Monk – silent and celibate enough for Cellino?
So, the least surprising Leeds United news of all time is finally confirmed, after weeks of needless shilly-shallying during which owner Massimo Cellino displayed a characteristic lack of class, guts and decency. Rumour has it that il Loco wasn’t even man enough to tell Steve Evans in person that he was no longer required. Well done, thou good and faithful servant – now, kindly leave the building.
Various betting markets will now open. The first may well be as to how many Leeds coaches it is till Christmas, with five as the even money favourite. More seriously, speculation is rife as to the identity of the next mug stupid enough to work for an incompetent egomaniac like Cellino. Evans’ departure may mean that a new patsy, number seven of that ilk, is in the offing – or it may simply be that today was the last possible day to announce Big Steve’s contract would not be renewed. It’s humiliatingly disgusting either way. Leeds United is a difficult club to be proud of supporting these days.
If the next dead man walking has at last been identified, then a fair bit of money says it could be former Swansea manager Garry Monk. (Swansea, you may remember, are one of that clutch of clubs which shared with us our dismal League One days, and who have now established themselves way ahead of us in the Premier League with a trophy on the sideboard. Current English Champions Leicester City are another).
If it is to be Monk, he will presumably have been briefed as to his working conditions. The lower league managers approached in the last week or so appear to have asked awkward questions about those conditions, before wisely concluding that they’re better off where they are. Monk, if he is the one, would have to understand that as Leeds Head Coach, he would be very much the President’s man. There must be no unauthorised yapping to the Press, like that maverick Evans. No whipping up the crowd with the Leeds salute, like that self-promoting Redders. And definitely NO attempts to become more popular with the fans than Cellino himself. That’s the ultimate no no.
Anyone who accepts a job like Leeds under the kind of restrictions that proved unpalatable to the managers of MK Dons and Bristol Rovers may not – we might ruefully suppose – be the type of guy we really need. And therein lies the conundrum, that’s the real Catch-22. The kind of man and manager we really need – able to handle himself in the media, principled, tough, decisive, all that malarkey – would be anathema to Signor Cellino. Heavens above, we’ve just this minute got rid of one like that!
And, by the same token, the sort that il Duce really seems to want – a yes man, unprotesting, biddable sort of chap – that’s the exact opposite of the archetypal successful Leeds United boss down the years. It’s an equation that just will not balance. The best we can hope for is that Cellino might be taken out of that equation, and soon, by some court or governing body or other. Because, otherwise, the craziness and the shame will continue.
If the President’s Lucky Seven choice for Leeds turns out to be Monk (and, of course, if Monk recklessly accepts a doomed commission) then we can assume that the vow of silence will already be signed, sealed and delivered. And the vow of celibacy can be taken as read, too – after all, no-one with the balls to stand up to Cellino will be getting anywhere near the manager’s office at Elland Road.
And – to my many detractors, most of whom have had silence imposed upon them – believe me, it gives me no pleasure to write in this vein. I would not choose to pour scorn or drip sarcasm over my beloved Leeds United. It’s painful and heart-rending. But take a step back from your lifelong loyalty and your blindness to the truth – and look at Cellino’s Leeds in the cold light of day. It’s not a pretty sight, is it?
Whoever gets the job next, unless he finds himself freed by exterior forces from Cellino, he will most certainly fail. Hamstrung, gagged and with his hands tied behind his back, just ask yourselves – how could he do otherwise?
Life, Leeds United, the Universe & Everything 
Never heard a Leeds manager heap so much praise on our team and supporters in donkeys years.Evans wasn’t a world beater but he deserved to go with dignity and at least thanks from Cellino.Fuck off back to Italy,they deserve you.
Don’t know how you see it Rob.
LikeLike
About like that, really Chris.
LikeLike
The only question I have is how low can we go watching someone destroying something I love isn’t easy to say the least as far as manager/coach I think the perfect appointment would be the cardboard variety the deluded coward probably expected 30 thousand st sales and blamed Evans for not hitting his deluded target funny how Evans sacking came a few hours before the money back offer ended as far as next season I think staying up will be a massive achievement I would like to thank Steve and wish him all the best
LikeLike
Well said Rob. Would you send this to Cellino, registered post and add a supplement that the overwhelming majority of fans at this club endorse your opinions and he is not wanted. Are we seriously expecting some seventh choice coach to step in and in ONE season take us into the Premiership? Is the man so deluded, so stupidly thick that he somehow thinks he can turn Leeds into another Leicester?
