LEEDS UNITED’S executive director Adam Pearson is to leave the Elland Road club, just four months after moving on from a three-week spell at Sheffield Wednesday.
The businessman, who also owns Super League club Hull FC, confirmed his departure in an open letter to fans last night as the Championship club lost at home to Ipswich Town. The team has won just one of its first seven league matches and were knocked out of the Capital One Cup on penalties.
Club owner Massimo Cellino sought to keep the door open for another return to the club in the future for Mr Pearson, who had previously worked at Elland Road as the commercial director.
“I will be keeping the role open for him and I hope to welcome him back at some point in the future,” he said.
“It saddens me that he is stepping away to focus on other personal and business interests, but he knows that he is welcome back at the club if he feels ready.”
Mr Pearson, who has previously worked at Derby County and Hull City, wrote in an open letter that he is “taking a break from Leeds United and football in general, in order to focus on other personal and business interests.
Mr Pearson sought to ward off any rumours of a rift with Mr Cellino, who has not been able to maintain a stable management structure in his two years at the club.
He thanked Mr Cellino “for allowing me to work closely with him in what I feel has been a very productive summer for the football club.”
Mr Pearson added: “There are some outstanding staff members in both coaching and administrative roles and an emerging young team that I am sure, with Mr Cellino’s continued support, will ultimately find their way back to the Premier League.
“It is with a huge level of disappointment that I cannot continue to contribute to the revival of what now is a very strong football club once more.
“I wish Uwe and his coaching team all the very best in their quest for a successful season and it is reassuring to see the club moving forward again in such a positive manner.”
