01 May 2023 , 23:00
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Former England manager Sam Allardyce could be in line for a shock return to football at Leeds United if the Premier League strugglers decide to dismiss head coach Javi Gracia.
The Whites have endured a nightmare campaign and are in major danger of dropping back into the Championship after a string of rotten results in recent weeks.
Gracia made a positive start to his Elland Road tenure after being drafted in on a deal until the end of the season, but Leeds have picked up just a solitary point from five matches and are outside of the relegation zone on goal difference alone after Leicester and Everton drew 2-2 on Monday night.
And with Gracia's position now looking increasingly perilous, The Athletic have revealed that the Leeds hierarchy are 'seriously considering' approaching Allardyce, who has been out of football since leaving West Bromwich Albion just under two years ago.
Allardyce was appointed by the Baggies when they were in a similar situation to Leeds during the 2020/21 campaign. But the former Bolton and Newcastle boss was unable to preserve West Brom's top-flight status during his brief stint at the Hawthorns.
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Although Allardyce has not managed since, the 67-year-old is believed to be keen on a return to the dugout and even offered his services to one of his former clubs, Everton, after they parted company with Rafa Benitez last January. Allardyce worked with Leeds chief executive Angus Kinnear at West Ham a decade ago.
Join the debate! Do you think Allardyce would be able to come in and keep Leeds up? Let us know here.
Leeds are set to sack head coach Javi Gracia (AFP via Getty Images)Leeds director of football Victor Orta's position is also at risk with the club mired in a relegation battle for the second successive season. Fans chanted against Orta and the Elland Road hierarchy at the weekend.
The Whites have just four Premier League games to secure survival, starting with a daunting trip to Premier League champions Manchester City on Saturday. Leeds then host Newcastle and Tottenham either side of a crunch relegation six-pointer at West Ham.
Gracia dodged questions over his future after Sunday's chastening 4-1 defeat against Bournemouth, who edged closer to survival at Leeds' expense. He said: "We try to insist in the things we need to improve. Of course if we concede the mistakes we are conceding in all the games it is difficult to compete well and get the results we need.
"We have to be more consistent defending, attacking, more aggressive. If we don't do that, it will be difficult to get the points we need. You know when I arrived the situation was even worse and now of course the last results are tough for all of us but we have to change the dynamic and we have four games to do it."