Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani has told a local journalist on Twitter that he was “keen” to do a three-year deal with Garry Monk following his resignation but he did not receive any request from him or his agent.
The club confirmed on Thursday afternoon that they had reluctantly accepted Monk’s resignation to their “shock and disappointment”.
Yorkshire Evening Post reporter Phil Hay stated on his personal Twitter account that Monk “wanted longer than 12 months” and made that “very clear” this week.
Italian Radrizzani responded back to the prominent journalist with an insightful Twitter message moments after Monk’s resignation was confirmed.
“Shocking news from Garry Monk,” Radrizzani wrote on his personal Twitter account. “We were keen to do [a] three-year deal. We never received any request from him and his agent. No regrets. We did out best.”
Shocking news from GM. We were keen to do 3 years deal.We never receive any request from him and his agent. No regrets, we did our best #mot
— Andrea Radrizzani (@andrearadri) May 25, 2017
The 38-year-old’s contract at Elland Road was due to expire at the end of June after then-owner Massimo Cellino had offered him a one-year rolling contract last summer.
Radrizzani completed his takeover of Leeds on Tuesday and reports in the media were suggesting that Monk was going to extend his contract.
Therefore, the news of Monk’s departure would come as a shock to those associated with the club after a successful debut campaign under the highly-rated Englishmen.
Monk’s side finished five points outside of the promotion places despite occupying a top-six spot for the majority of the campaign.
Many Leeds supporters were believing that their 13-year drought from the Premier League was nearing its end with Monk turning them into promotion hopefuls after years of struggle in the second tier.
The new Championship campaign begins in August and Radrizzani will be keen to get a new manager into the Elland Road hot seat.