Sam Allardyce is appointed manager of Leeds United on Wednesday – on a £3million mission to beat the drop.
It is clear that the 68-year-old former manager of Bolton, West Ham and England will be paid around £500,000 to lead the Yorkshire club through the last four crucial games of the season as they fight for their Premier League lives.
Should Allardyce succeed, he will also bring a staggering bonus worth more than £2.5 million on top of that salary.
Leeds have yet to announce the departure of current manager Javi Gracia, who has been in charge for just two and a half months.
Sam Allardyce has agreed to a shock return to football after being appointed as Leeds United’s new manager
The former manager of West Ham, Bolton, England and West Brom will be well paid for his short spell
However, he will not be accompanied by longtime assistant Sammy Lee, who is on jury duty and has not been allowed to leave by the judge
However, after a quick 24 hours in West Yorkshire, it can be reported that:
- Gracia has already received his marching orders
- Allardyce will not be joined by longtime sidekick Sammy Lee as he is on jury duty and has not received a judge’s permission to be excused
- Former MK Dons and Oxford manager Karl Robinson will be Allardyce’s runner-up
- Allardyce will train for the first time on Tuesday ahead of their trip to Manchester City on Saturday
Those close to the situation say the hope is that Allardyce, who left his last role at West Bromwich Albion at the end of the 2020-2021 season, will make an immediate impact and ‘get them on their way’. Lee, who has had a long career by his side, would have joined him only if a judge told him he couldn’t be excused.
Robinson, who was sacked by League One Oxford in February, will assist, but it is clear he would be brought in regardless of Lee’s position.
Leeds are currently outside the drop zone on points difference. Relegation could be even more costly at Elland Road as a deal has been struck with the owners of NFL’s San Francisco 49ers to buy the club and there are concerns about the impact dropping out of the top flight could have.
After City, they host Newcastle for a trip to West Ham. Spurs head north for the final game of the season.
Ksrl Robinson is appointed assistant manager to Sam Allardyce at Leeds United
Leeds appointed ex-Watford boss Gracia on February 22. The 52-year-old Spaniard replaced American Jesse Marsch and oversaw wins in his first two Premier League games against Southampton and Wolves. A third win, against Nottingham Forest on 3 April, raised further hopes that the drop would be avoided.
However, Leeds only took one point from their last five games, conceding a whopping 18 goals in the process.
On 9 April, they went 1–0 away to Crystal Palace, who were relegation rivals at the time. But on a morale-sapping afternoon, Roy Hodgson’s Eagles won 5-1. Their equalizer, scored just before half-time by Marc Guehi, is seen as a turning point, while the impact of 75-year-old Hodgson at Selhurst Park has been noted.
Earlier on Tuesday, Leeds announced that football director Victor Orta had been shown the door.
His departure comes amid ongoing tensions between the Spaniard and other executives at Elland Road.
Mail Sport revealed on 10 February that Orta’s position at Leeds was under scrutiny following the sacking of Marsch and the ensuing difficulties the club faced in replacing him.
It is clear that the Leeds owner felt Marsch should have been sacked considerably earlier than he was due to the team’s poor winter form.
However, Orta continued to support the American coach despite opposition from colleagues.
Unai Emery was thought to have been the unanimous choice to replace Marsch if they had wanted to sack him sooner – but the ex-Arsenal had gone to Aston Villa in October.
When Marsch was finally sacked in February, Orta embarked on their now-infamous search for a new manager that resulted in failed attempts to lure Andoni Iraola from Feyenoord’s Rayo Vallecano and Arne Slot from Feyenoord.
They eventually ended up with Gracia, who was fired within three months.
Radrizzani is said to have pushed for Gracia’s departure ahead of Sunday’s 4-1 defeat at Bournemouth, but Orta wanted to support his compatriot.
There were also disagreements over the club’s recruitment and transfer policies.
Sources have indicated that Orta and board members disagreed on one of the deals with the club record £35.5 million that Hoffenheim striker Georgino Rutter secured in January.
Rutter has made just one Premier League start since his arrival and is yet to score.
Javia Gracia has already stepped down from his role as manager after a disastrous two and a half months
Leeds have sacked director of football Victor Orta after their 4-1 defeat to Bournemouth
Sources have indicated that Orta would leave at the end of the season regardless of the season’s climax. But his anticipated departure has been accelerated due to the Gracia debacle.
In a statement confirming Orta’s departure, Radrizzani said: “I am deeply saddened by the way this chapter is closing as Victor has been responsible for some of the best moments of my time as Leeds United owner and I thank him and its people for everything.” they have done for the past six years.
“However, it is clear that it is time to change course and that is why we have agreed that Victor will leave the club. I understand that supporters are hurt and upset, but now is the time for unity.
“We still have four cup finals to play this season and if we work together I believe we can survive.”