It was notable that there was no parting message from Angus Kinnear upon his Leeds United exit earlier this month. The former Whites CEO was very much aware of the mood towards him from sections of the fanbase.
He wrote a final column in the last matchday programme of the season, in which he praised the team, hailed Daniel Farke - before it was confirmed he would be staying on as manager - and thanked fans.
“Even the supporters who regularly write obscenities on the back of my car have played their part by keeping my ego in check,” Kinnear courteously wrote. He opened his message noting the fact that few would have missed his formerly regular programme messages.
A photo alongside the aforementioned final column showed the beaming Farke and Kinnear with an arm around each other while on the steps of the East Stand on promotion day.
Kinnear can now say he has overseen two top-flight returns with Leeds during his eight-year stay. He sported a wide smile when appearing in the press room following the significant 2-1 win over Preston North End, perhaps - like many - feeling that promotion was now a case of ‘when’ and not ‘if’.
Kinnear was also present during the takeover of 49ers Enterprises. The owners have now restructured the board upon his exit to Merseyside, with managing director Robbie Evans essentially taking over his duties.
Adam Underwood, the new sporting director, will head up recruitment but, of course, Evans and other board members will have their say. 49ers chief Paraag Marathe has stated that his firm and the Leeds hierarchy will not alter how they work.
That said, the United chairman clarified: “We're going to work very collaboratively, probably a little bit more focus on making sure we're making the right group decisions, because, let's be honest, there's more at stake now - more money, more jeopardy.”
What that means in practice remains to be seen but Farke has always had the right to veto a signing and will continue to do so. Meanwhile, there are outgoings to consider.
Underwood and his colleagues must now make a decision over Jack Harrison, who Everton have released back to United following his second successive loan spell. Harrison had previously indicated a desire to stay on at the Toffees.
Jack Harrison looks on during the warm up prior to the Premier League match between Everton FC and Brentford FC at Goodison Park.
The future of Leeds United's Jack Harrison is uncertain. (Image: Lewis Storey/Getty Images)
"I think with new ownership, new manager, and going to an amazing new stadium next season, this is somewhere I want to be,” he said in March. "With the size of Everton and this fan base, with how passionate they are, there's no reason why the club can't achieve that, and who wouldn't want to be part of it?"
It’s not clear how those comments were received at Thorp Arch but the picture had just got murkier for Harrison at Everton by then. Kinnear, whose forthcoming appointment at Everton had already been confirmed, had previously admitted surprise over Harrison’s transfer choice at Leeds.
The winger has been on loan at Everton for the duration United were in the Championship, due to a clause in his contract - signed in April 2023 - stipulating he had the right to go out on loan while Leeds were in the second-tier.
His initial switch to Everton a few months later caught Kinnear off guard given Everton’s relegation-battling status at the time.
“From my perspective going on loan to Everton with the predicament Everton are in, versus staying at Leeds and getting them promoted, there is a valid choice to make there, and we were surprised,” Kinnear told The Square Ball fan podcast in September 2023.
“At the time, to secure Jack Harrison on a new contract with a wage reduction if we went down, those were the types of things [loan clause] that were in place.”
Clearly, the surprise could not have been of the good kind. Whether that had a lasting impression on Kinnear as he assumed his Everton role may not be known but the decision over Harrison comes just over two weeks after the ex-Leeds chief started his position.
Harrison started 13 of his 18 matches under David Moyes and a report from The i barely a month ago suggested the coach was open to keeping him on having been impressed with his attitude.
The mood among Toffees fans differed and few will be too disheartened to see him leave. Five goals and four assists in 74 matches is not exactly a great return.
It might also throw caution over the minds of those at Leeds, who are mulling over their left-wing options given Manor Solomon’s own loan spell at Elland Road has now expired, the Israeli returning to parent and Champions League club Tottenham Hotspur.
The feeling about Harrison among many supporters around Elland Road rather mirrors that towards Kinnear. From their perspective there is a simple decision to make but football is never that straightforward, especially when dealing with a player who has three years left on his contract.
At the very least, it is clear Kinnear did not prevent Everton sending Harrison back to Leeds, and the fact that discussions are being held over Flamengo loanee Charly Alcaraz only further suggests that the Whites attacker is not favoured.
The lesson here is that actions and decisions have impact. If Harrison does end up leaving Leeds this summer, his farewell message to fans might be notable.
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