Leeds United have officially sacked manager Javi Gracia after just 10 weeks in charge as The Whites continue to flirt with relegation, with Sam Allardyce now confirmed as his replacement.
Barring their 2-1 victory over fellow relegation rivals Nottingham Forest at the start of April, Leeds are without a win in their last five games — a run which has included just one draw and heavy defeats to Bournemouth, Liverpool and Crystal Palace.
With 15 goals conceded in those three games alone, there were always going to be questions over Gracia's future, and the club confirmed his departure in a statement on Wednesday, just a day after Director of Football Victor Orta left by "mutual consent", with Allardyce's appointment announced simultaneously.
📰 #LUFC can confirm Javi Gracia will leave the club, with our remaining four games overseen by experienced head coach Sam Allardyce. We thank Javi and his team for their efforts under difficult circumstances.
Although Gracia may have hay only been at the club for a relatively short time, Orta was considered a key figure in the Peacocks' resurgence and return to the Prem during his tenure, arriving at Elland Road in 2017 after the club was bought by Andrea Radrizzani.
Having helped recruit several important players and staff over the past few years, Radrizzani said he is "deeply saddened by the way that this chapter closes", thanking him for "some of the best moments of [his] time as owner of Leeds United".
Nevertheless, the Italian businessman went on to admit that there is clearly a need "to change direction" and while he understands "supporters are hurt and upset", he is calling for "unity" with what he dubbed as "four cup finals left to play this season"
Allardyce hasn't had a professional coaching job since 2021, when he was at West Bromwich Albion, becoming the first manager to take charge of eight different Premier League clubs.
The 68-year-old isn't just an experienced coach and the only England manager to ever boast a 100% win record — admittedly, only lasting 67 days and playing one game before being sacked for illegal activities — but he also has a well-established track record of keeping clubs up during crunch time.
With the squad themselves issuing a statement following the recent run of results and apologising for a video of the players seemingly ignoring supporters (including one young fan), on the way out of the team hotel, they have now apologised and assured they will "keep going until the last ball is kicked".
With just four games left to play and every point absolutely crucial to their survival, will Big Sam be the man to keep Leeds out of the drop zone?
Featured Image — Leeds United/FA TV
Sport
Inside the huge multi-million-pound makeover transforming Leeds United’s facilities
Yorkshire interior design specialist Design Tonic has completed a major series of projects for Leeds United Football Club.
A new era for Leeds United is on the horizon, and we're catching a first glimpse of it already.
Design Tonic is a long-standing design and build partner of the football club that has delivered approximately 30,000 sq ft of new and refurbished space, completed to coincide with the start of the new premier league season.
The latest work has been designed to support the club’s continued development of plans for Elland Road, including the new West Stand.
Image: Supplied (Pink Gorilla)
The main element of the programme has been the full design and build of a new 20,000 sq ft temporary hospitality marquee at Elland Road, providing high-quality hospitality facilities while the West Stand is redeveloped.
The facility incorporates four individual hospitality suites with capacity for approximately 1,000 guests with interiors carefully considered to deliver a high-end experience.
Images: Supplied (Pink Gorilla)
Alongside the temporary hospitality facility, Design Tonic has delivered a series of significant upgrades throughout Elland Road including the creation of a new Presidents Lounge transforming a previous back-of-house area into a premium hospitality environment, a new Chairman’s Guest Lounge, and refurbishment of the club’s reception and boardroom.
Head of IT and facilities at Leeds United Football Club, Mark Broadley, said: “Design Tonic has become a trusted partner to Leeds United. They understand both the operational requirements of a football club and the importance of ensuring every environment feels unmistakably Leeds United.
Images: Supplied (Pink Gorilla)
“This has been a particularly important project for us, supporting the next stage of development at Elland Road while ensuring our hospitality guests continue to receive a high- quality experience. At the same time, the improvements at Thorp Arch enhance the everyday environments available to our players and Academy.
“The completed spaces look fantastic and provide an excellent platform as the club starts the new Premier League season.”
Leeds United among Premier League clubs with the cheapest pints, new data reveals
Clementine Hall
Leeds United fans looking for a crisp pre-match pint, you're in luck.
Why? Because new data has revealed Leeds United as one of the Premier League clubs offering the cheapest pints.
It's al down to credit card provider Zable who analysed the average price of a pint at pubs near every Premier League stadium, revealing which fanbases pay the most, and least, for their pre-match drink.
You'll be glad to know that Leeds United ranked a very respectable fifth among the Premier League teams with the cheapest pre-match pints, with fans paying an average of £4.74 at pubs near the Elland Road Stadium.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
However, if fans are looking to grab a drink inside the stadium, they face a higher price tag, with a pint costing £5.60, a difference of over 18%.
Newly promoted Coventry supporters are getting the best deal in the league with the average pint nearby to the stadium costing £4.16, whilst Sunderland came in second please (£4.41), followed by Hull City (£4.70).
The top 10 most expensive pre-game pint prices at nearby stadium pubs:
Coventry (£4.16)
Sunderland (£4.41)
Hull City (£4.70)
Bournemouth (£4.72)
Leeds United (£4.74)
Liverpool (£4.95)
Newcastle United (£5.07)
Manchester United (£5.18)
Ipswich Town (£5.27)
Nottingham Forest (£5.34)
Adam McAllister at Zable says: "For many fans, grabbing a pint before kick-off is part and parcel of the matchday experience, but our research shows that where you choose to drink can make a noticeable difference to the price. While stadium pints are often assumed to be more expensive, that's not always the case.
"With the cost of attending football continuing to add up, from tickets and travel to food and drinks, small differences like these can make a real impact on the overall cost of a matchday. Taking a little time to compare prices before heading to the stadium this season could help fans make their money go further, whether they choose to have a pint at the pub or inside the ground."
Danny Jones -
3rd May 2023 
