Chris Sutton has called Leeds striker Patrick Bamford "a joke" for criticising Jesse Marsch's tactics the day before his sacking.
Marsch, 49, was relieved of his duties by Leeds on Monday after failing to win in the Premier League for three months - a run stretching seven games. The West Yorkshire club's dismal run has left them 17th in the table - above the drop zone on goal difference.
Marsch's dismissal came just 24 hours after Leeds lost a crucial relegation clash to Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. Bamford, 29, responded to that defeat by insisting he needed runners because Forest's centre-backs were able to concentrate on him alone.
Sutton believes Bamford undermined Marsch by openly criticising his tactics. "Keep it in the confines of the dressing room if that's the way you feel," Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live. "He's unburdening himself of any responsibility. I don't like that.
"He's not daft - he knows the implications that it will have. It will be taken as a criticism of the manager and his tactics. He's a joke for bringing that into the public domain."
Bamford spoke to the media after Leeds' 1-0 defeat at Forest. The England international said: "We needed more runners running past me to drag [Forest's centre-backs] out of position and create a bit more space. The whole game was literally two v one, which made it difficult, and unfortunately I couldn't find the answers to solve that."
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Marsch lasted fewer than 12 months in charge of Leeds. He was appointed to succeed Marcelo Bielsa - one of the most popular managers in the club's history - at the end of February 2022. It was a daunting task, with Leeds hovering above the relegation zone.
Marsch made an instant impact at Elland Road - achieving wins against Norwich, Wolves and Watford to boost the team's survival hopes. A bad run followed, but victory at Brentford on the final day of the season ensured Premier League football for another year.
Hopes were high for Marsch after Leeds' start to the current season, as they picked up seven points from their first three Premier League fixtures against Wolves, Southampton and Chelsea. Yet their campaign has been a bit of a struggle since.
Sutton added: "He [Bamford] doesn't strike me as somebody who wouldn't understand where comments like this would lead. He's criticising the manager, the tactics. Things like this snowball. It's great he's honest - but it's only going to cause trouble."
It is unclear where Leeds go from here. West Brom manager Carlos Corberan is the bookies' favourite for the job, although he joined the Baggies just four months ago and may not want to trade a promotion push for a relegation battle.
Other candidates include former Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl and Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou. Some fans are even calling for Bielsa - the man who led them to the Championship title in July 2020 - to make an emotional return Elland Road.
As for Marsch, his stock has plummeted after also receiving the boot at RB Leipzig in December 2021. The American has won six major honours during his managerial career and will be hoping for another chance at a top-flight European club in the near future.
