Mac's Back

Tuesday 29th January: So, after a flurry of activity over the last couple of days, Leeds United have seen the departure of a manager and the arrival of yet another.

It was just over a week ago that I first heard rumours that Dennis Wise was being linked with a job at Newcastle United. At first, I laughed them off. After all, despite what he has done for Leeds this season - and, yes, I am one of those that thinks he has done a good job, remembering that we started with -15 points - I didn't think a club the size of Newcastle would be interested in him.

Then, in a few hours yesterday, the speculation turned to fact and Wise, while being allowed to prepare the team for tonight's game away at Southend, would be gone before that game kicked off to take up an executive directorship with the Toon. Today Dave Bassett, his assistant of just two months, also left the club. Some would be breathing a sigh of relief.

So, the hunt was on for a new manager. Apparently, the bookies had a list of favourites including Steve Mclaren, Garry McAllister and Paul Ince. Then, at lunchtime, I was told that McAllister was suddenly the overriding favourite, with at least one bookmaker no longer taking bets on him. Sometime after I left work, it was confirmed that the ex-Leeds midfielder was to return to football as the new manager. One of the quickest managerial turn-arounds I can remember.

As I type this, McAllister could be listening to the team take on Southend. We are approaching half-time and there has been no score yet. It sounds a slightly better game than Saturday's draw at Luton. Whoops! Scratch that - Southend have just taken the lead!!

Me? I wish Dennis good luck - although I think he's in a win-win situation. A job with a Premiership club, with a Premiership salary but pretty much behind the scenes. He's not going to be in the front-line when/if things start going wrong and the fans turn on Keegan.

I also wish McAllister luck (obviously). He's coming in as a relatively new manager - he previously managed Coventry before leaving football for personal reasons - at a time when he has little or no opportunity to bring in his own players, with the transfer window about to close. Still, he is a Leeds hero and will no doubt be welcomed with open arms by the vast majority of fans.