Former Premier League manager Tony Pulis has warned Leeds United that they may struggle to find someone willing to replace Daniel Farke in their current position.
Leeds are currently 18th in the Premier League table, and stand on the verge of a gruelling run of fixtures against Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool.
This has seen the pressure on head coach Daniel Farke ramp up significantly, after reports suggested that the Leeds boss had five games to save his job before their two most recent defeats.
Pulis previously warned that the Elland Road crowd could be decisive in determining Farke’s future, after sections of the Leeds fanbase turned against Farke after the game against Aston Villa.
Now, Pulis has warned that Leeds may not be able to tempt a new manager to Elland Road, as Leeds stare down the barrel of a challenging run of fixtures.
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Speaking on The Managers podcast, alongside co-host Mick McCarthy, Leeds should be cautious before enacting any plan to replace Farke.
According to Pulis, Leeds’ upcoming difficult run of fixtures could deter any manager who is waiting in the wings from accepting the job with immediate effect.
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Pulis said: “I’ll say this now: are they going to bring a manager in for the next three games?
“Is a manager going to come in and look at the next three fixtures and think… I’m going to take this on. I’m going to turn it around.”
He added: “I’m not sure there’s a manager… They might have a manager all sorted out. We never know, Mick, what’s happening behind the scenes.
“But if you’re looking at it and you’re going, yeah, give me three games, and then I’ll come in and take it from there.”
READ MORE: Latest Leeds United survival prediction shows the mammoth task Daniel Farke now faces
Photo by Alex Dodd – CameraSport via Getty ImagesLeeds United are playing a dangerous game with Daniel Farke’s future
Remaining in the top flight is like walking a tightrope for the newly-promoted sides, and the last six who have attempted it have fallen back into the Championship at the first time of asking.
The 49ers are in a difficult position. Leeds learned that changing managers is not a guarantee of success in the 2022/23 season as Jesse Marsch, Javi Gracia and Sam Allardyce all attempted to keep them in the Premier League.
Chris Sutton, Ally McCoist and Graham Smyth on Daniel Farke’s position as Leeds manager:
Chris Sutton: “I think it could turn ugly quite quickly with the fans. They have a tough run now.”
Ally McCoist: “If he changes his style and goes more forward-thinking, that would be a start.”
Graham Smyth: “I just think you’re dangerously close to that point [sacking Farke]. Very dangerously close to that point because of what we’ve seen.”
However, Marsch also showed the risk of allowing your mind to be changed, when his win against Liverpool meant Andrea Radrizzani delayed his decision to replace the American sooner.
Farke lost his job at Norwich after he finally won a game, having lost 15 Premier League games in a row across two seasons. If Paraag Marathe and the Leeds board decide Farke has run out of road, then they cannot allow a win to change their mind.
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