairman, oversaw widespread turnover in executive roles at the club, but Kinnear was shielded. As chief executive, the muck of a relegation sticks — but 49ers Enterprises saw enough, and heard enough from external sources, to retain Kinnear's services.
After eight years of service in the summer, there will be time for Kinnear's valedictory — but, for now, where does this leave the club? Leeds have brought Peter McCormick in as an executive vice chairman in part to plug that gap.
McCormick is a Leeds fan and is regarded as one of the top sports lawyers in the UK. He has filled a variety of senior roles across the Football Association and the Premier League over the past 10 years. The longer-term picture at Elland Road remains unclear, however.
There is a growing list of questions for Marathe when he eventually sees fit to speak publicly on club matters. Aside from the multifaceted queries hanging over 49ers Enterprises' impending takeover at Rangers, Leeds are about to lose their day-to-day Elland Road figurehead as the prospect of Premier League football and a stadium redevelopment loom large.
In short, Marathe and the cluster of investors behind him will see this as a major opportunity. They will feel the weight of Kinnear's exit — sources in the game, speaking anonymously to protect relationships, rate the former Arsenal and West Ham United executive as one of the best football administrators in the country. There has been little surprise that Everton's headhunters whittled down their list of candidates to the 47-year-old.
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It is unclear whether Marathe would have wanted to replace Kinnear in the event of promotion anyway, but there have been no noises to that effect. Kinnear had been seen as a key voice in the planned stadium redevelopment and is well-liked by staff throughout the offices at Elland Road. Either way, this has been dropped on Marathe and the owners need to react.
Suppose we assume Leeds are playing in the Premier League next season, with the financial potential of 49ers Enterprises unlocked and a stadium redevelopment in the works. World-class applicants would be interested in this chief executive vacancy. Should the owners want to cast their net as far and wide as possible, it is bound to haul in some of the sport's most successful administrators.
The 49ers vehicle has been mapping out its vision for how its ownership looks since 2018, when it first invested. Marathe, Lowy, Jed York and the other major investors will have been discussing their options as the chief executive for years. That's not necessarily with a view to ousting Kinnear, but to ensure they were ready for when this day may come.
Perhaps they want a known quantity at the top of the day-to-day operation. Chief operating officer Morrie Eisenberg and chief strategy officer Robbie Evans remain two of Marathe's most significant hires. They both had extensive experience working with the San Francisco 49ers, alongside Marathe, before they relocated to West Yorkshire. They are trusted acolytes of the chairman.
Promoting one of them into the top job is not beyond the realms of possibility. Eisenberg, for example, is expected to play a significant role in Elland Road's redevelopment after his experience with the Levi's Stadium project in California. If not either of them, then another executive with a CV filled with 49ers experiences could be one route Marathe wants to take in LS11.
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It is impossible to analyse a decision of this magnitude, at such an exciting juncture for the club, without noting the influence of Red Bull. Marathe has maintained the energy drink conglomerate is a minority investor with no presence in the boardroom.
However, Red Bull's successful operation of multiple football clubs, wealth of experience and vested interest in seeing Leeds prosper will inevitably mean conversations are had. Marathe is close to Oliver Mintzlaff, Red Bull's CEO of corporate projects and investments. Mario Gomez, technical director of Red Bull football, has collaborated with Gretar Steinsson on his exploration of multi-club models for 49ers.
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Whoever Enterprises' decision-makers hire, do not expect much fuss or fanfare. Eisenberg's arrival was noted with a brief announcement on the club website, while Evans has not been acknowledged beyond his listing in the matchday programme. Even changes in the boardroom are dealt with quietly and efficiently.
Rudy Cline-Thomas was among the most prominent investors to be unveiled after the takeover in 2023. He rose to vice-chairman, but Andrew Schwartzberg replaced him last summer. Eugene Schneur joined the board at the same time, but neither of those appointments was announced. They were first reported by The Athletic.
Marathe has always tried to speak less and let the club's actions do the talking. He is about to make one of the most important appointments of his tenure at Elland Road, with Leeds on the brink of the dream this owner has been waiting to realise.
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