Leeds fan favourite to replace Heck reportedly set for talks elsewhere in major blow
COMMENT
It seems that Leeds United fans may have to reassess who they want as their next manager after it was reported that Yorkshireman Mick McCarthy is on his way back to Sunderland.
Newcastle Chronicle editor Mark Douglas claimed on his personal Twitter account on Monday that McCarthy, 59, is eager to return to the Stadium of Light, 12 years after he was sacked by the Black Cats.
It is understood that McCarthy is in the North East today [Monday] to hold talks with associates with him "very keen" on a second spell at what will be a League One club next season.
Sunderland sacked Chris Coleman on Sunday a week after the club was officially relegated from the Championship.
This news comes as a major blow for Leeds supporters though, who have been campaigning on Twitter for Andrea Radrizzani to sack Paul Heckingbottom and replace him with McCarthy after he quit Ipswich.
At one stage, the former Wolves manager was even the bookmakers' favourite to replace Heckingbottom, with betting being suspended by PaddyPower.
However now, in a major blow to the Whites fans, it seems that the dream will not come true after all and their current nightmare may continue for a while longer.
Leeds have the third worst record in the Championship in 2018 - only Reading and Sunderland have been worse.
There's every chance that the club's form and failure to revive themselves under Heckingbottom's leadership would lead to Radrizzani sparking his third search for a new first-team manager?
Would Leeds fans welcome that? Yes, they probably would.
But the main thing now is who would they get in instead? Because it does not look like it will be the ever-reliable McCarthy.
In other Leeds United news, fans may not see this £12,500-a-week Whites player again after the defeat to Norwich.