"Negative approach" - Eddie Gray issues Daniel Farke claim as Leeds United future questioned | OneFootball

The German boss has surprisingly come under the spotlight since winning promotion on Monday.

Leeds United legend Eddie Gray has defended Daniel Farke and believes that the club should back his ideas this summer amid reports that the club are looking to replace him.

News broke yesterday from the Daily Mail's Mike Keegan, less than two days on from the Whites confirming their return to the Premier League, that Leeds were considering getting rid of the German manager ahead of their first campaign back in the big league because of his poor record at the level.

Farke has now guided teams to promotion from the Championship three times in his career, twice with Norwich City and now once with his current club. However, the two times he held the reins in the English top flight, things haven't gone so well.

He was relegated in his first attempt with the Canaries in the 2019/20 campaign, and, when they got back up two seasons later, the East Anglian outfit got rid of him part the way through the term due to more poor performances.

Keegan's report stated that Leeds would only look to make a change if they had a replacement lined up, and that the club's hierarchy are aware of the potential backlash that might come from getting rid of the manager.

Eddie Gray announces his backing of Daniel Farke

At a live, post-promotion recording of the Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast, Gray protested the notion that Leeds should get rid of the man that has just taken them back to what will hopefully be the land of milk and honey for the Whites.

Jonny Buchan, the host of the podcast, asked the crowd, the day after Leeds' promotion was confirmed, who would like to see Farke in charge of the club in the Premier League. He felt that a surprising number of hands went up, which led Gray to question his shock at the support for the German.

"I think that there is a bit of a narrative out there from some sections of the fanbase, clearly not most of you here tonight, that feel like he has been in the Premier League before and hasn't necessarily done it and, therefore, Leeds might be better off with another man at the helm," Buchan responded.

The Scottish club legend, whose great nephew, Harry Gray, played in the 6-0 versus Stoke City on Monday, came back at the host's statement. He said: "That is a negative approach. I think the manager has done brilliantly... He might not have had the resources (when he was last in the Premier League).

"Leeds is a huge city; we're a huge football club. I think the directors will back him with the direction that he wants to go. I think he deserves all the credit that's been put upon him just now because I think he has done a fantastic job.

"It's not easy being the manager of Leeds United. It's a big city, it's a well-supported club - the expectation level is always there - and he has produced a side, now, that has got us back into the big league. So nobody can argue with that."

Pulling the plug on Daniel Farke now would be an odd choice

Getting rid of the former Norwich boss was something that the club reportedly considered following their play-off final loss to Southampton, although The Athletic have latterly stated that there was nothing serious behind this.

Then it would have felt like a more appropriate time to make a change, if that's what Leeds wanted to do, because he'd failed his task of winning promotion. But now he's achieved it, and, again, they are considering sacking him?

Any smart club will always have some form of contingency plan in place for their manager/head coach, and it may come to be that Farke isn't up to the standard of the Premier League. But, again, why would now, when the club is on such a high, be the right time to get rid of your promotion-winning manager?

The answer is it's not time. It may be half-a-dozen games into next season, not now though.