Leeds United are pretty much out of the running for the Championship playoffs this season.
Leeds United Managing Director Angus Kinnear made some interesting remarks about head coach Paul Heckingbottom last weekend.
In his matchday programme notes ahead of the Championship game between Leeds and Sheffield Wednesday at Elland Road last Saturday afternoon, Kinnear underlined the importance of Heckingbottom, who was appointed the Whites’ head coach in February 2017 after they triggered a £500,000 release clause in his Barnsley contract, according to The Independent.
While stating that planning for next season has already begun, Kinnear wrote in his matchday programme notes: “Paul Heckingbottom is central to this process and his principles and values are already being embraced by the players and backroom staff and we are in no doubt they will soon translate to the quality and consistency of performance that our supporters are right to demand.”
Kinnear’s comments are probably an indication that Heckingbottom could remain in charge of the Leeds next season even if results do not improve.
The West Yorkshire outfit lost 2-1 to Wednesday at home last weekend and are now 14th in the league table, and while fans must be bitterly disappointed with recent results, maybe Heckingbottom is not being judged based on wins or defeats.
Maybe the former Barnsley boss is being judged on performances of the team and on the displays produced by individual players.
Of course, it would affect Heckingbottom’s future at Leeds if the team do not start winning soon, but maybe the club’s chiefs are more concerned about the players’ performances than anything else.
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