Behind the scenes at Leeds United

A lot has happened at Elland Road since Leeds United’s season ended two weeks ago. Defeat to Southampton in the Championship play-off final at Wembley consigned the Whites to another year in their second year of English football.

It will be no simple task for Daniel Farke to get his team up and going again. United finished third in the regular league season after accumulating 90 points, but missed out on automatic promotion. It was the first time since Sunderland in 1998 that a team had won 90 points in the second leg and failed to go up.

Player sales seem inevitable after failing to gain direct promotion back to the Premier League. Here, Leeds Live took a look back at some of the key developments from the opening weeks of a busy summer.

Read more: The striker, who is leaving Leeds United, is wanted by Sheffield Wednesday and three other Championship clubs

Marathe’s great interview

The 49ers Enterprises boss spoke to the media for the first time as Leeds United chairman in the 48 hours since the devastating loss in the Championship play-off final. He offered his support to Farke, saying: “Daniel has been fantastic. I’m delighted to be working with him again this season. We set out to do this, we had a long-term plan, a long-term commitment, not just I for him, but he for me. We have a lot of work to do, and we must complete our plan.

“He was extraordinary, with a firm hand, with the right temperament. If you think about the circumstances (when) he first came in, I can’t remember exactly how many days we had between his official hire and the first day of training, but it wasn’t many.

“You’ve seen how the start of our season has been, with so many ins and outs and difficult and challenging player situations. He’s done a tremendous job and I’m excited to be back at it with him as a partner and our leadership team.

“I’m feeling really confident about the season, especially because we’re at least four or five weeks ahead of what we had last year.”

Marathe touched on their transfer debt, Archie Gray’s future, profitability and sustainability regulations, Elland Road redevelopment plans and a host of other topics. He stressed there would be money available for recruitment but refused to rule out player sales as the Whites try to cut their clothes accordingly after missing out on the riches of the Premier League.

“Let me lead with this: We are well capitalized from an investment standpoint,” he said. “We have the funds we need to do what we need to do. The reality of being in the Championship is that P&S plays a role.

“I also inherited a difficult situation, which you all saw, so of course there will have to be some compromises, but it’s not just exits, it’s also ins. We have a very good team that is scouting for impressive players that we can bring in.

“We’re going to have to make some compromises because of P&S, but we have the committed investment, that commitment, that we need to do what we need to do.”

The Red Bull ad

This one came completely out of the blue. United have confirmed that the Austrian energy drinks giant has bought a minority stake in the club and will become the white shirt sponsor from the 2024-25 campaign onwards.

United added that the new multi-year deal will “bring in new commercial revenue as well as additional capital investment.” Marathe said: “As chairman, our consortium of investment partners will be invaluable to me as we approach this important moment for the club, now and into the future. The addition of Red Bull is a historic milestone that will further empower the club to reach its full competitive potential.”

In an interview with The Athletic, Marathe fielded a series of questions about Red Bull’s investment. Among the headlines, the Whites chairman reiterated the announcement that nothing would be done on behalf of the club. He said the cash influx is significant enough to have a telling impact on the transfer market this summer.

“I wouldn’t say it was a concern,” he said. “It’s definitely something I wanted to address. I’m not talking about whatever their history is, positive or negative.

“I’m talking about understanding our history and understanding and respecting our heritage. So, for example, this club is and will forever be Leeds United Football Club.

“It won’t be Leeds Red Bulls. To be fair, they understand that. They appreciate that. They respect that. They know the heritage of this club so they didn’t want to either, but for me that was table stakes.

“That’s not going to happen. The only way this partnership was going to work was to recognize them as minority investors, just like everyone else, they’re there to give advice when I need it, but it’s the management of this club of to our group and my leadership of this club.

“I’ll say it again, that’s not going to change. This is a partnership for minorities and minorities only. In terms of sensitivities, we wouldn’t have done this business if it wasn’t meaningful to us. It could be the difference between saving a player from being sold or signing a player.”

Pre-season program

Preparations for next year are in full swing with two friendlies arranged so far for Farke’s senior side. The Whites will visit League Two side Harrogate Town on Friday, July 19, for a 7.30pm kick-off. It will be the first time Leeds have faced the Sulphurites since 2017, when Pablo Hernandez and Kemar Roofe got on the scoresheet in a 4-2 win.

United have also announced that they will face La Liga side Valencia in a warm-up match at Elland Road on August 3, a week before the start of the new season. Ruben Baraja’s side finished ninth in La Liga last term, narrowly missing out on European qualification. United say ticket information for the two confirmed friendlies, as well as additional pre-season dates, will be announced in due course for supporters.

It remains to be seen where Farke might want to take his team for a preseason training camp.

The retained list

Eleven players will say goodbye to United at the end of the month when their contracts expire. Sam Byram has sparked a one-year extension, while the futures of Liam Cooper and Jamie Shackleton remain up in the air. United are keen to retain the services of Cooper and Shackleton.

Right back Cody Drameh has been offered new terms after spending the final year of his deal on loan. By offering him a new deal, United ensured that if Drameh were to sign elsewhere, they would be properly compensated as he is under 24.

List retained in full:

The following player has triggered a one-year extension clause in his contract:

Sam Byram

The following players will be released when their contracts expire:

Charlie Allen

Luke Ayling

Lewis Bates

Keenan Carole

Stuart Dallas

Cuba Diboe

Scott Godden

Ian Poveda

Morten Spencer

Harvey Sutcliffe

Dani van den Heuvel

The following players have been given new contracts by the club:

Harry Christy

Cody Drameh

Joseph Snowdon

Luke Thomas

The club is in talks with the following players to extend their contracts:

Liam Cooper

Jamie Shackleton

The following players will return to their parent clubs after the loan ends:

Jaydon Anthony

Connor Roberts

Joe Rodon

The following fellows were offered a professional contract:

Connor Douglas

Reuben Lopata-White

Joseph Richards

Daniel Toulson

Marley Wilson

The following scholarship holder had a third-year scholarship option activated:

Oscar Dawber