Sammy Lee will not join Sam Allardyce's Leeds United staff because he has been handed jury service.
Former England international Lee has worked under Allardyce at a number of clubs - most famously at Bolton - and also served as his number two during a short-lived spell in charge of the England national team. He followed the 68-year-old to Crystal Palace, Everton and West Brom after that England stint.
Allardyce has not returned to management since West Brom's relegation in 2021, stepping down when they dropped out of the Premier League. He is now destined for Leeds, who are poised to make him their fourth different manager this term, but Lee will not follow him to Elland Road.
According to The Times, Allardyce was keen to add Lee to his staff before the jury service scuppered those plans. He has been tipped to instead bring in Karl Robinson, the former Charlton and MK Dons manager who was sacked by Oxford earlier this year.
Allardyce will reportedly receive a salary of £500,000 for taking the Leeds job, though this would be supplemented by a bonus of more than £2.5m if he keeps the club in the league. Leeds are currently outside the bottom three on goal difference, with three of their remaining four games coming against teams in the top six.
Next up for the Whites is a trip to champions-elect Manchester City on Saturday, followed by a home meeting with Newcastle. They round off the season with a trip to Allardyce's former club West Ham - themselves not safe from relegation - and a home game against a Tottenham side who could have a European place on the line.
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Allardyce would become the fourth different man to take charge of a Premier League game for Leeds this season. Jesse Marsch began the season in charge, with Michael Skubala briefly in caretaker charge and Javi Gracia taking the reins in February.
Gracia is set to be relieved of his duties after taking just one point from Leeds' last five games, with a 4-1 loss at Bournemouth making it 18 goals conceded in that run. While the Spaniard's departure has not been confirmed at the time of writing, director of football Victor Orta has left the club by mutual consent.
“I am deeply saddened by the way that this chapter closes as Victor has been responsible for some of the best moments of my time as owner of Leeds United and I thank him and his people for all they have done in the past six years," owner Andrea Radrizzani said in a statement. “However, it is clear that it is time to change direction and therefore we have agreed that Victor will leave the club.
“I understand supporters are hurt and upset, but now is a time for unity. We have four cup finals left to play this season and working together, I believe we can survive.”
