Daniel Farke deserves praise for getting Leeds United promoted, but might not be able to secure their Premier League safety.
That’s the view of talkSPORT’s Gabby Agbonlahor, who believes the Whites could appoint a new manager to avoid relegation next season.
Leeds were officially promoted back to the Premier League after Burnley beat third-place Sheffield United 2-1 at Turf Moor on Monday.
Their success comes a year after play-off final heartbreak at Wembley against Southampton at the end of Farke’s first season as manager.
Farke joined in 2023 after their relegation from the top flight and has now sent them back there, but his credentials have been questioned.
Aston Villa legend Agbonlahor recalled his difficult stint at Norwich City and hinted that sacking the German could be the right decision.
“I was thinking about it last night and Daniel Farke’s done a great job getting Leeds United up,” he told Ally McCoist on talkSPORT Breakfast.
“But we’re in a ruthless, ruthless industry… Do Leeds change their manager for the Premier League? Listen, I know it’s ruthless, but Daniel Farke’s record in the Premier League, 49 games, six wins, 35 defeats, conceded 101 goals, scored 31.
“I’m just saying, do Leeds want to stay up this time? Daniel Farke hasn’t done it in the Premier League, he struggled as a manager. I’m just saying, you know how ruthless football can be.
“Look at the players, we will go through the Leeds players and say to all our guests, ‘how many of these players are going to start getting the news within the next week that they’re not needed next year?’
“So they’ll do it to players that got them there and say, ‘Listen, thanks for getting us to the Premier League, but we’re ok now thanks, we need to get better players.’
“It’s a savage industry, do they say, ‘There’s a top manager available that can take Leeds into the Premier League now and keep them there.’
“That’s not me trying to cause carnage for Leeds fans, I’m just saying it could be an option, you never know.”
“I hear exactly what you’re saying, and it’s an interesting one, it’s an interesting train of thought,” McCoist responded.
“Because I always automatically, maybe wrongly, look at the players that are coming up from the Championship and what’s needing added to the squads because I think it’s the last couple of years, the three promoted sides have just went back down.”
Agbonlahor then added: “I know it’s different, but like, Gary O’Neil, Bournemouth, look how Bournemouth have done since he left.
“You know sometimes there’s that manager that the board can see, that’s going to take Leeds and say, ‘Listen’… You never know.
“It’s a question out there for Leeds fans, for our guests that are coming on. That’s not me trying to be controversial, I’m just thinking, it happens to players.
“How many of that Leeds squad are going to be told, ‘Listen, thanks for getting us up, but ta-ra.’”
However, former Leeds strike Jermaine Beckford believes Farke does deserve a chance next season due to Leeds’ ongoing league success.
“So I had a little look back at the last time Leeds got promoted to the Premier League under Marcelo Bielsa.
“Leeds managed 28 wins, Leeds are on 27 wins this season and still got two games to go. Leeds this season have scored about 11 goals more than they did the last time they got promoted, conceded less and picked up more points this season.
“So when you look at it from that perspective, and we stood by Marcelo Bielsa, we trusted in Marcelo Bielsa, and he’s loved by Leeds United fans, I feel it’s only right to give Daniel Farke an opportunity, to see what he can do with a little bit of backing, with some support.
“He knows this team inside out, he knows the club inside out, we’re on track to getting 100 points and being the Championship winners. For me, you’ve got to give the guy a chance, I feel he’s been amazing.”
Agbonlahor was supported by a Leeds fan though as Jernade called in to say: “You said about being ruthless in the Premier League, you know what? I agree, we have to be ruthless.
“I obviously will celebrate, I will put my hands up, I’ll say Farke has done a brilliant job. But I don’t think he’s the manager for us in the Premier League and I will say it, if the 49ers are listening, we should get rid of him in the summer.”
Leeds thumped Stoke City 6-0 on Monday to all but seal promotion before Burnley’s victory confirmed it a couple of hours later.
The two sides are level on 94 points ahead of the final pair of fixtures and therefore still battling for the Championship title.
Sheffield United were in contention for automatic promotion but a run of four defeats in their last five means they face the play-offs.
Sunderland, Bristol City and Coventry City are the current three other clubs fighting for the last Premier League place next season.
