03 May 2023 , 16:30
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Sam Allardyce has voiced his frustration that Sammy Lee wasn't able to leave jury service and join his Leeds backroom staff after he was appointed as manager until the end of the season.
Allardyce, 68, replaced the outgoing Javi Gravia as the new Leeds boss for the final four Premier League matches in an attempt to keep the Whites in the division. Leeds currently sit 17th, level on points with 18th-place Nottingham Forest in the battle to stay in the top flight.
As the Whites' goal difference is marginally better than Forest's, they lie outside the relegation zone but face Manchester City in Allardyce's first game in charge on Saturday. The ex-West Ham and Bolton boss has moved quick to bring in Karl Robinson and Robbie Keane as two of his assistants.
However, Allardyce wanted to add Lee to his ranks, having worked with the ex-Liverpool midfielder as his no.2 during his managerial career. But Lee has been unable to join up with Allardyce because he is on jury service - a decision the new Leeds boss has branded as "poor judgement".
He said in his first press conference: "The judge has left Sammy unemployed and not let him off. Very poor judgement indeed. Shame because the wee man loves being with me and I with him."
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Leeds were on a torrid run of form before Allardyce's appointment, winning one of their previous seven matches, conceding 18 goals in the process. Their 4-1 defeat at Bournemouth proved to be the end for Gracia, who was sacked less than three months into his tenure at Elland Road.
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With City, Newcastle, West Ham and Newcastle to come in their final four games, Allardyce has a huge task on his hands to keep Leeds in the Premier League - but he believes they can get the job done. Leicester, West Ham, Everton, Southampton, Forest and Leeds are amongst the clubs fighting for survival.
"I wish it was a bit less challenging but we have to face what we have to face," he added. "The first thing I did when I looked at the fixtures was I thought they could've been a bit kinder.
"We have to create a shock so hopefully we can shock a few people in the Premier League by getting the results we need to stay up. I hope we can find six points from four."
Allardyce continued: "If experience means anything and I've got an opportunity to pass that on. Hopefully, if they can grasp as much of that as they can and increase their own performance by 1 or 2 per cent then that will give us a chance."