Yorkshire Evening Post 30/1/08
Macca eyes Leeds United promotion
By Phil Hay
Elland Road icon Gary McAllister was launching his reign as Leeds United's manager today – with the sole and immediate aim of returning the club to the Championship.
McAllister was meeting United's squad for the first time this morning after finalising an emotional return to the club yesterday, and his first challenge will be to grasp the chance of promotion which set up by his predecessor Dennis Wise.
United have handed McAllister an initial contract until the end of the season, resisting the option of tying him down to a long-term deal immediately, and the 43-year-old revealed he had been recruited by chairman Ken Bates with the order to secure a route out of League One this season.
McAllister said: "The job brief is promotion. I'm here until June initially and, quite simply, my job is to come here and kick-start it.
"There's a lot of hard work to be done. They've got themselves in a fantastic position and that's credit to Dennis and the players. When a new manager is appointed late in January it's usually to pick up the pieces of failure, but this is different. I'm joining a winning club."
McAllister agreed the terms of his short-term deal during a meeting with Bates in Monaco yesterday, and he flew back to England after signing the contract to prepare for his first encounter with his squad at Thorp Arch today.
The news of his appointment failed to save Leeds from a 1-0 defeat to Southend United at Roots Hall last night, but United's decision to name their former player and captain as Wise's successor has been met with widespread approval among the club's supporters.
Technical director Gwyn Williams revealed that McAllister had not been an automatic choice to replace Wise, but said United's interest in appointing him had been overwhelming after an initial meeting with the Scot revealed his passion and enthusiasm for the position.
Williams, who acted as caretaker boss at Roots Hall yesterday evening after Leeds dispensed with the services of Dave Bassett and John Gannon, said: "When we met Gary, he didn't hesitate in saying he wanted to come here. He's a young guy with experience of working as a manager, and he's got good ideas of how to take the club forward.
"We drew up a shortlist, and the important thing for us was to try and establish someone, and to get someone who was available to do the job straight away.
"We've taken Gary for that reason, but we've also taken him because he was positive and he wanted the job. He's got good credentials and he's a Leeds legend.
"There were many people we discussed and many people were approached. In the end, everyone was happy with Gary coming in."
McAllister's popularity grew during almost 300 appearances for Leeds as a player between 1990 and 1996, and he won the Division One title with the club in 1992 during Howard Wilkinson's tenure at Elland Road.
He also enjoyed a successful and high-profile spell with Liverpool and won more than 50 caps for Scotland before taking his first and only previous managerial position at Coventry City in 2002.
His reign as Highfield Road lasted for 76 matches and almost two years, but he stood down at the start of 2004 for personal reasons with his late wife fighting to overcome cancer.
McAllister was subsequently linked to the manager's job at Leeds around the time of Wise's appointment in October 2006, but the opportunity arose again last week after Wise agreed to join Newcastle United in the unusual role of executive director (football).
Confirmation of Wise's replacement was initially expected to made after last night's game, but the announcement of McAllister's return came through shortly before 6pm yesterday evening after a day of speculation linking him to the job.
Bates said: "We decided to move quickly and Gary was always in our minds.
"On Friday when we heard that Newcastle were interested in Dennis, we immediately started our contingency plans and identified Gary.
"His mission is to complete the good work and get us back into the Championship. Gary was happy to accept on those terms because he is confident in his own ability."
Leeds have already relieved Bassett from his duties as assistant boss, while first-team coach Gannon has also left the club after just over two months with the backroom team at Elland Road.
Williams, meanwhile, has operated as United's technical director since the summer of 2006, with particular responsibility for the club's scouting network, and asked if he would still have a role to play under McAllister, he said: "That's down to the new manager. I'm happy to stay but if he feels that I'm not part of it then I understand."
