Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has given Nick Hammond his clearance to stay as transfer consultant at Elland Road for at least the next two transfer windows, it has been disclosed.
The Whites were demoted from the Premier League last season following a terrible season in which they won only seven games and finished in 19th position. And, with owner Andrea Radrizzani selling to 49ers Enterprises, a slew of changes were made behind the scenes at Leeds.
Prior to Radrizzani’s departure, the club fired long-serving director of football Victor Orta of his duties after losing Radrizzani’s trust and eventually having too much input on Elland Road problems.
The 49ers’ first objective, however, was to appoint a new manager after going through four different coaches during the panic-filled 2022/23 season.
And, having recently left Borussia Monchengladbach, Leeds shifted their attention to bringing in Hammond to help oversee what everyone at the club knew would be a hectic summer.
Indeed, 15 first-team players left Elland Road, several of whom took advantage of stipulations in their contracts that permitted them to leave on loan in the case of relegation.
Marc Roca, Robin Koch, Max Wober, Brenden Aaronson, Rasmus Kristensen, Diego Llorente, Jack Harrison, and Luis Sinisterra were among those to take advantage of the arrangement and secure moves away.
Rodrigo Moreno and Tyler Adams both signed permanent agreements, leaving Leeds with a huge rebuild on their hands.
Leeds and Farke acknowledge Hammond’s contributions to transfers.
Hammond, renowned for his past successes at Celtic and Newcastle, has seamlessly transitioned to Leeds, excelling in the challenging task of squad rebuilding. Tasked with recruiting soundly, Hammond has orchestrated the arrivals of players such as Ampadu, Piroe, Bryam, Rodon, and Kamara, who have swiftly made significant impacts.
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With promising additions like Spence yet to debut due to injury, Hammond’s adept scouting and successful signings have earned him substantial credit. Initially appointed as a temporary transfer consultant to navigate the challenging summer window, Hammond’s early accomplishments have resulted in an agreement to lead Leeds through the next two transfer windows.
Operating discreetly, the 56-year-old will contribute to squad strengthening in January and potentially guide Leeds as they aim for a Premier League return. Hammond’s quiet and efficient approach stands in contrast to the public theatrics of his predecessor, Orta, aligning with the collaborative efforts alongside Farke’s coaching and man-management.
The decision to extend Hammond’s role was reached through discussions between chief executive Angus Kinnear, chairman Paraag Marathe, and Farke, with the German ultimately expressing trust and respect for Hammond’s contributions.
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