Leeds United sack Grayson

Leeds United have lost patience with manager Simon Grayson, sacking him after three years in charge at Elland Road.

The former Blackpool boss led Leeds to promotion from League One in his first full season before securing a seventh-placed finish in the Championship last term.

But the board dismissed the 42-year-old on Wednesday in the wake of Tuesday’s 4-1 home defeat to promotion rivals Birmingham, which saw them slump to 10th in the table.

Youth team boss Neil Redfearn will take over the first team on an interim basis.

Grayson left his post at Blackpool to take over the role at Leeds in December 2008 following the sacking of Gary McAllister.

Under his tenure Leeds won 84 of 169 games, with 40 draws and 45 losses.

However, the latest loss leaves the club three points away from the last play-off place, an objective chief executive Shaun Harvey has in his sights.

“We have 18 games to go this season and are still within touching distance of the play-offs,” Harvey said.

“We felt with the transfer window closed we needed to make the change at this time in the belief that a new managerial team will be able to get more out of the existing squad of players and make the difference.”