Times 29/1/08
Gary McAllister given task of finishing job started by Dennis Wise at Leeds United
Tom Dart
An abrupt departure was followed by a swift arrival yesterday as Leeds United quickly replaced Dennis Wise with Gary McAllister, another forty-something former international midfield player. Ken Bates, the Leeds chairman, has agreed an initial deal until the end of the season with McAllister, who is understood to have flown to Bates’s home in Monaco last weekend to discuss personal terms as Wise prepared to join Newcastle United. McAllister’s first match in charge will be at home to Tranmere Rovers on Saturday.
The 43-year-old is likely to prove a popular choice with supporters because he evokes memories of past glories that seem very distant. He was in the Leeds team who won the old first division title under Howard Wilkinson in 1992 and spent six years at the club, making almost 300 appearances. He left for Coventry City in 1996 before a surprise switch to Liverpool in 2000, playing a pivotal role despite being in his mid-thirties as the club won three trophies in 2000-01.
While Wise, who has joined Newcastle as an executive director, had a reputation as an abrasive midfield force, McAllister was more silk than steel. He won 57 caps for Scotland and is remembered for his set-piece expertise and passing ability, although he infamously missed a penalty against England during Euro ’96.
McAllister is quite short of managerial experience, however. He returned to Coventry as player-manager in April 2002 but left 20 months later to help to care for his terminally ill wife, Denise, who died of breast cancer in 2006. “He has a strong affection for the club and will be relishing the chance to return to management with a club of Leeds’s stature,” a source close to McAllister said.
Dave Bassett, Wise’s assistant, and John Gannon, a coach, were relieved of their duties yesterday. They had been preparing the team for last night’s Coca-Cola League One match away to Southend United and Bassett had been expected to take charge for the fixture. That task passed to Gwyn Williams, the technical director.
Bassett was appointed as Wise’s right-hand man in November after Gustavo Poyet left to take up a similar role under Juande Ramos at Tottenham Hotspur. “Dennis was very sorry to leave,” Bassett said. “I was surprised when he said he was going, but Newcastle was a job he fancied and it gives him a bit more time with his family.
“At first it was hard for him at Leeds, but he had grown to like the job and had some success this season. I think that Leeds will get promoted through the play-offs.
“I was only there three months and was only going to stay until the end of the season, but I was enjoying it and would have liked to see it through. Myself and John know the score, though. New people coming in want to bring their own team.”
White knight: Gary McAllister
Born on Christmas Day, 1964, he started at Motherwell, moving to Leicester City in 1985.
He joined Leeds United in 1990 and stayed at Elland Road for six years, moving to Coventry City for £3 million before switching to Liverpool on a Bosman free transfer in 2000.
His last-minute 40-yard free kick goal won the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park in April 2001. The next January he was appointed MBE for services to football.
He left Anfield to become player-manager of Coventry in 2002, staying less than two years as he resigned to take care of his wife, who had breast cancer.
Yorkshire Evening Post 29/1/08
Southend United 1 Leeds United 0
Leeds United signed off from the Dennis Wise era with a 1-0 loss to Southend United at Roots Hall.
A first-half goal from Lee Barnard condemned Leeds to their sixth league defeat and prevented the club from celebrating the appointment of Gary McAllister as their new manager with a positive result in Essex.
McAllister had been confirmed as United's replacement for Wise two hours before kick-off at Roots Hall, and he will meet the club's players for the first time tomorrow before beginning his reign in earnest during Saturday's clash with Tranmere Rovers at Elland Road.
But Barnard earned Southend three important points in the 41st minute by turning home the rebound after a free-kick from Steven Hammell was parried on the United's goalline by keeper David Lucas, who was standing in for the injured Casper Ankergren.
Leeds' chances were few in number, but Tresor Kandol should have cancelled out Barnard's goal on the hour. Jermaine Beckford's flick played Peter Sweeney clear inside Southend's box, but the winger's hanging cross was driven wide by Kandol at the back post with Darryl Flahavan's goal gaping.
Kandol had earlier glanced a header inches wide of the post but it took Lucas' brilliant late saves from Barnard and substitute Damian Scannell to prevent a heavier scoreline as Southend closed out their win with confidence.
