Leeds trigger six-figure release clause – report
By Richard Parks
Leeds United have activated the £500,000 release clause of Barnsley manager Paul Heckingbottom, according to a report.
The Mirror claim the Yorkshire giants are close to appointed the 40-year-old after Football Insider broke the news earlier this morning he was the top target of the United board.
Heckingbottom signed a new rolling contract at Barnsley last Friday that included a release clause and Leeds have reportedly now moved to trigger the six-figure sum.
The Tykes boss is said to be finalising terms with United and is expected to be formally appointed within the next 24 hours.
It follows a whirlwind period in which Thomas Christiansen was sacked late last night after overseeing a wretched run of results culminating in Saturday’s 4-1 home defeat to Cardiff City.
The Denmark-born Spaniard, 44, was given his marching orders after Leeds had plummeted to 10th in the Championship table and seven points adrift of the play-offs.
Former defender Heckingbottom is in charge of a Barnsley side that are 21st in the division, 17 points behind Leeds, but he has been widely praised for his handling of a team that has one of the smallest budgets in the league and has been forced to sell a number of star players in recent years, including Alfie Mawson to Swansea and Conor Hourihane to Aston Villa.
United are next in action when they make the short journey to face Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Saturday.
In other Leeds United news, it can be revealed that Heckingbottom has emerged from a three-man shortlist.
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