Last throw of the dice for Steve Evans in bid to keep Leeds United job

STEVE EVANS made a final plea to keep his job as Leeds United head coach today, insisting he is the man to bring the good times back to Elland Road.
Leeds United head coach Steve Evans.
 Picture: Jonathan GawthorpeLeeds United head coach Steve Evans.
 Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe
Leeds United head coach Steve Evans. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe

Evans’ promise of a promotion campaign at Elland Road next year came as he waited for owner Massimo Cellino to end speculation about his future and confirm whether Leeds planned to extend the 53-year-old’s short-term contract beyond the end of June.

United’s boss has waited patiently for an answer having failed to receive a guarantee from Cellino during a lengthy meeting in Leeds last Friday.

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Despite anticipating further talks with Cellino this week, he admitted today that a final decision was likely to wait until after Leeds’ last game of the season at Preston North End on Saturday, saying Cellino had been engaged abroad “on other business” in the past few days.

“I went on record last weekend as saying I do believe he knows his decision,” said Evans. “The president’s been on other business but that day’s coming closer for all of us. Certainly it won’t be going much beyond the weekend.

“There will come a day where I have to act in the interests of myself and my family. I’m no different to the majority of supporters. We’ve got mortgages, bills and kids to support. It’s not an imminent situation. I don’t need a decision today or tomorrow but a decision does need to be made.

“I have to believe I’ll be here. I’m still continuing with planning for next season and I’ll do that until someone tells me otherwise. I understand that if I’m the chosen one I have to deliver the play-offs if not promotion next season.”

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Leeds have been linked in the past month with former World Cup winner and Italy international Fabio Cannavaro, a one-time Ballon D’Or recipient whose previous coaching jobs have been held in China and the Middle East. Cellino recently denied any approach, however, and sources close to Cannavaro have also distanced him from the role at Elland Road.

Ex-Italy goalkeeper Walter Zenga - briefly boss of Sampdoria last year - was another name to emerge this week but Evans said he had learned to ignore speculation since a 4-0 defeat at Brighton in February cast serious doubt over his future.

“I’ve been getting sacked for three months, haven’t I? It’s different coaches every week,” Evans said. “I’ve been told many times to not believe all that and just deal with the facts. I sit here and I do believe the president wants to take me forward.

“It’s a really tough job being head coach of Leeds United and you have to know the Championship. I believe that if this club are going to get success, we do need stability and we need additional talent so that everyone feels there’s an opportunity to have a great season.

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“That was the feeling at Burnley (last summer) and at Middlesbrough. I know in Brighton, very quietly as it was done under Chris (Hughton), that there was a feeling this could be their season.

“You need someone who knows the Championship, which signifies a British coach unless they’re European and have worked over here in the past. But that would only be my opinion, not necessarily the opinion of anyone at Elland Road.”