Favourite Warnock unlikely to snub a second offer to work for Elland Road boss

That much was made clear by Ken Bates and chief executive Shaun Harvey, who in the wake of Simon Grayson’s sacking both said a place in the play-offs remained a viable target.

Any delay, therefore, in terms of getting a new manager in could seriously damage those hopes which led to speculation yesterday that the club are keen to make a quick appointment

Once the inevitable betting markets that follow every major sacking these days had opened, former Sheffield United Neil Warnock emerged as the early favourite ahead of Roberto Di Matteo and Gordon Strachan.

Of that trio favoured by the bookmakers, the Yorkshire Post understands Warnock is very interested in the job and would relish the challenge of making Leeds the fourth club he has led into the top flight of English football.

Sacked by QPR last month, the 63-year-old has, according to sources in Suffolk, been sounded out about his potential interest in the Ipswich Town job should Paul Jewell be sacked or quit.

It is Leeds, however, and a possible return to his native Yorkshire that really appeals to Warnock, who more than 20 years ago was offered the chance to become Chelsea manager by Bates.

He turned that opportunity down, opting to remain loyal to Notts County having just led the Meadow Club to promotion from the old Second Division.

The rejection is not believed to have been held against Warnock, who three seasons ago was seen enjoying a drink with Bates at Elland Road after his Crystal Palace side had been beaten 4-0 in the Carling Cup.

Di Matteo, meanwhile, remains a close friend of Bates and his wife Suzannah from their days together at Chelsea.

The former Italian international led MK Dons to the League One play-offs before being lured away by West Bromwich Albion.

In his only full season at The Hawthorns, Albion won automatic promotion to the Premier League.

He is now on Andre Villas-Boas’s coaching staff at Stamford Bridge, meaning any return to the Championship is likely to involve a pay cut on his part.

A further complication could be his links with SW6 given how reluctant Leeds supporters were to embrace another Chelsea old boy when Dennis Wise succeeded Kevin Blackwell in 2006.

Completing the list of early favourites in the betting market last night was Strachan, who has been without a job since leaving Middlesbrough last season, and former Huddersfield Town manager Steve Bruce.

Another name linked with the vacancy has been that of Gus Poyet but it is understood the one-time assistant is not in the running due to Leeds being unhappy with the manner of the Uruguayan’s departure to Tottenham in 2007.

Whoever succeeds Grayson will be expected to hit the ground running. He will inherit a squad with sufficient quality to be challenging for promotion but one that has lost its way in recent weeks.

The opening hour against Birmingham on Tuesday apart, United have struggled since claiming back-to-back wins over Nottingham Forest and Millwall during the emotion-charged aftermath of Gary Speed’s death.

Results may not have been too bad with the three games preceding Tuesday’s 4-1 defeat to Birmingham yielding seven points.

But the level of performance has been poor with the suspicion being that United were only able to fight their way back into the games against Burnley, Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town due to all three being reduced to 10 men.

A fresh voice may well provide the key which unlocks the undoubted potential that exists at Elland Road. The only question now is to whom that voice will belong. Over to you, Ken.