'Grossly unfair' to sack Reid, says supporters club chairman

Leeds Supporters’ Club chairman Ray Fell feels it would be “grossly unfair” if the club chose to sack Peter Reid after just 16 matches in charge.

Reid’s position is under threat following three consecutive Barclaycard Premiership defeats in which Leeds have leaked 10 goals without reply, including successive 4-0 hammerings away from Elland Road.

Reid was still smiling when he turned up for training at United’s Thorp Arch complex this morning, despite chairman Professor John McKenzie meeting deputy Allan Leighton at around the same time to discuss the way forward.

Fell acknowledges the situation is again a dire one, but believes there would be no gain if Leeds were to sack a third manager in just over 15 months following the departures of David O’Leary and Terry Venables.

“It’s another sad state of affairs and a bit bewildering and frustrating because we seem to keep hitting a brick wall, bouncing back and going down a fresh route,” assessed Fell.

“We never seem to see any light at the end of the tunnel. It’s just one thing after another and it would appear we are in for a hard spell.

“We started off at home with a 2-2 draw against Newcastle and there was a lot of promise, but the performances against Leicester and Everton have shattered all that.

“At the moment the players are not performing to their true potential and it seems it’s going to take something to pull them round, maybe a magic wand.

“At home we’ve not been too bad, but away heads have gone down whenever we’ve gone behind. It’s a bit perplexing.

“But the fans are not calling for the manager to go and I’ve heard nothing to suggest they want change, other than in performances on the pitch.

“I think if he was sacked it would be grossly unfair. It’s the players who have to respond and show pride in the shirt and pride in themselves.

“If they do get rid of him then whoever comes in will still have the same problems.

“What difference can they make because they will still have the same group of players to work with for the next three months until the transfer window re-opens?”

Former Leeds boss George Graham believes Reid needs more time to get the players to gel, particularly after signing several on season-long loan deals.

“Leeds have just been spiralling downwards in the last couple of years,” said Graham.

“I was recently watching clips of them in the Champions League and UEFA Cup under David O’Leary and it’s so sad to that club really drop.

“Peter has come in and tried to get bonding and team spirit going, but when you borrow as many players as he has and put them into an English Premier League team then it’s going to take a long time to get a successful formula.”