Leeds United sent ‘change’ warning ahead of Aston Villa clash amid Jesse Marsch pressure

Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch has been under pressure ahead of his side’s clash with Aston Villa.
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Leeds United have been sent a warning over their current business model ahead of their clash with Aston Villa on Friday night.

The Whites are gearing up for a clash with Unai Emery’s in-form Villa, and it’s fair to say they have disappointed this season. Jesse Marsch has struggled to shake off pressure, with his side failing to put distance between themselves and the drop in the way Villa have over recent weeks.

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Leeds are still just two points above the drop, and they are yet to win since the World Cup break, heading into the Villa clash with Marsch still under pressure. And according to former Crystal Palace chief Simon Jordan, the Whites’ current model, which has owner Andrea Radrizzani at the top, with Victor Orta working as director of football, is not working.

“With Leeds, I think they’re an ownership model away from being a seriously competing football club again,” he told talkSPORT. “I think if they stay in the Premier League, then we might see that ownership model change.

“He (Radrizzani) has got themselves back into the Premier League, he hasn’t spent an enormous amount of money to compete there. Andrea’s done a great job getting Leeds back into the Premier League, I do think there is an ownership model change that needs to happen.”

More than 40% of Leeds is now owned by the San Francisco 49ers group, and it has been rumoured for some time that the 49ers are planning to take a majority share at Elland Road after recently increasing their investment. It will be interesting to see if Radrizzani does step aside in the months to come, and whether Leeds, like Villa, do receive significant backing from the US.

Though, it certainly won’t be happening before Leeds face Villa at Villa Park on Friday night.

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