Whelan: Cellino will not change his mind about axing Evans
By Alex Stevens
Leeds owner Massimo Cellino has already made up his mind to sack Steve Evans in the summer, according to Noel Whelan.
The future of manager Evans is in considerable doubt after the Yorkshire giants slumped to a second consecutive league defeat on Saturday.
A 2-1 defeat to Evans' former club Rotherham followed hot on the heels of a 4-1 reverse to Huddersfield in another Yorkshire derby.
It leaves Leeds 14th in the Championship table and with further question marks about the managerial position at Elland Road.
It has been reported that Leeds owner Massimo Cellino has already decided to axe Evans and begun the process of finding a new manager for next season.
Former Leeds striker Whelan is convinced that Cellino has made his mind up not to renew Evans' contract in the summer.
"I think, deep down, Cellino has made his mind up on Steve Evans," said Whelan during BBC Radio Leeds' broadcast of the team's defeat to Rotherham. "He sticks to his guns and there’s no real changing on that matter."
The 53-year-old manager is out of contract at the end of June and, with eight matches of the campaign remaining, he is said to have already been contacted by a rival Championship club about taking over next season.
"It can’t do Steve any harm, if he has a really strong end to the season," Whelan told Radio Leeds. "It gives him a chance to strengthen his claim."
It has been claimed that rival Championship clubs are interested in pursuing Evans at the end of the season and he has refused to deny being approached.