Former Forest boss leads the race for Leeds managerial post

With Leeds sitting just three points from the play-off places last week, it surprised many to see Simon Grayson’s three-year tenure at the club come to an end after a 4-1 defeat at home to Birmingham.

Those familiar with Leeds owner Ken Bates however, were not as shocked by the move, as Bates now looks to appoint his fifth manager in his seven years of overseeing affairs at the Elland Road club.

Billy Davies appears to be the outstanding candidate for the job, and is odds-on at 5/6 to take up the challenge of his first job since leaving Nottingham Forest in the summer, having steered them to a top-six finish in each of his two full seasons in charge.

Davies also achieved promotion from the Championship with Derby and so has obvious credentials to make him an attractive proposition for the Leeds board to consider.

A host of other realistic candidates are linked with the job at value prices, with second-favourite Dave Jones an interesting proposition at 4/1.

The former Cardiff boss has been unemployed since failing for the second consecutive season in the play-offs with the Welsh side last summer, and is believed to be eager to get back into management as soon as possible.

Former Sheffield United and QPR boss Neil Warnock is 9/2 to be appointed and embark upon what would surely be a powder-keg relationship with Bates, while caretaker boss Neil Redfearn, who guided Leeds to an impressive 3-0 win away to Bristol City at the weekend, is a tempting 6/1 to get the job on a permanent basis.

Of those at lengthier odds, Gordon Strachan is 20/1 to embark upon an adventure with the club he was glorified at as a player, whilst Gianfranco Zola has links with Bates from their days at Chelsea, and could prove a very shrewd punt to take charge at a massive 25/1.