Leeds United have all but missed out on the play-offs in the Championship following their valiant draw with Norwich City on Saturday.
Leeds United’s Kyle Bartley celebrates scoring
Kyle Bartley has told BBC Radio Leeds that, as things stand, he is currently expecting to head back to Swansea City following his spell with Leeds, but sent the club’s hierarchy a very clear message regarding Garry Monk.
The Whites go into the final day of the Championship season three points off the play-off places, but knowing that only the craziest miracle will lead to the side moving above Fulham in the table due to the Cottagers’ vastly superior goal difference.
That meant that following their spirited 3-3 draw with Norwich at Elland Road on Saturday – during which, they came from 3-0 down – there was a general acceptance amongst the ground that it was so close yet so far for this year.
With the summer now the priority, questions surrounding some of the players’ futures have arisen. One of the players whose future has a question mark alongside his name is Bartley.
The centre-back has been a tremendous leader, but is only on loan from the Swans, and has been attracting Premier League interest lately (via The Sun). And he confirmed that, as things stand, he still awaiting contact from Leeds about possibly extending that deal.
“As far as I’m aware and concerned, I’ll be going back to Swansea,” he told BBC Radio Leeds when asked if he’s received any contact from Leeds about extending his stay.
There is no question that Leeds enjoyed their best season for a long time this term, and if they can keep the key figures amongst the squad together, the fans will be extremely optimistic about their chances of pushing again next term.
One key figure who most supporters are desperate to see stay is Monk. The Yorkshire Evening Post reports that his deal expires this summer and Leeds have the option to extend that contract by another year.
And while Bartley suggested that the foundations are in place at Elland Road, he suggested that keeping Monk will be essential if they hope to progress and went on to hint that the head coach’s future could have a major impact on Bartley’s decision if the club come calling again this summer.
Leeds manager Garry Monk applauds the fans after the Norwich game
“I just said to the media, and maybe I was a little too honest but everything’s here, everything’s set, so now the season’s finished, it’s on the owners to step up and to make sure the manager stays, to make sure they deliver with the players. I think the fans and the club deserve that,” he went on to add.
“He’s been fantastic, and if the owners can’t see that and if the owners can’t get him tied down then it probably wouldn’t be a place where I wanted to be,” he would further add.
With what Monk has built this season, it would surely be a massive gamble for the club to decide to part company with the former Swansea boss and instead hand someone else the job of improving upon what the team have achieved.
And judging by Bartley’s comments, it would appear that such a decision would not be received positively by the dressing room.
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