Giles: Owner Cellino should take charge of Leeds
Leeds great Johnny Giles has told club owner Massimo Cellino to put himself in charge of the team after the man known as the ’manager eater’ struck again.
Cellino sacked David Hockaday after six games in charge of Leeds on Thursday, the third time in seven months he has fired a manager after twice getting rid of Brian McDermott earlier in the year.
The 57-year-old earned his unflattering nickname during a 20-year spell in charge of Cagliari which saw him see off 36 bosses, and he appears set to continue in that vein in England.
Having plucked Hockaday from obscurity – he admitted himself he was “Mr Nobody” – Cellino has now run out of patience with the ex-Forest Green man and sent him packing after two wins out of six.
Despite giving him a two-year deal on June 19 Cellino conceded he did not know if Hockaday would be any good, and has since accused him of needing “babysitting” and in one interview told him to “shut the f*** up”.
Having changed his mind on his decision to sack him on Sunday, he did the deed on Thursday in the wake of a cup loss to Bradford and Giles – who made more than 350 appearances for Leeds as part of Don Revie’s highly successful side – says enough is enough.
“I don’t think anybody would be a good choice,” he told Newstalk.
“I think this fella is a headbanger, that owner; I think he only employed that coach so that he could pick the team, bring the players in that he wants.
“No manager worth his salt will touch that job. This fella should make himself manager and pick the team himself. He employed this lad from nowhere, paying him buttons apparently.”
While Cellino now looks for another head coach, Neil Redfearn has been tasked with the job of taking the side against Bolton on Saturday.
It is understood the academy boss has no desire to take the role on a full-time basis – despite being well liked by Cellino – but is sure to be one of the names linked with replacing Hockaday.
Italian duo Rolando Maran and Ivo Pulga are sure to be considered, as is Gianluca Festa – the man Cellino asked to oversee McDermott while he was in office. Others such as Steve Clarke and Gary McAllister will also be linked, but it remains to be seen if they would be willing to work under a man who demands so much input.
“I’d like to thank David for his efforts over the last two and a half months but the results since the start of the season have meant we needed to act and make this decision,” Cellino said.
“After the defeat at Bradford I realised that my decision to keep David at the club following the defeat at Watford was wrong and I had to change my mind on the coach’s position.”
