Tony Cascarino shares Javi Gracia success verdict at Leeds United live on talkSPORT
Tony Cascarino believes the “strange” process to hire an interim manager has worked for Leeds United this season so far, the pundit told Natalie Sawyer live on talkSPORT.
Spaniard Javi Gracia took over Jesse Marsch at Elland Road upon the latter’s dismissal in February, with the former hired on a flexible contract.
Five other clubs in the Premier League have hired interim managers in recent times; Chelsea, Tottenham, Leicester, Southampton and Crystal Palace.
“Has it worked for Leeds, having an interim manager? Yeah,” Cascarino said live on talkSPORT. Arguing against that note, however, Sawyer replied: “They’re still in a relegation fight though, aren’t they?”
Speaking of the decision to hire interim managers, Cascarino added: “It does seem strange planning for a club and a business that are so successful in revenue and being a Premier League club that they don’t have anybody in place.
“That was always the idea before, have someone ready. If you’re going to sack someone, make sure you have got someone to step into his shoes. Quite clearly this isn’t the case for six teams in the Premier League.”
Difficult times
It has certainly been a more modern approach to hire managers on an interim basis, with the Premier League clubs that have followed this model enjoying mixed success so far.
Gracia hit the ground running at Elland Road and picked up some very favourable results, but the 5-1 home loss to Crystal Palace on Sunday (9 April) has put a massive dent in his brief stint so far.
The Whites were humiliated at home to the Eagles, with the West Yorkshire outfit desperate to right those wrongs in their upcoming clash against Liverpool on Monday (17 April).
Three clubs do, of course, have to go down this season, with struggling Southampton looking increasingly likely of being the first team to be relegated.
But Leeds are in real danger of joining them, with the club sitting just two points off the bottom three and just six points off rock bottom.
Fortunately, however, fellow strugglers Everton handed Leeds a boost this weekend by losing 3-1 to Fulham on Saturday (15 April).
In other Leeds United news, one senior player is close to signing a new contract extension with the Whites to stay at Elland Road.