FA Cup: What Peterborough United owner said about Leeds United, 49ers, Orta, Spygate and promotion

By Graham Smyth
Published 5th Dec 2023, 11:56 BST
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Leeds United's history-making FA Cup draw will bring the Whites face-to-face with a man who has had plenty to say about them in the past.

Sunday's draw came as no real shock to Leeds supporters, given the sheer length of their run of away fixtures in the knockout competition. Peterborough United, away, in January will be the 13th consecutive away draw, a statistical improbability and an FA Cup record. As draws go, it could easily have been worse and at the very least it represents greater interest for supporters than a trip to a Premier League or Championship side. Leeds and Posh have met just 10 times previously in their history and the last one came more than 10 years ago. And then there's the chairman.

Darragh MacAnthony took over Peterborough in 2006 at the age of 29, becoming the EFL's youngest chairman and since then has built a reputation as one of the English game's most outspoken owners. His podcast, The Hard Truth, has been somewhat of a dream for headline writers, and because he is not usually backwards in coming forwards it has been no surprise to see him become a regular guest on talkSPORT.

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But MacAnthony's use of social media is what first brought him to the attention of Leeds fans, with whom he has had numerous interactions on the platform formerly known as Twitter. When asked for an opinion, he would give it, warts and all. Sometimes it met with unanimous Elland Road approval.

On Spygate, he Tweeted: "Storm in a teacup which will blow over. But obviously don’t agree with any spying etc and I’m sure it won’t be repeated. And watching game last night, not sure Leeds need it. They will be 100% promoted imo [in my opinion]. Love that Clarke kid, Liverpool should be buying him & loaning back wow."

On Marcelo Bielsa's decision to gift Aston Villa a goal, a decision that earned him a FIFA Fair Play award, MacAnthony said: "Didn't see the game but loved the Leeds manager's class allowing that goal. Proper manager. Not enough of them in our leagues. Daft from Bamford who could miss the plays-offs from that play acting. Play-offs will be fun."

The play-offs, of course, were not fun, not for