Of course we are all overlooking one major point that is going to transform all our woes and misfortunes. That is quite simply, he is going to make an abundance of funds available to bring the required number of top class signings we need to strengthen the squad. He is going to nail the likes of Cook and Taylor to a long term contract and the promise of glory to come. He is going to purchase the stadium which he knows will endear him to the fans and most importantly he is going to finally admit that he knows nothing about tactics and team selection and is determined to give our new saviour utmost control on the field.
I could never turn my back on this club. It’s in my veins but right now it’s destroying my circulation and putting my heart under constant stress. Something major is going to happen this season. We will either challenge for a playoff place or we will self destruct in another season of misery and failure which I fear will unleash an eruption the size of Mount St Helens on the terraces and Cellino will really discover what our fans are made of. I have this feeling of dread and I just hope I am very, very wrong. Good luck Steve. You have been treated like dirt. You deserve better and I am confident you will throw this back in his ugly face.
LikeLike
There has been so much b…ocks said and written about Leeds United, the search for a manager, the broken promises, etc etc. All from people who have no idea what has gone on at the club. I have stated before that l never believe anything that is printed as fact in the newspapers, because 90% of it is a fictional hook to catch the trout, creating as much turmoil as they can to sell even more papers. I fear TV and radio is going along the same lines.
l like many have been unhappy with the situation at Elland Road, and the kneejerk decisions of our owner. I have also been well aware, that l along with everyone else have no idea of what has been going on behind the scenes.
I strongly recommend anyone not having seen the 4 part interview with David Haigh, to take the time to view it and they may understand a little of what our owner has had to deal with. I also reluctantly watched the Bates interview on Yorkshire radio (even though l have no respect for the man) he also confirmed everything David Haigh stated.
Confirming that without Cellino, in his opinion United would be no more.
Listening to those interviews, l have more understanding as to what our owner has had to contend with, and why he has not fulfilled the promises to buy the ground or Thorpe Arch. Or get the promotion.
Combine the internal problems, the league problems, and the constant barriage of insults he and his family have enduredits little wonder he would sell up. BUT WHERE IS THE BUYER. Until one turns up he will continue to do the best he can, and even though he has made plenty of mistakes should be supported.
LikeLike
In my opinion, it is bollocks to suggest that Leeds United would have ceased to exist without Bates or Cellino. The fact that other clubs are bought and sold proves that buyers are out there. The problem is with obstructive and prevaricating owners in Bates, GFH and Cellino – not a lack of interested parties. All else is propaganda peddled by the dishonest men who have owned the club since the time of Leslie Silver (God bless him). What Leeds now desperately needs is a period of stability. It ain’t gonna happen, but that’s what’s definitely needed.
LikeLike
Hamstrung? Gagged? Both hands tied behind his back? Sounds like this is a job for ………….Harry Houdini!!!……. but, as he’s dead so maybe Dynamo could have a go, he’s in the small number of living people on Earth who haven’t turned it down already, originally from Bradford and I’ve heard he can even walk on water……so treading it with Leeds United should be no problem for him.
LikeLike
Regarding the Haigh interviews mentioned above. I have been out of the Country for a couple of weeks and only chanced upon them last night. Couldn’t, however, find much reaction to them on the usual LU pages. I thought they were DYNAMITE and I watched /listened with a dropped jaw and popping eyes for most of the time. OK, we all thought GFH were a bit dodgy but the detail disclosed by Haigh, if true, is mind-boggling. Why are the FL not all over them like the proverbial cheap suit? It’s hard to picture anyone, including Cellino, being any less ‘fit and proper’.
LikeLike
Infamy they have it in for me ….. We need to stop being pussies and rise above this, yes thank you Steve Evans he has taken it with dignity because you seem to forget he was put in place for what he did he got us out of the shit ….. He was on a rolling contract he was a stop gap …. I can guarantee four or five losses into next season at any point some sectors would be calling for his head also. What gets my goat is sky sports sniggering like the tossers they are …. Oh Cellino went behind his back to interview other managers for fucks sack (sic) the scum were all over old golden bum as soon as he was sacked at Chel shit …. But it’s ok as its our countries institution after all Manc puke deserve to be champions of here and Europe just like we do …… That’s the bollax of it you deserve nothing it’s earnt ….. As much as we now all dislike Cellino he wants premier league so he can then sell up he is bloody desperate if Evans had stayed …. Middle table guaranteed …… Ask any Dorris fan if they want him there most have said they wouldn’t buy the season ticket and follow the sheep …..We move on stop fucking moaning get on with it What else can we do but get behind our club come WE ARE LEEDS MOT
LikeLike