49ers theory emerges over next Leeds United manager as Rangers playbook may be used to replace Daniel Farke
A theory has emerged over Rangers influence in hiring the next Leeds United boss.
49ers Enterprises have been backed to dig into their Rangers notebook for their next Leeds United manager - as a theory is hatched.
The Light Blues and Premier League side are owned by the same US consortium, that stands as the investment wing of NFL franchise San Francisco 49ers. Paraag Marathe acts as both chairman at Leeds United and vice-chair to Andrew Cavenagh at Rangers, where a hunt for a CEO and sporting director is ongoing, after Patrick Stewart and Kevin Thelwell were fired.
They have also recently finished up a boss hunt with Danny Rohl brought in to replace sacked head coach Russell Martin. Liverpool icon and ex-Rangers boss Steven Gerrard is one contender the 49ers had Rangers return conversations with but they eventually fell flat, and that has sparked debate on the No Tippy Tappy Football Podcast. A theory has been aired by host Natalie Pike over Marathe and co using their Rangers connections to bring in Gerrard to replace under-fire Leeds United boss Daniel Farke, endorsed by ex-Elland Road gaffer Sam Allardyce, with Dorking Wanderers boss Marc White also on the panel.
Who will be the next manager of Leeds United?
Pike: “So Leeds and Rangers have the same ownership group?
Allardyce: “Yeah.”
Pike: “Okay. So here's my wild speculation. Steven Gerrard, everybody knows that Rangers spoke to him. He didn't take the Rangers job, despite the fact that he's loved up there and perhaps his record since Rangers is questionable. Do you think that the owners of Leeds and Rangers are lining up Steven Gerrard to take over from Daniel Farke? What do you think of my wild speculation? Go.”
White “Well, I wouldn't have a clue.”
Allardyce: “I don't think it's wild speculation. No, I don't. Especially when they're connected in terms of the ownership and where this happened before. That's something that he's looking for, isn't it? You know what I mean?”
Could Steven Gerrard be the next Leeds United manager?
White: “But if you are that business and it's a multi-million pound game, for me, nothing against Steve Gerrard at all. For me, there's some much bigger credentials out there in the game that are going to help your business achieve its goals.”
Allardyce: “The object of the exercise is, can he handle the pressure of avoiding relegation? Believe you me, it's your whole life absorbed into that particular effort to get the team into a safety position.”
White: “It's a big Sam job now.”
Allardyce: “There is no playing your way. Your philosophy has to be what is the best way this team can play to win. I've already been, they're never going to like to have me back at Leeds United, like, even though we left our amical terms, but it's not the same ownership. It’s the full American ownership now, which is, and at the moment it's younger rather than older. It's young rather than experienced at the minute, which goes in phases, doesn't it. So us older ones are sat on the sidelines at this minute but that's the way the game runs. Leeds United is a fabulous club. They've got fabulous supporters.”