Leeds United situation turns into 'public embarrassment' as board make decision
Leeds United's managerial situation has developed into "an apparently very muddled and public embarrassment" according to Telegraph journalist Jason Burt.
The Whites have undergone another torrid campaign in the Barclays Premier League, currently sitting just above the relegation places on 19 points, ultimately leading to the sacking of Jesse Marsch last week [6 February].
The club's board have been scrambling around for a managerial successor in the past week courting the likes of Carlos Corberan, Andoni Iraola and Arne Slot but they have all decided to stay at West Bromwich Albion, Rayo Vallecano and Feyenoord respectively.
The Telegraph's Jason Burt [Telegraph Sport, 16 February, pg 5] has claimed the club were looking to end their managerial search ahead of the Everton fixture this weekend despite dropping a move for Alfred Schreuder.
The recently sacked Ajax boss was in attendance at Elland Road for the Whites’ Premier League defeat to Manchester United on Sunday. However, after holding talks, the board decided to move on.
And Burt concluded that the club's search for Marsch's successor has turned into a "public embarrassment".
He said: "Unfortunately it looks like Leeds are not as attractive a proposition as they believed they were when they sacked Marsch, with the search for his successor having developed into an apparently very muddled and public embarrassment."
Disappointing
The Whites' managerial search has indeed turned into a public embarrassment, in fact, it's been a disappointing circus for the Leeds United fanbase who were excitingly anticipating a swift Marsch successor once he'd been sacked.
Yet, the club are still yet to make its decision which only enforces the question, what route is the club board trying to go down? What is the contingency plan? Such a hesitancy in their decision-making could well prove costly come the end of the season, with their Premier League status for next season in jeopardy.
The scrutiny and criticism of the Leeds board is understandable. Once they knew they were going to sack Marsch, they should have already drawn up a top target to pursue, instead, they attempted to acquire managers already in work and enjoying fruitful seasons at their respective clubs.
Why would they leave their jobs for a needless relegation circus at Elland Road? Burt is absolutely right, the appeal and lure in managing the club have indeed disappeared. Just who does the board turn to now to transform their dire situation?
In other Leeds United news, click here to see breaking, around-the-clock updates on Leeds’ search for a new manager in our interactive live blog.