Leeds United statement carefully worded as Sky Sports pundit reads between lines
We’re delighted to welcome former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson as our exclusive columnist as each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Leeds United…
Paul Robinson has suggested Javi Gracia’s “flexible” contract means he will be gone at the end of the season if he fails to keep Leeds United in the Premier League.
The 40-year-old was appointed as the Whites’ new head coach on Tuesday (21 February) after the board failed to land a number of their managerial targets.
Despite the appointment of the former Watford boss, Robinson believes the club could well be reassessing the situation again in the summer.
“It’s a very good word [flexible]. A lot of clubs use ‘short-term contract’, it’s a very good way of wording the situation,” Robinson exclusively told MOT Leeds News.
“The way I would read ‘flexible’ is that if you do well and keep us in the Premier League then you get another contract next year.
“If they go down and it’s not a success you’ll be gone at the end of the season. It doesn’t take a genius to read into what that carefully worded statement means.
“It basically means if you keep us up you can stay if you don’t we will be reassessing the situation.”
Gracia will be looking to get off to a positive start this weekend and secure Leeds’ first Premier League win since 5 November when Southampton make the trip to Elland Road.
The Saints are currently bottom of the league standings but will leapfrog the Whites with a positive result on Saturday (25 December).
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.