Clark tipped as Bates’ number one choice to become Leeds manager

Neil Warnock was initially odds-on to replace Simon Grayson as Leeds manager, but his price has now drifted following reports that he is not the number one choice to take over at Elland Road.

Warnock has almost the ideal CV to ensure Leeds are promoted back into the Premier League in the near future, helping both Sheffield United and then most recently QPR achieve this feat.

However, it is believed that Lee Clark is the preferred choice of chairman Ken Bates to be appointed and now the favourite choice of punters.

Being the current boss of Huddersfield, the move may appeal to Clark as he would not have to relocate and would get the chance to test his managerial ability at a higher level in the Championship.

But having come so close to getting Huddersfield promoted in the last two seasons and once again being fully involved in the promotion picture in the current campaign, there is every chance that he has unfinished business at the club.

Meanwhile, some fans will point to the fact that Clark has spent relatively big for League One standards and still not managed to get Huddersfield promoted, which does not bode well for what he would achieve at Leeds.

Furthermore, the fact that Clark worked so hard to convince star striker Jordan Rhodes to remain at Huddersfield in the transfer window would make little sense if he then turned his back on the club and its ambitions.

Regardless, Clark has been backed into 5/4 from 10/1 to be appointed as the next Leeds manager, with Warnock remaining fancied at 6/4.

There is certainly no doubt that Clark’s stock is fairly high despite his possible underachievement at Huddersfield, as he has been linked with the Leicester job in the past, while earlier this season he was rumoured to be a leading contender to take over at former club Sunderland.