‘Huge’ issue for Victor Orta behind the scenes as Leeds United pressure rises
Victor Orta will face “huge questions” over the head coach appointment after it was confirmed Michael Skubala will take charge of Leeds United for their upcoming fixtures, according to The Times.
The club confirmed on Tuesday evening (14 February) the under-21s boss would remain in charge for the foreseeable future as the board continue their search for a new permanent head coach.
The Times now claim (14 February) that Orta’s decision to extend Skubala’s spell in charge will have raised big questions.
“Leeds have given Orta the remit of finding a new head coach but the move to extend the caretaker management’s interim spell will raise huge questions over the appointment process,” they wrote
“Though the club is currently out of the relegation zone by just one point, the situation remains perilous with matches against Everton and Southampton likely to have a major bearing on their season.”
Impact
As long as Leeds pick up results, the board’s hunt for a new manager will avoid being criticised too much. A permanent appointment should have been made by now, but if the right man isn’t available, going down the interim route could well be the best option.
There have been a number of managers linked to the job and if Leeds can secure their Premier League survival, there’s a chance they could land one of their number-one choices in the summer. Skubala may well be the man to steer the Whites away from the bottom three, but if his interim spell ends badly the board will be solely responsible.
This weekend’s fixture against Everton has the feeling of a season-defining moment. The Toffees are just one place and one point behind Leeds and could leapfrog Skubala’s side with a positive result at Goodison Park. Three points for the Yorkshire side could be absolutely massive.
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