Sam Allardyce hoping he 'can make a difference’ and keep Leeds up

Sam Allardyce said he hopes he can "make a difference" and keep Leeds United in the Premier League, but he accepts he is taking over a club “in a lot of trouble”.

Leeds on Wednesday appointed Allardyce as manager until the end of the season having parted ways with Javi Gracia and his backroom staff that morning.

Allardyce, 68, becomes Leeds’ third permanent manager of the season, with Gracia having replaced Jesse Marsch in February.

The former Bolton, Newcastle, West Ham and England boss has been out of work since the end of the 2020/21 season after failing to save West Bromwich Albion from relegation from the Premier League.

It was the first time Allardyce had been relegated from the top flight in his 30-year managerial career and he left The Hawthorns six months into an 18-month contract.

He takes over a demoralised team short on confidence and shipping goals at an alarming rate, with 18 conceded in Leeds' past five matches including Sunday's 4-1 reverse at Bournemouth.

Leeds languish 17th in the Premier League table, out of the relegation zone only on goal difference with only four games remaining.