Leeds United lost in embarrassing fashion yet again at the weekend, and that could lead the club to sacking manager Javi Gracia. The Spaniard only arrived at Elland Road in late February. Gracia is in an interim role until the end of the season, having replaced Jesse Marsch after a barren run of form.
Gracia could follow the same fate as the American, according to recent revelations out of the West Yorkshire club. Multiple reports indicate Leeds chairman Andrea Radrizzani is contemplating a second managerial change this season. After rattling off three victories in his first six Premier League games in charge, Gracia has hit a hole. The club earned just a singular point in its last five Premier League fixtures.
Leeds is now one point above the relegation zone. Worse off, Everton and Leicester City still have a pivotal match. Regardless of Monday’s result, Leeds will be in 17th, narrowly outside of the drop. However, with a trip to Manchester City in its next game, it is a five-alarm fire at Leeds. In fact, three of Leeds’s remaining four games are against City, Newcastle and Tottenham Hotspur. The fourth is no easy game either, as Leeds travels to West Ham.
Fans already turned on Gracia, just as they did to Marsch earlier in the campaign. Regardless, relegation is on the cards unless Leeds can pull off some surprising results.
Leeds sacking Gracia is desperate move for safety
The Whites need some of those results to guarantee safety. While it is always important for clubs to stay in the top flight, it could be far more significant in Leeds’s case. After all, the takeover from the San Francisco 49ers group is contingent on Leeds remaining in the Premier League. Likewise, Radrizzani would lose his ability to take on a new club, with Inter Milan one of the ones he is eyeing up.
If Leeds does opt for a new manager, Radrizzani is giving that search process to Sporting Director Victor Orta. Michael Skubala, who was a caretaker manager for three games earlier in the season, is one potential name, according to the Daily Mail. The publication also claimed former Leeds midfielder Lee Bowyer could create some much-needed support from fans. Other than that, Leeds is looking at coaches out of Spain and Holland to save the club’s season.
PHOTO: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire
