The Barclaycard Premiership’s bottom club parted company with Reid by mutual consent following a dismal run of the results and he will be replaced in the short term by former boss Eddie Gray, in a caretaker role.

Saturday’s 6-1 thrashing at Portsmouth turned out to be the final act for Reid, who took over following Terry Venables’ departure last season.

But Jose offered a ray of hope to anyone brave enough to jump into Reid’s shoes.

“Really whoever comes in is in a no-lose situation, because everyone thinks we are going to get relegated,” he reasoned.

“But whether or not a young manager would fancy it or whether we should get someone hard-nosed in to do a job I don’t know.

“I think personally I would look abroad. If you look at the more successful managers in the Premiership none of them are English now.

“There is a different mentality abroad, and it is maybe time to look at bringing that in.”

Jose is in no doubt that Reid simply had to go.

He said: “I don’t know whether any decision this club takes any more is the right one. The whole thing is a mess.

“I suppose I feel a bit sorry for Reid – but after 6-1 at Portsmouth I don’t think there was a lot of choice. The players are not motivated, and the tactics are wrong.

“It is not the right decision – it is the only decision they could have made. We are looking at Premiership survival now.

“We have been mauled by Leicester, Everton and now Portsmouth this season - and they really had to change the manager now, because if we are still bottom by Christmas we will be relegated.”

Leeds appear to have lurched from one crisis to another in recent seasons, the decision to part company with Reid coming soon after the announcement of British record annual losses.

The club remain some £80million in debt, and Jose admitted the situation had become so bad it was difficult to see the way forward.

Gray therefore faces a tricky task to revive the club quickly enough before relegation becomes a formality.

Ray Fell, chairman of the Leeds United Supporters Club, accepted old favourite Gray has a tough job in store.

He told Sky Sports News: “We have seen other people come in for a short period and we can only hope this works out all right.

“We wish Eddie luck. He will probably tackle the problem in the same way as Peter, but we hope it goes for him. He will probably need the patience of Job, the wisdom of Solomon and the luck of the Irish.”