Leeds United consider Steven Gerrard, Scott Parker or Carlos Corberan as its next manager - Telegraph 2/6/23
Leeds United looking for replacement for Sam Allardyce, while club remains hopeful takeover will proceed soon
By Jason Burt and Mike McGrath
Steven Gerrard, Scott Parker and Carlos Corberán are among
the managers being considered by Leeds United after it was confirmed that Sam
Allardyce has left the club following relegation from the Premier League.
Allardyce met with Leeds chief executive Angus Kinnear on
Thursday afternoon and informed him that he did not want to continue as head
coach after a four-game spell in charge.
The 68-year-old lost three and drew one game but hugely
impressed the Leeds hierarchy along with his coaching staff of assistant Karl
Robinson and Robbie Keane.
“At this stage in my career I am not sure taking on this
challenge, which is potentially a long-term project, is something I could
commit to,” Allardyce said. “But I wish the club every success for the future
and hope the club returns to the Premier League, where they belong.”
In a statement confirming Allardyce’s departure, Kinnear
said: “Sadly it was not to be but Sam, Karl Robinson and Robbie Keane did
everything they could to lift the mood at Thorp Arch (training ground) and
Elland Road and for that we are all extremely grateful.”
Takeover key to short-term plans for troubled club
Leeds hope to appoint a new head coach in the next couple of
weeks. Kinnear is overseeing the process although it is complicated, in the
immediate short-term, by whether there will be a change of ownership.
It is hoped that an announcement will be made after the
weekend to clarify whether 49ers Enterprises, who own 44 per cent, will proceed
with an immediate buy-out of the majority stake which is held by chairman
Andrea Radrizzani.
If there is any delay beyond that as to what is happening it
is likely to cause anger among Leeds fans who are desperate for clarity and
re-organising the club. Leeds also do not currently have a director of football
following the dismissal of Victor Orta.
The Americans remain committed to buying Leeds at some stage
although there is the possibility that Radrizzani will want to continue for
another year in the hope that the club will make an immediate return from the
Championship. Radrizzani has, though, been completing the purchase of Italian
club, Sampdoria.
Championship experience, or big-name personality?
It is thought that Corberán is one of the candidates admired
by Radrizzani. The Spaniard is currently head coach of fellow Championship club
West Bromwich Albion and is understood to have a £2 million buy-out clause he
signed in February. The 40-year-old is a former assistant to Marcelo Bielsa at
Elland Road.
It remains to be seen, however, whether he is a big enough
personality to galvanise Leeds following their relegation. Gerrard, who was
sacked by Aston Villa last October, is understood to be interested and is also
on the list being reviewed by Kinnear who will carry on in his role even if the
takeover goes through.
Parker was sacked by Bournemouth at the start of the
campaign after publicly revealing his fears that the squad was not strong
enough to survive in the Premier League. Since then Gary O’Neil has steered
them to safety but there was also a takeover and significant money spent in the
January transfer window.
A huge plus for Parker is that in his two seasons in the
Championship he has been promoted on both occasions – with Fulham in 2020 and
last year with Bournemouth. Like Gerrard he is also readily available.
Leeds, though, intend to run a thorough recruitment process
and, understandably, have received a large number of enquiries from agents and
from managers interested in the job.
The profile of manager wanted may, of course, change
depending on the ownership issue and whether, for example, there will be
heavier investment should the 49ers complete the deal.
