REPORT; Leeds United with positive update progress for the Future Development

Angus Kinnear told Leeds United fans at a supporter advisory board meeting he hopes the club will have a positive update on Elland Road’s redevelopment in the near future

Elland Road’s redevelopment could be back on the Leeds United agenda soon, with Angus Kinnear hopeful a positive update is in the offing. The Whites chief executive addressed supporters last month and also answered questions on the July training camp in Germany which saw supporters barred from the two friendlies they played.

Kinnear attended the most recent supporter advisory board meeting on August 15 and the minutes from that event were published on the club’s website today. Among the topics the United supremo was grilled on was the ongoing situation with the stadium.

Since the club’s centenary in 2019, there have been public hopes to increase Elland Road’s capacity to 55,000 or 60,000 seats. Those plans have never progressed too far, with a sustained stay in the Premier League long expected to be the key to pushing forward with the right level of finance.

Kinnear was asked if league status remained the key factor in redevelopment and he said he hoped there would be positive news in the near future on that topic.

The minutes stated: “AK asks fans to constantly feedback and if any sections of Elland Road immediately need action, to please raise issues. [The] club hopes to reveal some positive information in the near future regarding redevelopment.”

Every summer, United fans around the world hope to follow their team to wherever they pitch up for a pre-season training camp. This year, it was Germany, Daniel Farke’s homeland, but news of the trip included a strict do-not-travel directive for supporters.

Leeds said German police had barred fans from attending their two friendlies following a very busy summer of Euro 2024 football. Fans were understandably upset and this topic was put to Kinnear at last month’s meeting.

The minutes state: “AK says the tour was agreed to be purely technical, as opposed to prioritising commercial aspects. However, the club did not expect the matches to be played behind closed doors.

“By the time the club knew the decision, it was not appropriate to change the destination of the camp. AK says there is a trade-off between commercially led tours as opposed to technically led tours.