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Javi Gracia set to be appointed as new Leeds United manager

Danny Jones - 21st February 2023

Javi Gracia is set to be appointed as the new Leeds United manager, according to reports, bringing the search for a replacement to a close after just over a fortnight.

As per the BBC, the former Watford boss is soon to be named as Jesse Marsch's successor after the American coach was sacked on 6 February.

The Spaniard has previously coached in the Premier League as well as in Spain, Greece, Russia and most recently in the Middle East, but was sacked by Qatari club Al Sadd SC back in June 2022.

Now, though, it looks like the 52-year-old — who boasts just 18 wins in his 56 matches in the English top-flight — will be trusted to shepherd the Whites to safety.

https://twitter.com/footballdaily/status/1627959986256252928?s=20

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Despite it being stated that under-21 boss Michael Skubala would take interim charge for the remainder of the season, club owner Andrea Radrizzani did insist upon a quick appointment with the club currently sat in the relegation places.

It still remains unconfirmed as to whether or not Gracia will be brought into the club immediately or at the start of next season, but with Leeds languishing in the drop zone (19th on the same amount of points), an immediate move seems crucial.

With an average of 1.18 points per game before he was sacked by Watford in September 2019, he guided the Hornets to an 11th-place finish and their first FA Cup final in 35 years in the 2018/19 season.

Will he be the right man to keep them in the Prem?

Featured Image — Watford FC (via Twitter)/Wikimedia Commons

Sport

The Moot Hall Arms might be one of the best football pubs not just Leeds, but the whole country

That's right, you heard: The Moot Hall Arms, a dyed-in-Peacock-feathers pub, isn't just one of the best spots to watch Leeds United in the city, or even Yorkshire, we believe it might just be one of the best sports bars in the whole country.

If you've ever been, you'll know why, and if you haven't, keep reading...

Located over in Mill Hill on the corner of Bishopgate and New Station Street, The Moot Hall is an unadulterated, uncensored and utterly unapologetic lovely letter to all things Leeds - both the team and the place.

Owned and operated by the Stonegate Group, but lovingly run by landlords Claire and Ross, a.k.a. 'Mr and Mrs Moot', this tribute to all things Elland Road is about as die-hard a Whites stronghold as you'll ever come by.

@thehootleeds All Leeds aren’t we? ⚽️ #leeds #leedsunited #lufc #ellandroad #leedspubs ♬ I Predict A Riot - Kaiser Chiefs

Claire took over the venue back in 2022, not long after cult icon Marcelo Bielsa led his Leeds side back to the Premier League for the first time in more than a decade and a half away from the top flight.

'Boss Lady' Claire fell became a fan not just of the beautiful game but of Leeds United when she fell in love with watching the late, great, Gary Speed.

What started as a teenage crush has gone on to become a lifelong love affair, and despite not hailing from the region herself, you won't find many bigger supporters of the local culture in the city centre.

You only have to see how many people filter through the doors, not only on a matchday, but throughout the week, even whether or not there's any football on the box.

Though, to be honest, there's also something on.

Glance around, and you'll see countless bits of sporting heritage hung on the walls, with tonnes of authentic pieces of paraphernalia, all situated pride of place across nearly every square inch.

Credit: The Hoot

Credit: The Hoot

As a passionate project that has seen the pair become popular local figures in their own right, the majority of this stuff has actually been gifted to them by fellow supporters and Leeds natives.

From the people who walk through the door, to the steady supply of merch they hand over to make this the Peacocks' paradise that it is, they live, breathe and bleed white, yellow and blue.

Previously, it was known as the Princess of Wales, the Waiting Rooms, and an old beer house known as Baht'ap, but this most recent iteration looks set to be the start of a dynasty.

Fans will be hoping that's a sign of things to come as they continue a period of rebuilding and expansion back in the first division, including a stadium redevelopment.

While there are plenty of places that hang up a flag or two, it isn't just a sporting allegiance for these lot; similar to the loyal matchgoers who follow Leeds home and away, it's quite literally a way of life.

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It's also worth noting, by the way, that while sharing its namesake, the Arms isn't located in the same area as the original Moot Hall (the old town hall, courts and council building) up on Briggate, but it is only a roughly five-minute walk away if you want to make a sort of publicans' pilgrimage.

For most Whites, every match is just as massive as the last one, but we need to tell you how huge the game coming up at Wembley is for the club.

Put simply, it could be one of the biggest days in Leeds United's modern history - that is, if/when they make it through to the final itself.

With that in mind, make sure you don't miss a second of the action, and even if the Moot Arms is packed, there are plenty of places to cheer on Daniel Farke's side. Roll on the weekend, marching on together.

https://thehootleeds.com/sport/best-pubs-to-watch-leeds-united-in-city-centre/

ALAW.

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Featured Images — The Manc Group

Sport

Football Focus cancelled by the BBC after more than half a century

In a fairly big bit of British broadcasting news, Football Focus is ending after more than half a century on our screens.

Announced on Thursday, 23 April, the once flagship show and weekly TV guide staple for countless domestic households is set to be cancelled after 52 seasons' worth of coverage.

With BBC Sport confirming the tough decision in a lengthy statement, the long-running show will be taken off the air at the end of the 2025/26 campaign.

Most programmes like these have seen declining audiences across the board in the era of streaming and digital packages across various platforms, but this is truly the end of an era.

An incredible 52-year journey comes to an end.

Following extensive consideration, BBC Sport has made the difficult decision to say goodbye to Football Focus at the end of this season.

First broadcast in 1974, Football Focus is a testament to the brilliant team who have… pic.twitter.com/bmHQqQdf6J
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) April 23, 2026

An official social media post reads: "An incredible 52-year journey comes to an end.⁣ Following extensive consideration, BBC Sport has made the difficult decision to say goodbye to Football Focus at the end of this season. ⁣
⁣
"First broadcast in 1974, Football Focus is a testament to the brilliant team who have worked on it over the years and, of course, the audience. The programme has been a staple of the BBC’s football coverage for decades, providing fans with interviews, analysis and stories from across the game ahead of the weekend’s fixtures.

"But changing audience behaviours means fans are now increasingly consuming football content in different ways, and we need to respond appropriately as we face difficult decisions around how the licence fee is spent.⁣"

Second only really to Match of the Day (MotD), which first began a whole decade prior to its once equally popular spin-off, Gary Lineker, Manish Bhasin, Alex Scott and others have all enjoyed varying periods hosting the regular weekend watch.

While even MotD has seen steadily dipping viewing figures, not just following the Lineker departure/saga, but ever since YouTube highlights and the social media era.

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A post shared by Alex Scott MBE (@alexscott2)

They go on to add: "Fans are accessing discussion, highlights, analysis and news through digital platforms and on-demand viewing, and as viewing habits continue to evolve, it is right that BBC Sport adapts how it brings football coverage to the widest audiences across television, radio, online and to its extensive social platforms.
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BBC Sport boasts a strong football rights portfolio and is set to significantly expand its digital output this year, growing content across BBC platforms, as well as a bold new slate of exclusive shows on YouTube.

"Featuring fresh formats, big personalities and more frequent, always-on content tailored for digital audiences, the expansion will bring fans closer to the game than ever before, delivering more high-quality, accessible and engaging football coverage at scale. We will release further details on these plans in the coming months."

Will you miss it? Perhaps more to the point, do you still watch Match of the Day, Soccer Saturday and the like on terrestrial telly here in the UK?

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Featured Images - BBC