Shock Leeds promotion challenge would be perfect Warnock swansong

There seems never to be a dull moment at Leeds United, whose owners GFH Capital now look to have performed a U-turn by promising more investment within the club.

The Dubai consortium only took over in December, but were thought to be ready to alleviate their responsibilities already, causing yet more disarray at Elland Road.

But their decision to remain in charge should at least provide some stability, at a time when the club’s manager has his back against the wall opposing a number of disgruntled supporters.

Indeed, so vociferous were the fans calling for Neil Warnock’s head during Leeds’ FA Cup defeat to Manchester City, the ex-QPR boss had to acknowledge their sentiments after the match.

Warnock claimed he did not deserve the treatment he received, and admitted he knows he will be gone by the end of the season no matter what.

Between now and then though, he could ironically prove the catalyst in the unlikeliest of promotion bids for United.

Leeds are currently 16/1 to find their way back into the Premier League this season, thus ending a nine-year top-flight exile.

And whilst Warnock’s own personal situation at the club is far from ideal, he may well be able to inspire his charges to make a real go of the battle for a top-six spot.

After beating Blackpool 2-0, the Whites find themselves just six points adrift of the play-off zone, with a game in hand on sixth-place Middlesbrough, and a run of favourable home fixtures to come.

They first welcome a Millwall side woefully out of form to Elland Road, prior to the visits of two of the league’s bottom four sides in Peterborough and Huddersfield.

And if Warnock can mastermind victories over this sort of opposition and keep Leeds within touching distance of the top six come April, he will fancy his chances of a play-off tilt.

He has already guided seven sides to promotion, and with three of these feats achieved in Leeds’ current division, it may be at punters peril that they ignore United to sneak promotion at a big 16/1.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.