Leeds consider sacking Javi Gracia and hiring third manager of season

Leeds are considering sacking Javi Gracia and appointing a third manager of the season after losing four of their last five games.

The club’s board are discussing the possibility of replacing Gracia, who was hired as Jesse Marsch’s successor on a “flexible contract” in February with the brief of maximising the team’s chances of avoiding relegation to the Championship. Leeds were in the bottom three at the time and Sunday’s 4-1 defeat at Bournemouth left them 16th, one point clear of those places going into tough-looking games against Manchester City and Newcastle.

Gracia, previously in charge of, among other clubs, Watford and Qatar’s Al Sadd, started well at Elland Road but has latterly presided over a run that has seen Leeds collect one point from a possible 18 and concede 18 goals in five fixtures.

Should the board decide to dismiss the Spaniard, they will need to identify another manager. With feasible options limited at this late stage of this season, it is possible they could reinstate Michael Skubala as interim head coach for the final four matches of the campaign.

Skubala, formerly the club’s reserve coach, briefly took the reins between Marsch’s exit and Gracia’s appointment and has since been serving as a first-team coach. He remains well regarded by both senior players and club executives, but it may be felt that a more experienced manager would elicit a better response from a squad lacking in form and confidence. Alan Pardew is a possible option, as is Lee Bowyer, a former Elland Road midfielder who has managed Charlton and Birmingham in recent years.

The Leeds squad – who conclude the season with a visit to West Ham and home game against Tottenham - have issued an apology after footage of players appearing