Macca eyes Leeds United promotion
By Phil Hay
Elland Road icon Gary McAllister was launching his reign as Leeds United's manager today – with the sole and immediate aim of returning the club to the Championship.
McAllister was meeting United's squad for the first time this morning after finalising an emotional return to the club yesterday, and his first challenge will be to grasp the chance of promotion which set up by his predecessor Dennis Wise.
United have handed McAllister an initial contract until the end of the season, resisting the option of tying him down to a long-term deal immediately, and the 43-year-old revealed he had been recruited by chairman Ken Bates with the order to secure a route out of League One this season.
McAllister said: "The job brief is promotion. I'm here until June initially and, quite simply, my job is to come here and kick-start it.
"There's a lot of hard work to be done. They've got themselves in a fantastic position and that's credit to Dennis and the players. When a new manager is appointed late in January it's usually to pick up the pieces of failure, but this is different. I'm joining a winning club."
McAllister agreed the terms of his short-term deal during a meeting with Bates in Monaco yesterday, and he flew back to England after signing the contract to prepare for his first encounter with his squad at Thorp Arch today.
The news of his appointment failed to save Leeds from a 1-0 defeat to Southend United at Roots Hall last night, but United's decision to name their former player and captain as Wise's successor has been met with widespread approval among the club's supporters.
Technical director Gwyn Williams revealed that McAllister had not been an automatic choice to replace Wise, but said United's interest in appointing him had been overwhelming after an initial meeting with the Scot revealed his passion and enthusiasm for the position.
Williams, who acted as caretaker boss at Roots Hall yesterday evening after Leeds dispensed with the services of Dave Bassett and John Gannon, said: "When we met Gary, he didn't hesitate in saying he wanted to come here. He's a young guy with experience of working as a manager, and he's got good ideas of how to take the club forward.
"We drew up a shortlist, and the important thing for us was to try and establish someone, and to get someone who was available to do the job straight away.
"We've taken Gary for that reason, but we've also taken him because he was positive and he wanted the job. He's got good credentials and he's a Leeds legend.
"There were many people we discussed and many people were approached. In the end, everyone was happy with Gary coming in."
McAllister's popularity grew during almost 300 appearances for Leeds as a player between 1990 and 1996, and he won the Division One title with the club in 1992 during Howard Wilkinson's tenure at Elland Road.
He also enjoyed a successful and high-profile spell with Liverpool and won more than 50 caps for Scotland before taking his first and only previous managerial position at Coventry City in 2002.
His reign as Highfield Road lasted for 76 matches and almost two years, but he stood down at the start of 2004 for personal reasons with his late wife fighting to overcome cancer.
McAllister was subsequently linked to the manager's job at Leeds around the time of Wise's appointment in October 2006, but the opportunity arose again last week after Wise agreed to join Newcastle United in the unusual role of executive director (football).
Confirmation of Wise's replacement was initially expected to made after last night's game, but the announcement of McAllister's return came through shortly before 6pm yesterday evening after a day of speculation linking him to the job.
Bates said: "We decided to move quickly and Gary was always in our minds.
"On Friday when we heard that Newcastle were interested in Dennis, we immediately started our contingency plans and identified Gary.
"His mission is to complete the good work and get us back into the Championship. Gary was happy to accept on those terms because he is confident in his own ability."
Leeds have already relieved Bassett from his duties as assistant boss, while first-team coach Gannon has also left the club after just over two months with the backroom team at Elland Road.
Williams, meanwhile, has operated as United's technical director since the summer of 2006, with particular responsibility for the club's scouting network, and asked if he would still have a role to play under McAllister, he said: "That's down to the new manager. I'm happy to stay but if he feels that I'm not part of it then I understand."
