By Wayne Veysey

18th May, 2016 | 12:11pm

Steve Evans makes bold claim about summer transfers at Leeds, fans will be overjoyed

By Alex Stevens

Steve Evans is expecting considerable investment in the Leeds squad in the summer regardless of whether he remains as manager.

The Scot has said players will be signed in the summer who would beef up the squad and give the Championship’s best supported club a genuine chance of winning promotion.

Evans’ own job is hanging by a thread ahead of a crunch board meeting called on Wednesday by Leeds owner Massimo Cellino, who has fuelled the feeling with his public comments that the 53-year-old is about to be axed.

Nevertheless, supporters will be appeased that plans for next season include strengthening a squad that finished this season in 13th position in the second tier.

“Whoever is head coach next season, the pressure will be immense,” Evans told the Yorkshire Evening Post. “Between the season ticket offer and the investment I expect to see from the owner, next season is stacked on reaching the play-offs. I still maintain that I’m the man to do it.

“If we’re not winning automatic promotion then we should be in the play-offs. Our season should be going right through until the end of May.

“Leeds United have got to start delivering that. I think there’s a feeling amongst the fans that they’re entitled to at least the play-offs now. They’ve stuck with this club through a lot of disappointing years and now they want something in return.”

Controversial owner Cellino has spoken freely of his attempts to persuade an elite manager to take on the task of steering Leeds back to the top flight and a place in the Champions League.

Evans became the sixth first-team boss of Cellino’s reign last October and is currently the longest serving under the Italian but Cellino is yet to make any move towards extending the manager’s short-term contract.

In other Leeds news, ex-Elland Road striker Noel Whelan has given his verdict on Evans’ future.