Leeds United manager update as Lee Bowyer makes declaration amid Sam Allardyce talks as Javi Gracia sacked
Lee Bowyer still wants the Leeds United job despite the club closing in on Sam Allardyce to replace Javi Gracia, according to talkSPORT.
The Spaniard has lost his job in the wake of Sunday’s (30 April) latest thrashing, 4-1 at Bournemouth, with Victor Orta also jettisoned by Andrea Radrizzani.
Former Leeds United midfielder Bowyer emerged as one of the first names linked and although Allardyce is expected to be named later on Tuesday (2 May) appears to still hold hope.
The talkSPORT Twitter account claimed that the former Elland Road man was “desperate” for the job after he told Jim White and Simon Jordan, as per the talkSPORT website: “I love the club and I had great times there.
“And if I had the call of course, I’d never turn that job down. Never ever.
“If I was lucky enough to get that call I’d jump on it.”
Drama
The job appears to be Big Sam’s now for the final four games of the season, but with how things have gone in terms of managers at Leeds United this season anything is possible.
Gracia looked to be the club’s saviour as recently as a month ago but something destroyed his short reign at half time of the 5-1 defeat to Crystal Palace on 9 April and he was powerless from then on.
Starting the season under Jesse Marsch seems such a long time ago now, with the timing of the American’s eventual 6 February sacking and the subsequent fortnight of bungling the replacement putting Gracia on something of a hiding to nothing.
Two and a half months later and so it has turned out as the Spaniard is gone already, with the Whites staring down the prospect of relegation to the Championship amid an alarming collapse.
So the British manager’s merry-go-round of recent years has got a couple of final spins in it with Allardyce set to be parachuted in for the tail end of the campaign.
It is a no-lose situation for him since it is hugely uncertain how much effect he can have in such a short space of time, so relegation will essentially not be his fault, while he will be a total hero if he succeeds.
Bowyer would be an ever more surprising choice having never managed in the Premier League but if the club go down he may remain in the frame longer term, as he is available after leaving Birmingham City last year.
In other Leeds United news, Jamie Carragher has given a “crazy” reaction live on Sky Sports to the twist at Elland Road.