Gray cleared to rule at Leeds

Leeds have been given special dispensation from the Premier League after it emerged caretaker boss Eddie Gray did not have the correct qualifications to manage in the top flight.

Gray was appointed following the departure of Peter Reid and is keen to take on the job full-time.

However, new regulations brought in at the start of the season mean all Barclaycard Premiership managers have to either hold a management diploma or a UEFA Pro Licence coaching certificate.

Gray, who inherited a side rock bottom of the table, has never taken the special coaching courses needed to obtain the relevant qualifications and the club approached the Premier League for assistance.

The Premier League subsequently granted permission for Gray to continue in his role, but only for a limited period of three months.

“There was a problem regarding the coaching diploma, but we have given Leeds special dispensation for a certain period of time,” a Premier League spokesman said.

League Managers’ Association chief executive John Barnwell added: “There were new regulations stating that all managers who did not have a Pro License had to gain it in the summer.”