PAUL Heckingbottom may not be the man Leeds fans want, at least if the outcry on fans’ forums is any gauge.
But after six months of a season that has veered from the sublime to the ridiculous, the 40-year-old Yorkshire-man may be the man they need.
In the 14 years since Leeds’ relegation from the Premier League, 19 men have occupied the Elland Road dugout. For many - not least Thomas Christiansen that seat proved far too hot.
As defeats mounted amid a disciplinary meltdown, the Dane became increasingly subdued and monosyllabic.
Serious
Even in the good times he appeared introverted and serious, a perpetually furrowed brow betraying the pressure of managing this fallen behemoth.
“I felt the players were a little bit stressed when they went into games,” said owner Andrea Radrizzani (pictured right), who rather harshly called Christiansen “a mistake”. “We needed a coach with personality to calm them.”
At first glance, Heckingbottom, lured from Barnsley after two years of quiet overachievement, doesn’t fit the bill. The former Manchester United trainee certainly isn’t a larger-than-life character in the mould of Neil Warnock or Harry Redknapp.
Denne historien er fra February 11, 2018-utgaven av The Football League Paper.
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Denne historien er fra February 11, 2018-utgaven av The Football League Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
FUMING GRANT'S BLAST PAYS OFF
CHOICE words from Grant McCann at half-time did the trick as Doncaster Rovers came back to secure a point against classy Notts County.
BOSS MARTI'S ON A MISSION TO RESCUE R'S ALL OVER AGAIN
ARTI Cifuentes proved he was up for a challenge when he took the manager’s job at QPR just over a year ago.
HUSTLE FROM RUSSELL NETS DERBY SPOILS
HEAD coach Darrell Clarke praised goalscorer Jon Russell as his Barnsley side earned all three points in a home victory over South Yorkshire rivals Rotherham United.
DAVIES AGONY AS BLUES BLOW IT
ADEJECTED Chris Davies gave a bleak assessment of his Birmingham City side’s draw against Northampton Town.
WARNOCK: ONLY A GAME? IT'S LIFE OR DEATH IN SHEFFIELD!
JUST another game? Don’t pull that one on Neil Warnock, a Sheffield native, boyhood Blade and managerial veteran of nine Steel City derbies.
BISHOP AT THE HEART OF POMPEY WIN
COLBY Bishop’s spectacular return after heart surgery was a well-kept secret, said Portsmouth manager John Mousinho.
ACE VAKOUN CLEANS UP FOR THE HORNETS
VAKOUN Bayo took the plaudits once more after his goal sunk Oxford on Friday.
ANDI'S AT DOUBLE TO SPARK AWAY JOY
BLACKBURN Rovers boss John Eustace believes his team gave a text-book performance to get a first away win of the league season at Cardiff.
COV CATCH BLACK CATS NAPPING
SUNDERLAND head coach Regis le Bris was frustrated his players couldn’t build on two moments of first half magic that should have seen off managerless Coventry City at the Stadium of Light.
FARKE: WE HAVE THE WINNING MENTALITY TO STAY COURSE
Pressure mounts on Hoops manager
