Former Leeds United goalkeeper Paul Robinson has revealed that he heard a move for Andoni Iraola "was all done" before the Whites eventually brought Javi Gracia in as their new head coach.
Two weeks after Jesse Marsch was relieved of his duties at the club, Gracia was confirmed as Leeds' new manager. The former Watford boss will spearhead the charge away from the relegation zone at Elland Road over the remaining 15 games left in the season.
A host of names were linked with the top job at Leeds including the likes of Arne Slot, Alfred Schreuder and of course Iraola. And Robinson has now said that he was led to believe the club were certain over securing the services of the Rayo Vallecano manager after they let Marsch go.
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When asked about Gracia's arrival, he told MOT Leeds News: “Initially I think it’s a decent appointment from what they were left with. I think the whole thing has been far from ideal. My personal opinion is that Jesse Marsch should have gone in November or December before the World Cup.
”They had two games, Liverpool away which they won and Bournemouth at home and those were the last two games the club won and kept him in a job.
“Had either of those results not happened I suspect he would’ve gone before the World Cup, a new manager would’ve come in and we would’ve been in a different situation.
“I think they would’ve had more chance of landing Iraola if they had sacked Jesse earlier and I think they probably thought they had him and that’s why Marsch was gone.
“But I don’t think they had a backup plan beyond the Rayo Vallecano manager. From what I’m led to believe that’s the direction they wanted to go in and that was all done.
“He’s had such a good season and results at Vallecano it was hard to get him out of the club. The price to get him out of the club had changed.”
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