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Leeds United: Axed Simon Grayson leaves with tears and a salute for fans INTERVIEW
Simon Grayson has thanked Leeds United’s fans for their backing during his time as manager and admitted he left Elland Road with “a tear in my eye”.
In a statement, Grayson described the club’s supporters as “magnificent” and paid tribute to the players and staff who worked under him during three years in charge.
In a statement, Grayson described the club’s supporters as “magnificent” and paid tribute to the players and staff who worked under him during three years in charge.
Grayson was sacked by Leeds on Wednesday afternoon after 169 games at the helm, with the club four places below the Championship’s play-off positions.
United said they “needed to make the change at this time in the belief that a new managerial team will be able to get more out of the existing squad of players”.
Grayson is in the process of agreeing a severance package, having left Leeds with 18 months remaining on his contract, and the matter is understood to be in the hands of the League Managers’ Association.
Grayson said: “At the moment it’s difficult to make a full statement as legalities haven’t been formalised but I didn’t want to wait to express my thanks to the Leeds fans who’ve been magnificent throughout my time at the club.
“Everyone knows how I feel about the club. There have been so many great moments throughout the three years I’ve been manager, and I hope you realise what it means to me to have been the manager of Leeds United.”
Promotion from League One in 2010 was the highlight of the 42-year-old’s tenure at Elland Road, and his reputation was enhanced by repeated impressive performances against Premier League sides in cup competitions.
United’s first year back in the Championship ended with the club one place beneath the play-offs but Grayson’s squad struggled to maintain pace with the top six this season.
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He and coaches Ian Miller, Glynn Snodin and Andy Beasley left Leeds after Tuesday night’s 4-1 defeat to Birmingham City, with United lying 10th in the table.
Grayson, who began his playing career at Elland Road in the 1980s but moved on to Leicester City in 1992, said: “I had a tear in my eye when I left the club 20 years ago and I had a tear in my eye again (on Wednesday).
“The only difference was I went with one bin liner of stuff 20 years ago – this time it was three!
“I’d like to thank all the players who have played within my three years. Also, my thanks go to all my staff who’ve been helpful during my period in charge. I wish you, the supporters, all the best for the future and maybe one day I may get the chance to come back to this great football club.”
Speculation about Grayson’s likely replacement has been rife since his dismissal, and the club said they had received numerous approaches from “credible” candidates since taking the decision to sack him.
But United revealed that they were still to begin considering expressions of interest and plan do so early next week. The club placed under-18s coach Neil Redfearn in caretaker charge for today’s Championship match at Bristol City and owner Ken Bates is due to fly to England from Monaco before United’s match against Brighton on February 11.
Former Sheffield United and Queens Park Rangers boss Neil Warnock is among the favourites for the post and is believed to be interested in replacing Grayson, but the YEP understands that Roberto Di Matteo – a close friend of Bates who played for Chelsea while Bates was chairman at Stamford Bridge – is unlikely to be named as Leeds’ new boss.
A raft of other names, including Crystal Palace’s Dougie Freedman, Barnsley’s Keith Hill and former Leeds captain Gordon Strachan, have also been linked with the job at Elland Road, and Huddersfield Town’s Lee Clark attracted huge support in the betting markets in the 48 hours after Grayson’s dismissal. Clark, who took charge of Huddersfield a fortnight before Leeds appointed Grayson in December 2008, denied receiving any contract from Leeds, and United in turn insisted they were still to make an approach to any potential candidate.
Clark is not expected to be among the names Bates and his board weigh up next week.
Asked if United had attempted to make contact, Clark said: “Not to me, no.
“I am aware of (the situation at Leeds) and I’ve been linked with a number of jobs over the past 12 months. All it does is stress that we’re doing a good job.
“It’s speculation and until I’m told otherwise, I’m the manager of Huddersfield Town. It (speculation) is part of the job.”
A statement from Leeds said: “Leeds United can confirm that the club have been inundated with credible approaches for the vacant managerial position since the departure of Simon Grayson and his staff on Wednesday.
“The club will begin the process of examining the expressions of interest early next week.
“We can confirm at this stage that no approaches have been made, either directly or indirectly, to potential candidates, either in work or currently looking for employment, although we have been offered the services of many who are currently in work.”
THANK YOU: Sacked Simon Grayson has paid tribute to United’s magnificent supporters
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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Comments
There are 74 comments to this article
Page 1 of 5
bramley whites
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 05:27 PMHello koppite i thought you had drown in your tears over grayson ! any way it won't be you is nr as you don't no were elland road is ! as sybri says BELL END ! And sybri well intelligent so you lose that battle to all! bulldog landrover sybri got alto of respect for them three as they out class you koppite the crying clown ! important glad your alive i got some one tks take miss out of again ! plop plop put your teeth in pot spell check BELL END
original koppite
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 05:04 PMbramley white...If cake was guaranteed to prevent you from posting your poison on these pages there are plenty on here who would be sending Mr Kipling over to your place. We were 9 points away from an auto spot and if LB had done his job on Tuesday it would have been 6. So SG, in 3 years, took us from losing four on the trot including Histon to within striking distance of the PL. Good luck to NR, he's going to need it with you lot behind him.
bramley whites
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 04:54 PMI think i will have another slice of cake now ! we all love Leeds we all love Leeds we all love Leeds
bramley whites
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 04:44 PMImportant having another piece of cake now ! I can't read and i can't write but that don't really matter i go to elland road ! and i know what i am on about shush you muppets. you need to go erland road on match days don't read the paper go watch it live pmsl lol to all you who said i was thick
bramley whites
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 04:29 PMDon't know if anyone else as noticed ! but these stay away fans only post comments when they can criticise the club ! were is all the positive reaction ! You are all welcome to apologise to me ! as i have apoligised to everyone i have offended except koppite xxx im having my glory piece of cake now it tastes delightful ! ps Shuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuush you should all hang your heads in shame MOT
bramley whites
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 04:22 PMShuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuush you should all start going again now ! like us who always dooooooooooooooooooooooo Bramley whites were always there wooooh bramley whites were always there wo woooh
onemexican
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 04:22 PMmake that a 9 man Bristol
bramley whites
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 04:12 PMWho is Simon grayson ? now you have put the tissues away. ! na na na na na Leeds are going up na na na na na na Leeds are going up
bramley whites
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 04:02 PMHalf time clean sheet one up ! and im the div? we are Leeds
onemexican
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 03:54 PMLeeds are playing against 10 men again...my this is a bizzare run of good luck...and one up over Bristol at HT
qbywhites
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 02:27 PM#bramley whites, it was impossible for simon grayson,every decent player sold, no money, a horrible chairman,andy o brien making waves, simon grayson did the best he could in a bad situation, thanks to simon grayson.
kingbilly
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 02:18 PMBecchio missed 3 easy chances in the early part of the game against birmingham, and was probably the straw. Not one of you has mentioned that, what if it had been the play off final. A keeper makes one mistake and is vilified.
bramley whites
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 11:10 AMNo fight no class no spirit no confidence no passion no f@all blame who you want let me blame who i want... let me say one if bates died tomorrow not one of you would be upset and important the thicko ! i don't like bates but he as done right by getting rid of grayson
bramley whites
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 10:57 AMNo i won't clap him just like no one claps graysons bates ! there all to blame in my opinion
onemexican
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 10:53 AMwell Simon we all had tears in our eyes during this season and long before you were sacked....if you get my drift...
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