LUFC Bates - Stop putting pressure on Grayson

Leeds United chairman Ken Bates says people should stop putting pressure on boss Simon Grayson.

Grayson has come under pressure in recent weeks after a run of one point in four games with many believing he was one game from the sack going into the game with Burnley.

Leeds managed to turn that game against Burnley around with two goals in the closing minutes, which many believed kept him in his job.

Bates prefers to concentrate on what the club have done since his arrival in December 2008 and also the fact that despite the poor run in December, Leeds are only one point outside the play off places.

Speaking in the Yorkshire Post , Bates said, "He is now probably the longest-serving manager in the Football League. (Ed note - 11th in Football League, 2nd in Championship)

"His record over the last three years is in the first year we got to the play off semi-final, the second year he got us promotion and in the third year we finished seventh.

"This year, despite the fact we have had our blip early, we are one point off the play-offs. We are also ravaged by injuries.

"He is the manager. Don`t start putting pressure on him."

Leeds take a break from championship action this weekend with the FA Cup third round taking centre stage.

Grayson takes his Leeds side to Arsenal on Monday night for the second season in a row.

They will be hoping to emulate their performance of twelve months ago when only a Cesc Fabregas penalty in the last minute stopped Leeds from another memorable win in the competition.

Twelve months earlier under Grayson, Leeds won 1-0 at Manchester United to record their first win at Old Trafford in almost 30 years.

Leeds return to league action next Saturday when they travel to Crystal Palace before finishing the month with home games against Ipswich Town and Birmingham City.




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