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Phil Hay issues verdict on Leeds United takeover timeframe

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Image for Phil Hay issues verdict on Leeds United takeover timeframe

Leeds United‘s majority owner Andrea Radrizzani has been seen in America to watch the San Francisco 49ers alongside Paraag Marathe.

Marathe was appointed Leeds United Vice Chairman in January 2021 and has been a member of the Leeds Board of Directors since 2018. He has been the driving force behind any deal between the two parties.

Radrizzani was not in attendance at Elland Road to see Leeds’ 0-0 draw against Brentford, as he was across the pond stateside, watching some NFL action as the SF 49ers took on the Dallas Cowboys and won 19-12.

He posted this message via Twitter with Marathe.

The big updated Andrea Radrizzani quiz – Can Leeds United fans score 20/20?

1 of 20

In what year was Andrea Radrizzani born?

Phil Hay of The Athletic took to the Phil Hay Show to react to the images, he claimed everything is on track at the moment, he said: “It still looks to everybody like this is happening and this is on the cards and that is still very much the plan.

“The 49ers have been pulling together this group of investors in the states to finance the buyout and take full control of Leeds.”

Hay believes that the last few issues are to be ironed out but that it is otherwise close to completion, one such issue being a contingency plan for relegation, he added: “There would need to be, certainly in 49ers enterprises eyes, contingency for if what happens come May and Leeds are no longer a Premier League club. That has been one of the points of discussion.

“It is still this ticking clock of waiting for somebody to say ‘look we’re there, we’ve got this done. we’ve got it sorted’ – whether it’s announced shortly and then formally done in the summer is kind of where we’re at.”

Hay himself thinks that the summer makes much more sense for both sides of the deal, he said: “I don’t feel like anybody on either side is minded to say it might all fall apart. Everybody seems to feel it’ll be this summer at the latest when the transition actually happens.

“It makes far more sense to me to takeover in the summer close season than it does mid-season.”

Leeds All Over sources have indicated to us that all the finer details have been finalised between the respective parties and that a takeover could be concluded earlier than the summer, should both sides be willing to do so. The deal is happening, it is now a question of when they become majority owners, not if.

The 49ers have been helping to fund this January window and it makes sense to me that a deal should be concluded soon instead.

Hay’s point is fair but Leeds are in need of even more investment during this window and perhaps a full takeover would help accelerate further business and give the new investors time to assess matters more closely before the season is finished, as opposed to in the summer.

It’s good for Leeds fans to hear that everything is on track so far, though.

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