Gray faces battle to restore Leeds morale after Reid’s departure
Morale is at an all-time low after five straight defeats, with the club at the bottom of the Barclaycard Premiership and last night's departure of boss Peter Reid leaves Gray in an unenviable position.
The departure of Reid came as a shock to no one. Speculation had been rife about his future for more than a month even before the club slipped into their current losing run.
Reid, who took over following Terry Venables' departure last season, has left Elland Road by mutual consent.
A statement from Leeds United plc released to the Stock Exchange yesterday said: "While the board acknowledges that Peter did a sterling job for the club towards the end of last season in keeping United in the FA Premier League, it believes it must not allow this season to reach a point beyond which the club's Premiership status comes under serious threat.
"The recent run of results has clearly been unacceptable. The board therefore concluded that it has a duty to act now.
Leeds have endured a miserable start to the season and last weekend's 6-1 defeat at Portsmouth, which left them rooted to the bottom of the table, appears to have been the final straw.
Bringing in Leeds favourite Gray to take the reins while the club consolidate their position and plan their next move may nonetheless give the playing staff a boost.
The former player was initially appointed assistant to David O'Leary in 1998 but when Reid took over from the Irishman's successor Terry Venables he brought in his own backroom staff, and Gray was asked to leave on 12 months' notice in March as part of cost-cutting measures.
But as Leeds lurch into a new crisis, Gray is the man they have turned to and he has responded by promising to fight to keep his club in the top flight.
"I don't think it is a lost cause but it is a difficult task," he said. "People only have to look at the league table and the finances of the club to realise that it was not an easy job for Peter Reid.
"But it is a big club with a big fan base and there is potential, especially with the crowds the club can attract.
"I will try to instil a lot of confidence in the players and I hope they will respond to that.
"If you start to win a few games it begins to pick people up.
"If you are in there fighting you always have a chance, and we will look to move up the league."
The 55-year-old, who will be assisted by current first-team coach Kevin Blackwell, played 559 times for Leeds between 1965 and 1983.
He was made player-manager in 1982.
But when he failed to secure promotion from the old Second Division after three attempts he was relieved of his duties.
Nottingham Forest manager Paul Hart is 2/1 favourite with William Hill to take over at Leeds.
Hills also go 4/1 Eddie Gray, 6/1 Neil Warnock, 7/1 Kevin Blackwell, 10/1 Gary McAllister, 12/1 Glenn Hoddle, 16/1 Micky Adams, 20/1 Ian Dowie, George Graham, Ronnie Moore, Gordon Strachan, 25/1 Gary Megson, 33/1 David Batty, 66/1 Chris Kamara, David O'Leary, Howard Wilkinson.
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