The timing could not have been more brutal for Javi Gracia.
On Monday, the Spaniard was sacked from his short and ill-fated stint as Leeds United manager. Having replaced Jesse Marsch in February, his tenure lasted just 10 weeks and 12 matches, only three of which yielded wins to leave the Elland Road club perilously close to the relegation places.
Sam Allardyce will take over with Leeds 17th in the table, outside of the bottom three on goal difference alone and with four difficult Premier League fixtures to play. Hindsight will soon conclude whether Andrea Radrizzani's gamble proved a shrewd move from the owner, or a doomed throw of the dice that was prompted by panic.
