Since 1982 Eddie Gray has been sat behind the emergency glass Leeds United tends to smash through every so often. The club legend is routinely put forward by supporters as the man to save them from their lowest moments, aided by the academy’s stellar production line of young talent.
Naturally, with the Scot now 75-years-old, those calls have quietened in the 19 years since his last go at the Elland Road helm. However, Gray remains a big part of United life, home and away, as well as with the managers who have passed through the club down the years.
This week, with the club on the verge of relegation and requiring a miracle this weekend to survive, Sam Allardyce has turned to that talismanic figure. On Tuesday, the club released pictures of Gray and another Elland Road hero addressing the current squad at Thorp Arch.
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Gary McAllister, who won the First Division title with Leeds in 1992, was also with his compatriot at the training ground. Nothing has been revealed by the club about what was said, but the vast majority of the team was spread around, along with the coaching staff, as Gray and McAllister held court on one of the pitches.
With time and options running out for Allardyce, the head coach evidently felt something inspirational from new voices might be a big help to his players.
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