OPINION
When Marcelo Bielsa revealed at his Monday media conference that he would discuss his future with the Leeds United hierarchy at the end of the season, he appeared to be paving the way for a summer exit if the club do not win promotion.
A bombshell report in the Daily Mail has gone several steps further by revealing that failure to secure the holy grail could lead to a stampede of big-name exits.
Owner Andrea Radrizzani may lead the way, followed by manager Bielsa and a galaxy of star players including Kalvin Phillips, Kemar Roofe, Jack Clarke, Mateusz Klich and Bailey Peacock-Farrell.
It is said that Bielsa is “likely” to leave if the club “do not go up” despite signing a two-year contract when he arrived from Argentina last summer on a salary said to be worth £65,000-a-week.
The Mail report there are “break clauses this summer” in the deal, providing a get-out for the Argentine and the club.
With Radrizzani squeezed by the uncertain future of the British arm of his TV streaming service Eleven Sports, there could be yet another change of ownership, or shareholdings, this summer.
One man the entire Leeds fanbase will be desperate not to lose is Bielsa.
He has transformed the fortunes of the team that finished 13th last season despite a transfer budget dwarfed by the Championship’s big spenders.
Leeds have been in the automatic promotion mix throughout the campaign, playing a brand of aggressive, front-foot football that has won them admirers across the land.
Bielsa is a hero in the eyes of Elland Road worshippers, who have marvelled at how players who flopped under previous regimes have been re-born this season.
For them, the well-remunerated manager is worth every penny. They would be in despair at the prospect of him leaving.