It’s been all go on the will he/won’t he stay front when talking of Paul Heckingbottom’s tenure as head coach at Leeds United – it still goes on.
Heckingbottom took over the reins at Elland Road with Leeds United seven points adrift of the play-off picture after a disastrous run of form under former head coach Thomas Christiansen. Club owner Andrea Radrizzani is thought to have paid Barnsley £500,000 compensation to bring in Heckingbottom.
His first 16 games as Whites boss have failed to light the blue touch paper and Leeds United fans are no longer willing to stand back on this issue. The former Tykes boss boasts just the four wins in those 16 games, and already fans are saying that it is an appointment and experiment that hasn’t worked.
This weekend just gone has seen links to Italian managers such as Filipo Inzaghi and Claudio Ranieri but respected Leeds United voice and Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Phil Hay threw a cat amongst scattering pigeons yesterday with this tweeted reply to a Whites fan:
different foreign coach has been mentioned to me. Not saying who because I don’t know if it’s got legs. As for Ranieri, honestly not sure.
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) May 27, 2018
Now, it doesn’t take much for any team’s fans to start to put two-and-two together, with most answers seemingly ending up in answers of five or above. That’s the case with the following tweeted news from Saudi side Al Rayyan:
المطوع : مدرب جديد للريان بدلا من لاودروب
صرح عبد الله عز الدين المطوع نائب رئيس مجلس ادارة نادينا بان المدرب الدنماركي مايكل لاودروب انتهي تعاقده مع النادي بنهاية الموسم الكروي ولن يتم التجديد معه . pic.twitter.com/6r7BqchpdD— AlRayyanSC (@AlrayyanSC) May 26, 2018
Translated, the tweet says that Al Rayyan have parted company with their coach Michel Laudrup, his contract ended and not being renewed. Quickly two-and-two is being put together by Leeds United fans and they are beginning to comment on this news over on Twitter.
53-year-old Dane Laudrup has been with Al Rayyan since September 2016, managing them for 49 games that have returned an average of 1.76 points per match. Prior to that he’s managed in La Liga with Getafe and RCD Mallorca but is likely better known to English football fans through his 84 games in charge of former Premier League side Swansea.
Leeds United fans begin to react to Laudrup ‘links’
If it’s Michael Laudrup.#lufc we happy?
— Diddlysquat (@markrikko) May 28, 2018
The mystery forgein Manager Phil Hay was talking about last night could be Michael Laudrup, just had his contract cancelled unexpectedly. @Dazelar29 @BerenCross @PhilHayYEP @deancore
— Luca (@LufcLuca_) May 28, 2018
If Laudrup is the new manager it all adds up, Hernandez said he was the best coach he worked with, Radz told him they were looking st him so Hernandez signed, His contract not getting renewed and Hay said about a forgein manger
— Luca (@LufcLuca_) May 28, 2018
Laudrup… #lufc
— ZL (@SupremeJansson) May 28, 2018
Oh.
Laudrup’s contract has come to an end and won’t be renewed. #lufc ? https://t.co/Pwcm7WOxfB
— Daryl (@Dazelar29) May 28, 2018
No doubt this ‘rumour’ is one that will gain more traction today as more Leeds fans link to the ‘news’ and their ‘interpretations’ of what is happening with Michael Laudrup.