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Grayson sheds a tear over Leeds departure: First reaction to sacking
Simon Grayson
SACKED Leeds United manager Simon Grayson has spoken of his disappointment at leaving the club this week.
Having paid the price for a poor run of results in January, the former Leeds trainee was told by chairman Ken Bates on Wednesday that his services were no longer required at Elland Road.
Grayson admitted it was tough to leave the club that he has supported since he was a boy but thanked the fans for their support during his time in charge.
During his time at Leeds, Grayson was in charge of 169 matches, winning 84, drawing 40 and only losing 45.
“At the moment its difficult to make a full statement as legalities haven’t been formalised,” he said. “But, I didn’t want to wait to express my thanks to the Leeds fans who have been magnificent throughout my time at the club.
“Everyone knows how I feel about the club, there have been so many great moments throughout the three years I was the manager, I hope you realise what it meant to me to have been the manager of Leeds United.
“I had a tear in my eye when I left the club 20 years ago (when released as a player) and I had a tear in my eye again yesterday. The only difference was I went with one bin liner of stuff 20 years ago - this time it was three!
“I would like to thank all the players who have played within my three years. Also, my thanks goes to all my staff who have been helpful during my period in charge. I wish the supporters all the best for the future and maybe one day I may get the
chance to come back to this great football club.”
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Comments
There are 14 comments to this article
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LOVE LEEDS hateBates
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 06:36 PMSorry Simon that you have gone you did a good job with your hands tied good luck with the future but we know you wont need it .. Spend money on the team not the stands .The players that have left ER would make a better one than there Schmical, Frazior Richardson Kilkenny,Johnson, Gradel Howson.beckford prutton theres got to be ones I have missed Go away bates
Trotsky
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 04:36 PMGood luck Simon. You did a fantastic job. Please remember to come back when Leeds has some money and prove Bates wrong. Bates out! Grayson in! - is what most people wanted.
Bubionwhite
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 03:37 PMMany thanks to SG for continually improving the position of the club during his tenure and it's my belief that his loyalty is what's brought about his fall from grace. He showed unwavering loyalty to the club, his coaching team, a priviledged group of players ... much of which was not reciprocated. In my opinion, he was badly let down by the coaching team who were, at best average and they should have been despatched by SG long ago and the club, and it's players can only improve with a new team in place. The writing was also on the wall for SG, the moment he publicly stated "Andy O'Brien would never play for Leeds United again as long as I am the manager" ... another example of his love and loyalty for the club gone wrong and an invitation to Bates to get rid of him ... good luck SG, I hope you have learned from the experience.
Who makes money from Leeds?
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 03:10 PMWhat a shame that when Grayson gets his pay off that he will be slapped with a "gagging" order. Before accepting it Simon, tell us what the offer is and we can have a whip round to see if we can match it. This will be the only way that we will ever hear what is really happening behind the newly refurbished doors of Elland Road. Wishing you all the best for the future.
KAP
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 01:20 PMThe good news is that the carpets in the corporate boxes look a treat.
Phil1884
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 12:16 PMHi Everyone at LUFC. FIrst, I am a Derby season ticket holder, but my beautiful wife is a Leeds season ticket holder. We don't see each other on a Saturday but as you can imagine we discuss the plights of our clubs in the week........All I can say from a non Leeds perspective is the sacking of Simon Grayson is an absolute disgrace. Leeds will NEVER find a manager so devoted to your cause. Seems the only manager that Ken will tollorate is a yes man, or an up and coming manager who will use Leeds as a stepping stone to further their own ends and not the clubs. No matter who you support, days like this are a sad reflection on our beautiful game. Leeds' loss is a luckyclubs gain. Know how you feel guys....We had someone called Robert Maxwell!!!!!
cozer
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 12:07 PMSimon thanks for all your hard work, I know you'll get a new club to manage very soon. If you really want to go down as a true Leeds legend forget the money and tell the footballing world just what is going on. So many people in football hate Bates so much and would love to see him get what he deserves I can only see it doing your career good.
Lars Sweden
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 11:39 AMIm from Sweden Simon, and im gutted that you had to leave a club ive supported since childhood. You have worked wonders with shoestring budget, average players and a chairman who is ....! I wonder what had happend if you were to had a good budget for transfers and bringing in players who would make the difference insted of having to buy leftovers that no one else would have. There is always behind the scene things going on but seeing your commitment to Leeds by the sideline when we score was absolutley straight on the passion you have for Leeds United. In contradiction for our chairman who trying to build a stadium insted of a team. Its all about money... I wish you all the best for the future and im sure you will find a job soon again!! If not in Uk come to Sweden!!! M.O.T Leeds fans of Sweden
1leeds_lad
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 11:36 AMWell done Simon, excellent job considering the restraints of working for a "parasite" that has been bleeding our club dry. Unfortunately for you, when working in your "dream job" , any criticism of Bates sooner would have got you the sack a long time ago, however, your "silence" was still effectively writing out your own P45..... To show your love of the club, please please please expose the failings of it ownership as soon as you are able to. .... This could still become your greatest legacy to the supporters !!! Best wishes, I personally would love to see you back under better circumstances.
pnxb1019
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 11:31 AMI wish Simon Grayson the best of luck. I hope in his next job he works for a decent well managed, well resourced club with people with integrity at the helm instead of what he has had to put up with for the last 3 years..We 'morons' of course are stuck with the clowns that run LUFC, I suppose we deserve it for sins in a past life , our torment will go on but Simon Grayson has escaped!
CliveSanderson
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 11:27 AMSimon Grayson paid the price for failing to sort out our terrible defense. If we had got that department sorted out we'd probably be in the top 2 or 3. I do wish him well as he was a true Leeds United man. If only he had been able to organise our defense better he would not have been sacked. In fairness to Bates whatever his shortcomings are, he did give Grayson 3 years to sort the defense out. Simon did have defenders who are recognised as being better than their performances for us showed so we should have done better with the defenders we have. A lot of Leeds fans seem in denial about this basic fact that led to Simon's failure.
mkeddie
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 11:18 AMSimon,Firstly a massive Thank you for re-installing all thats Great about Leeds United after the years of turmoil at the club, you gave us belief again and we all know you worked "tirelessly" to make things happen at Leeds. We know you are Leeds Through and Through and you will always be remembered for the great and glorious times !Promotion and Beating The Scum !! Under different circumstances and a Good Sized "War Chest" we all know you would still be there and taking us to the Premiership. Do not let this set back effect your obvious ability as a good Manager....move on ....be successful and come back to us in the future, when a certain Ken Bates has finally left us and we have a Board that is led by someone who actually cares about Leeds United as a football club and not a commercial or financial asset !! Thanks again and the very best of luck in the future..."There is only One Simon Grayson !!! MOT
AndyBaptiste
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 11:11 AMGood luck with wherever you end up Simon. Hopefully one day you'll be back on the staff. By the way Simon, Ken wants his bin liners back, they come out of the player budget aswell.
marcus1212
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 11:10 AMits a shame cant simon speak out .. we all know whatrs going on.. our chairman doesnt back the manager. sick of hearing about the transfer wage pot .. its it is pathetic bates and we all know.. its how we deal you from now thats counts. regards a loyal Moron supporter
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