Phil McNulty shares ‘meltdown’ verdict at Leeds United after exits for senior duo
Phil McNulty believes Leeds United are currently in “meltdown” following the exits of manager Javi Gracia and director of football Victor Orta.
The pair have both been relieved of their duties in what has been a miserable season for the Whites.
Sam Allardyce has since been brought in for Gracia, with the club currently out of the relegation zone only on goal difference.
“Sam Allardyce was probably resigned to never receiving another call of desperation from a club in crisis after his failure to keep West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League two years ago,” McNulty wrote for BBC Sport.
“It was the 68-year-old’s first relegation from the top flight after never suffering the drop at Bolton Wanderers, Newcastle United, West Ham United, Sunderland, Crystal Palace and Everton. Allardyce’s time, it appeared, had finally passed.
“And yet the old street fighter has suddenly found another taker for his well-honed ‘Fireman Sam’ routine in Leeds United, with only four league games to pull off survival at a club in meltdown following the sacking of manager Javi Gracia and director of football Victor Orta.”
Crazy turn of events
Leeds supporters are well used to countless twists and turns on the pitch and behind the scenes, but even they will have been taken aback by the appointment of Allardyce.
Of course it represents desperation from the powers that be at Elland Road, but not a single person associated with the Whites will care one bit if Allardyce manages to pull off another miracle at the bottom end of the table.
The departure of Gracia was perhaps inevitable given the poor run that Leeds are currently on, but not many people would have predicted that Orta would go with him.
And even fewer people would have predicted the immediate arrival of Allardyce, who has it all ahead of him over the coming weeks.
His magic powers will need to be on show from day one, however, given that he has been handed the most difficult start possible with an away trip to Manchester City on Saturday (6 May).
In other Leeds United news, Andy Gray smirked in disbelief after Richard Keys made a bold prediction for Allardyce for the upcoming match against the Manchester outfit.