Times 29/1/08
Gary McAllister given task of finishing job started by Dennis Wise at Leeds United
Tom Dart
An abrupt departure was followed by a swift arrival yesterday as Leeds United quickly replaced Dennis Wise with Gary McAllister, another forty-something former international midfield player. Ken Bates, the Leeds chairman, has agreed an initial deal until the end of the season with McAllister, who is understood to have flown to Bates’s home in Monaco last weekend to discuss personal terms as Wise prepared to join Newcastle United. McAllister’s first match in charge will be at home to Tranmere Rovers on Saturday.
The 43-year-old is likely to prove a popular choice with supporters because he evokes memories of past glories that seem very distant. He was in the Leeds team who won the old first division title under Howard Wilkinson in 1992 and spent six years at the club, making almost 300 appearances. He left for Coventry City in 1996 before a surprise switch to Liverpool in 2000, playing a pivotal role despite being in his mid-thirties as the club won three trophies in 2000-01.
While Wise, who has joined Newcastle as an executive director, had a reputation as an abrasive midfield force, McAllister was more silk than steel. He won 57 caps for Scotland and is remembered for his set-piece expertise and passing ability, although he infamously missed a penalty against England during Euro ’96.
McAllister is quite short of managerial experience, however. He returned to Coventry as player-manager in April 2002 but left 20 months later to help to care for his terminally ill wife, Denise, who died of breast cancer in 2006. “He has a strong affection for the club and will be relishing the chance to return to management with a club of Leeds’s stature,” a source close to McAllister said.
Dave Bassett, Wise’s assistant, and John Gannon, a coach, were relieved of their duties yesterday. They had been preparing the team for last night’s Coca-Cola League One match away to Southend United and Bassett had been expected to take charge for the fixture. That task passed to Gwyn Williams, the technical director.
Bassett was appointed as Wise’s right-hand man in November after Gustavo Poyet left to take up a similar role under Juande Ramos at Tottenham Hotspur. “Dennis was very sorry to leave,” Bassett said. “I was surprised when he said he was going, but Newcastle was a job he fancied and it gives him a bit more time with his family.
“At first it was hard for him at Leeds, but he had grown to like the job and had some success this season. I think that Leeds will get promoted through the play-offs.
“I was only there three months and was only going to stay until the end of the season, but I was enjoying it and would have liked to see it through. Myself and John know the score, though. New people coming in want to bring their own team.”
White knight: Gary McAllister
Born on Christmas Day, 1964, he started at Motherwell, moving to Leicester City in 1985.
He joined Leeds United in 1990 and stayed at Elland Road for six years, moving to Coventry City for £3 million before switching to Liverpool on a Bosman free transfer in 2000.
His last-minute 40-yard free kick goal won the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park in April 2001. The next January he was appointed MBE for services to football.
He left Anfield to become player-manager of Coventry in 2002, staying less than two years as he resigned to take care of his wife, who had breast cancer.
Yorkshire Evening Post 29/1/08
Southend United 1 Leeds United 0
Leeds United signed off from the Dennis Wise era with a 1-0 loss to Southend United at Roots Hall.
A first-half goal from Lee Barnard condemned Leeds to their sixth league defeat and prevented the club from celebrating the appointment of Gary McAllister as their new manager with a positive result in Essex.
McAllister had been confirmed as United's replacement for Wise two hours before kick-off at Roots Hall, and he will meet the club's players for the first time tomorrow before beginning his reign in earnest during Saturday's clash with Tranmere Rovers at Elland Road.
But Barnard earned Southend three important points in the 41st minute by turning home the rebound after a free-kick from Steven Hammell was parried on the United's goalline by keeper David Lucas, who was standing in for the injured Casper Ankergren.
Leeds' chances were few in number, but Tresor Kandol should have cancelled out Barnard's goal on the hour. Jermaine Beckford's flick played Peter Sweeney clear inside Southend's box, but the winger's hanging cross was driven wide by Kandol at the back post with Darryl Flahavan's goal gaping.
Kandol had earlier glanced a header inches wide of the post but it took Lucas' brilliant late saves from Barnard and substitute Damian Scannell to prevent a heavier scoreline as Southend closed out their win with confidence.
