Morning Leeds-in for 8 August: Kit madness at Leeds United shows lack of preparation

Is this any way to run a professional football club?

Leeds was forced to put out a statement today regarding the club shops being out of a majority of the popular sizes for the new home kit. The statement also said that the new away kit would be unveiled on Thursday, two days before the first team are set to play in it at Derby County.

Per the club’s official website:

Following the successful launch of our new 2018/19 home kit, the club has experienced higher than average shirt sales.This can only be viewed as a positive with the kit for the new season being in such high demand, however we have also encountered some issues with the speed in which garments are getting processed through customs once they arrive in the UK.

This delay, combined with sales exceeding expectations, has meant that our Leeds United Store has now sold out of some popular sizes.

Blaming customs and higher-than-average sales for the kit being out at the club shop is not a great look. These orders were almost certainly placed months ahead of time, and the delay of the release of the away kit, combined with the lack of inventory for the home kit, leads me to believe that these orders were put in late, leaving the vendor little time to print them and get them shipped.

The home kit was out of stock for weeks last autumn as well, which begs the question: Who is running the marketing and retail division at Leeds? Not only is the club shop out of almost all of the sizes that people would want to purchase, the high-profile club shop opening at Trinity Leeds did not feature the new kit, which is terrible timing.

The club is being run like a first-class football club on so many levels right now, which makes this whole disaster stick out like a sore thumb.

On to the links.

Leeds United Links

Latest Mighty Whites Podcast is now available. [Through It All Together]

Ryan Edmondson signed a new deal at Leeds. [Yorkshire Evening Post]

Jerry Mbagoku, who had been linked to Leeds, was released by Carpi in Italy. [Yorkshire Evening Post]

England and English Football Links

It’s not just Leeds, Everton has had three matches moved for television. [Royal Blue Mersey]

Joe Hart joins Burnley from Manchester City after spending two years out on loan. [BBC.com]

Chelsea is reportedly in talks to sign Athletic Bilbao keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga for an eye-watering £71 million. [BBC.com]

World Football Links

Chelsea’s Bakayoko is reportedly headed to AC Milan on loan. [AC Milan Offside]

ESPN & ESPN+ will carry Serie A next season in the United States. [AC Milan Offside]

What is taking former FC Porto and Mexico international defender Diego Reyes so long to sign with a new club? [FMF State of Mind]