Leeds to sack manager Javi Gracia and director of football Victor Orta
Leeds United are to sack manager Javi Gracia in a bid to secure their Premier League status, 90min understands, with director of football Victor Orta also leaving Elland Road.
90min revealed on Monday that Gracia's future was under consideration after an alarming run of form which has seen Leeds tumble into a relegation battle with just four games of the season remaining.
Sources have now confirmed that owner Andrea Radrizzani has made the decision to dismiss Gracia, who was only appointed in February following Jesse Marsch's departure and has overseen just 12 games in charge, and director of football Orta is to follow suit - he's been at the club for almost six years and played a huge role in appointing Marcelo Bielsa as manager.
The belief is that the Leeds players have not responded to Gracia's methods and, with such little time left in the season, a change needs to be made if Leeds are to have any chance of remaining in the Premier League.
Leeds travel to face Premier League leaders Manchester City on Saturday before closing out their season with games against Newcastle, West Ham and Tottenham.
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Plenty of names have been discussed by the Leeds hierarchy as the search for a successor to Gracia begins.
Sam Allardyce, who has been out of work since leaving West Bromwich Albion in the summer of 2021, is on the list of candidates but the likes of Tony Pulis, Harry Redknapp and Rafa Benitez have also been mentioned and the list of options is not believed to stop there.
Someone with experience of surviving a Premier League relegation battle is obviously the ideal candidate for Leeds, who do still remain in control of their own destiny despite a miserable run of results.
The Yorkshire outfit dropped to 17th in the table after Leicester's 2-2 draw with Everton and are level on points with 18th-placed Nottingham Forest, whose inferior goal difference (-8) sees them occupy the spot in the drop zone.
Everton are just one point behind the duo in 19th so there is little room for error for Leeds as they approach a daunting end to the season which will see them face three of the current top six sides.
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