Sam Allardyce has been appointed as Leeds United’s interim manager. Javi Gracia and his backroom staff have been dismissed after just 12 games at the helm, as they watched their team concede 23 goals across seven matches in April.
A five-match winless run leaves the Whites 17th in the table and outside the relegation zone on goal difference alone. Leeds still have to play the Premier League’s first, third, sixth and 15th-placed sides before the campaign ends.
While Victor Orta wanted to continue with Gracia at the helm, the board, led by Andrea Radrizzani, felt new energy was needed to galvanise the players. This first led to a parting by mutual consent with the director of football and then the move to employ Allardyce, who will be assisted by former Oxford United boss Karl Robinson.
