OPINION
Whenever Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani makes a rare public appearance, it is usually accompanied by a big beaming smile from the Italian.
Since taking over as the club’s major shareholder and owner last summer, the businessman has been seen a handful of times at Elland Road, and his tenure in the boardroom has been a tumultuous one after a difficult debut campaign with the Whites.
He appeared forced to make another difficult decision over the future of Paul Heckingbottom following a 13th placed finish, and Friday eventually saw the former Barnsley boss relieved of his duties.
However, things might not have been as they seemed behind the scenes, and if reports are to be believed then the Italian has shown his cut throat brutality with his latest decision.
The Sun’s journalist Alan Nixon has claimed on his personal Twitter account that the shock reason the Whites waited so long to swing the axe was because of the financial issues over sacking him earlier, and it shows that Radrizzani will allow nothing to get way of the good of the club
While only those in the boardroom will have likely known the owner’s true intentions, it seemed for all intents and purposes that he was genuinely considering whether to give Heckingbottom a chance – but instead his patience was motivated by money.
Keeping the manager, the squad and the fans in the dark over the truth regarding his future was a sly game to play and will not have been taken well by Heckingbottom, but when it comes to business, it appears as though Radrizzani is ready to bear his teeth and be as brutal as needed.