Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino admits he was ready to axe Dave Hockaday on Saturday, but has now changed his mind.
A shock appointment in the summer, Hockaday has done little to win over his doubters in the opening weeks over the new Championship season. After bouncing back from an opening day defeat at Millwall to beat Middlesbrough, the Elland Road club have lost their subsequent two outings, the last of which was a 4-1 hammering at Watford on Saturday.
This immediately led to speculation that Hockaday, whose only previous managerial experience is with non-league Forest Green Rovers, was already facing the axe. But despite initially confirming this to local reporters following the loss at Vicarage Road, it wasn’t made official and Cellino has now revealed that he will give the 57-year-old more time.
“Yes, I decided to sack him, but I learned a long time ago to wait on a decision for 24 hours,” the club owner told the Yorkshire Evening Post. “If I fire the coach, I should fire myself because I haven’t signed enough good players. How can that be his fault? I want to do everything too fast – I want 15 new players, I want to be in the Premier League, I don’t want the old coach, I want a new one. I want to build Rome in 12 hours but it doesn’t happen.”
Leeds now turn their attention to the League Cup, in which they take on Yorkshire rivals Bradford City, of League One, on Wednesday evening. Bolton Wanderers then visit Elland Road on Saturday afternoon when the Championship resumes, in a match which, should they lose, would see them drop into the bottom three of the early league table.
Should an occurrence would likely see the Leeds boss lose his battle to keep his job, despite Cellino’s stay of execution. During his time at Cagliari, the Italian went through 36 managers in 20 years, which earned him the nickname of ‘manager eater.’ Unless results improve sharpish, it is perhaps inevitable that Hockaday will be added to the menu.
Leeds fans, are you pleased that Cellino has decided to give Hockaday more time? Or is he merely delaying the inevitable? Let us know your thoughts by joining in the discussion below!
