Be it the result of fate or unfortunate timing, their results during Bassett's short tenure have allowed the joke to run unchecked.

Four defeats from seven games have displayed the first cracks in United's facade, and delivered the type of start he must have dreaded.

They also raised the question of whether Gustavo Poyet's departure from Elland Road was more consequential than it seemed.

The suggestion does not stand up to realistic scrutiny yet, in the build-up to tonight's game against Port Vale at Elland Road, Bassett was moved to mount a defence of his contribution just a month after taking the assistant's job under Dennis Wise.

Leeds were troubled by a sudden bout of inconsistency through November, though Wise had long predicted that a problematic period would engulf his squad.

A collection of supporters, however, have been more intent on asking whether Bassett's arrival and United's loss of form were more than coincidental, much to the 63-year-old's annoyance.

"People will jump on the bandwagon," was Bassett's riposte. "I expect they'll be saying that Gus Poyet did all the work behind the scenes and Dennis did nothing before I came. There's some rubbish talked at times, and it's a cheap shot."

If the innuendo has frustrated Bassett, it has positively confused David Prutton. United's midfielder described claims that Bassett's involvement was hindering Leeds as "bizarre", and pointed instead to a series of games in which Leeds have created their own problems.

The club were outplaying Carlisle United at Brunton Park – the scene of Bassett's first appearance in the dug-out – before an inexplicable collapse in the second half brought a first league defeat on November 3, and their 1-0 loss against Cheltenham Town last Sunday came despite the production of 21 efforts on goal.

The fingers pointing towards United's coaching staff do not sit well with Prutton.

"It seems strange to me that people would try and connect Gus going and Dave coming in with our results," he said. "It's nothing more than pure coincidence.

"This is very much a one-man club in the sense that the manager calls the shots and lays out his plans in black and white.

"What he says goes, and there are no grey areas when it comes to tactics, formations or anything like that. It's his team.

"Personally that's what I like because it keeps things simple and uncomplicated. You know who's in charge.

"Dennis and Gus had a special relationship, and I'm sure Dennis and Dave have a special relationship in a different way. But to say that a change of assistants has affected our results is totally bizarre, and pretty unfair.