UWE Rösler’s five-month tenure as Leeds United boss came to an end on Sunday evening following yet another home defeat for the Whites, making it 11 consecutive games in which they have failed to win at Elland Road; an unwelcome club record. Rösler’s dismissal, perhaps an inevitability considering owner Cellino’s trigger-happy approach to sacking managers, came following a string of three league defeats which left Leeds just above the relegation zone in 18th place.

At Serie A team Cagliari, Cellino sacked 35 managers in his 22-year spell as owner, earning a reputation as the ‘manager-eater’. Since coming to Leeds United last year Cellino has done nothing to distance himself from this title, appointing a 6th new manager in Steve Evans since he took over less tham two years ago. A new manager could bring impetus to a team out of ideas, and inspire a winning mentality in the players, yet at the same time the regularity with which Cellino grows impatient and sacks managers has clearly not worked so far. You only have to look at Dave Hockaday as evidence for this, an unproven manager at Championship level who was brought in by Cellino to the utter shock and dismay of the fans. A manager who departed his old club Forest Green following seven defeats in eight games in what was then known as the Conference Premier. Predictably, his tenure at Leeds United didn’t last long – two months in fact – a statistic which led many to question Cellino’s judgement, since Hockaday would have been no-one’s first choice, especially following on from Brian McDermott.

Though the results in general hadn’t been favourable for Leeds under Rösler, it seemed as if this season could be a breakthrough one for the Whites after they had made a promising start to the campaign, coming into the seventh league game unbeaten and looking a more solid outfit than in previous seasons. With signings such as Stuart Dallas from Brentford – Rösler’s former club – and new contracts for the captain Sol Bamba and other key players, it’s fair to say there was an air of optimism around Elland Road, something that had been stifled by the issues on and off the pitch in previous seasons.

However, the absence of wins proved to be the nail in Rösler’s coffin, losing his last three games in charge and winning just two in the last ten. Most probably felt that the sacking of Rösler was premature considering his managerial credentials, and would have liked to have seen him given more time to mould the team into his style of play.

Cellino had a replacement lined up for Rösler before he made the announcement on Sunday, as ex-Rotherham boss Steve Evans was on hand to take training at Thorp Arch on Monday morning. The decision to sack Rösler on Sunday was perhaps made with the upcoming series of fixtures in mind, with 4 games in 12 day, all of which are against teams outside the top six. Cellino cites the main reason for Evans’ appointment to be his fighting spirit, something which he would like to see instilled in the players. Cellino feels like this is what Leeds’ performances of late have been lacking, a killer instinct, a desire to win which was, in his mind, a step too far for Rösler whom he considered too much of a ‘gentleman’ to fire up the squad. Although not wanted by many at Leeds, Evans has a good track record, having achieved successive promotions with Rotherham and consolidated their position in the Championship and, like his predecessors, should be given time to work with the players and implement his footballing philosophy at the club.

Sam Dixon 

Featured image: BBC