Will Grayson drop down a division to manage Leeds?

Blackpool boss is 1/20 with Sky Bet to succeed McAllister

When chickendinner were informed that Gary McAllister had been sacked as Leeds manager yesterday, the name Gus Poyet immediately sprung to mind as to who was most likely to succeed him. However, while the former Elland Road number two was the initial frontrunner, he has been overtaken in the betting by Blackpool boss Simon Grayson, who is now 1/20 with Sky Bet.

If Grayson took the job it would mean stepping down a league after taking Blackpool into the Championship two seasons ago, where they now lie 16th. chickendinner could think of plenty of players who have stepped down a league or two in an attempt to prolong their carrers - Chris Coleman, Lee Carsley and Kevin Phillips for example - but it’s not so common for managers to make such a move.

The best example we came up with off the top of our heads was Kevin Keegan, whose first job after resigning from Newcastle, where he came close to winning the Premier League, was with third-tier Fulham. Leeds’ history and resources makes them an attractive proposition but it’s hard to see whether it is really worth jumping down a division, especially considering relegation is looking unlikely for Blackpool this season while Leeds are eleven points shy of automatic promotion.

Maybe the fact Grayson started his career at Leeds but failed to make the breakthrough has made him eager to compensate for that disappointment by being successful there as a manager but if you don’t expect him to move, Gus Poyet is now available at 7/1. Should Grayson take the job, he faces a tough start on Boxing Day at home to league leaders Leicester City, the club where he spent the longest spell of his playing career.

Posted: December 22nd, 2008 by Michael Lintorn |