Leeds United: Monk is Cellino's no1 choice for newly vacated head coach job at Elland Road

Whites chairman Cellino called time on the sixth head coach of his Elland Road reign on Tuesday evening when relieving Steve Evans of his duties after seven months in charge. With moves for MK Dons boss Karl Robinson and Bristol Rovers manager Darrell Clarke already shunned, former Swansea chief Monk was immediately made the odds-on favourite for the role.

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And the YEP understands that initial contact has been made between Monk and his representatives, with Cellino hoping to make an appointment over the next few days.

Monk, 37, guided Swansea to their best ever Premier Division finish of eighth with a record points total in 2014-15, but was sacked the following December after one win in 11 league games.

The former Swansea centre-back had previously been touted as a future England manager given his initial success upon being handed the Swansea job – his only experience of management so far – in December 2015.

Asked whether or not the Leeds job would appeal to Monk, the former Swansea manager’s agent Glenn Corcoran said: “It’s only my opinion, but Leeds is a big a club and when you are out of work you wouldn’t say no to a club like Leeds. If they are interested in him I am sure he would talk to them. But that’s my opinion.”

As a player, Monk captained Swansea to promotion from the Championship when beating Reading 4-2 in the play-off final of 2011.

Cellino, meanwhile, has vowed to refund at least 25 per cent of the cost of all season tickets bought before the May 31 deadline should United fail to reach the play-offs. That refund will rise to 50 per cent should the club sell 15,000 season tickets by the end of July. Leeds have sold just over 13,000, already surpassing last year’s total of 12,500.