I’ve known harder times at Rochdale, says Gray

EDDIE GRAY believes the misery currently embracing Leeds does not compare to the hardest job he has faced in football – managing Rochdale.

Leeds may be bottom of the Barclaycard Premiership and on the brink of administration, but caretaker boss Gray is adamant that life in the lower reaches of the Football League is far more stressful.

Although Leeds are in debt to the tune of stg£78million and only recently revealed a British club record loss of £49.5million, Gray yesterday offered a reality check.

The players and directors are still earning tens of thousands of pounds every month, own plush accommodation and drive around in brand new cars.

At Spotland, where Gray was in charge between 1986-88 and the club were fighting to survive in the lower reaches of the old Fourth Division, the players did not know from one week to the next if they were going to be paid.

Elland Road legend Gray, who took up the temporary reins following the sacking of Peter Reid just over a fortnight ago, said: "This is not really the hardest job I've had, being at Rochdale, now that was really hard.

"To give you some idea, my wife used to wash the kit at Rochdale, which underlines the gulf between the top and bottom "There was many a week when the players used to have to wait for the directors to go around and scrape their wages together," said Gray.

"That's the difference between Premiership clubs and clubs at the bottom. It puts it all in perspective for me and is why I have great respect for clubs in the lower leagues." Gray, who has been involved with Leeds in some capacity as player, coach, assistant manager, manager and now caretaker for the majority of the last 30 years, does admit the present situation is the most difficult he has encountered during that time.

"I don't think the club has ever been as low as they are now, but it's understandable when you look at it," added the former Scotland international.

"It's certainly not been as hard as this throughout my time at Leeds and everybody connected with the club should be worried. "It doesn't make any difference to me whether I'm here for another week or two," insisted Gray.

"I will approach the job in the same way. I'll just get on with it until I'm told different." Gray has also asserted David Batty remains an important part of his plans, despite rumours of a bust-up at half-time of Saturday's 2-0 home defeat to Bolton in which the veteran midfielder was substituted.

A frank exchange of views is understood to have taken place, with Batty unhappy at being hauled off. Batty, though, does travel to Charlton for Saturday's game at The Valley, with Gray claiming: "In football you have disagreements, but that's part and parcel of the game".