Allardyce's million-dollar gamble backfires

Leeds boss Sam Allardyce could only watch on in anguish as his side succumbed to their 21st league defeat of the season | Photo Credit: BBC [Getty Images]

FOOTBALL Allardyce's million-dollar gamble backfires

Shafic Kiyaga • 21:11 - 28.05.2023

Despite his efforts to steer the club to safety, Leeds’ three-year stay in the Premier League came to a bitter end with a lacklustre performance against Tottenham Hotspur.

Sam Allardyce finds himself facing a significant financial blow after failing to save Leeds United from Premier League relegation.

Despite his efforts to steer the club to safety, Leeds’ three-year stay in the Premier League came to a bitter end with a lacklustre performance against Tottenham Hotspur.

Allardyce's appointment at Leeds United came with a substantial basic salary of £500,000, a figure that raised eyebrows given the limited number of games he managed.

However, it is his potential bonus that truly amplifies the financial implications of the club's relegation.

If Leeds United had managed to secure their Premier League status, Allardyce would have been entitled to a staggering windfall of nearly £2.5 million.

This substantial bonus excludes the payments earmarked for Leeds United's coaching staff, which includes esteemed Premier League figures like Robbie Keane.

When considering the overall package, Sam Allardyce could have earned close to £3 million for overseeing merely four games at Leeds United—a sum that seems exorbitant given the team's failure to avoid relegation.

The final game of the season saw Leeds United facing Tottenham Hotspur, where defeat ultimately sealed their fate.

The match unfolded in despair for Leeds fans as their team fell behind within two minutes due to a superb finish by Harry Kane.

Pedro Porro doubled Tottenham's lead early in the second half with a strike from a tight angle.

Although Jack Harrison briefly reignited hope for Leeds with a goal to make it 2-1, Harry Kane's 30th league goal of the season re-established Tottenham's two-goal advantage.

Lucas Moura added insult to injury with a fantastic solo goal in injury time, securing victory for Tottenham but bringing no solace to Leeds United.

The relegation has ignited frustration and anger among Leeds supporters, who directed their ire towards the team and the club's owners during the match at Elland Road.

The chants of "sack the board" echoed throughout the stadium, expressing the fans' dissatisfaction with the current ownership.

Leeds United now faces a period of uncertainty, with Chairman Andrea Radrizzani urged to sell the club by disgruntled supporters.

The proposed takeover by the San Francisco 49ers owners, who already hold a 44% stake in the club, adds further complexity to the situation.

Radrizzani's own involvement in acquiring a stake in Sampdoria, recently relegated from Serie A, has raised concerns about the clarity and direction of the club moving forward.

Leeds United's history reveals the challenges they have faced in the past when relegated. The road back to the top flight has taken 16 years after their 2004 relegation and eight years following their 1982 demotion.

The club now hopes to avoid a similar extended absence from the Premier League as they navigate the uncertainties and difficulties that lie ahead.