Leeds appoint Blackwell as new manager

Kevin Blackwell today became Leeds’ fourth managerial appointment in less than two years.

Blackwell has been handed a two-year contract and the unenviable task of trying to revive the fortunes of an ailing Leeds side who will be playing in the Football League next season.

The 45-year-old steps up from the role of head coach having served under Peter Reid and Eddie Gray in the last 11 months following his arrival from Sheffield United last June.

Blackwell should have been appointed on Monday, but the board were forced into an embarrassing climbdown after it emerged a takeover group being led by Steve Parkin were making waves behind the scenes during the weekend.

With Parkin known to favour Crystal Palace manager Iain Dowie, chairman Gerald Krasner put on hold the announcement until the situation could be resolved.

It led to Blackwell returning to his family home to consider his options, with Blackburn and Southampton understood to be interested in his coaching skills.

There was the suggestion Blackwell was ready to quit Leeds after being so badly treated by a club he joined last July after a lengthy spell as Neil Warnock’s right-hand man at Sheffield United.

But Blackwell was yesterday afternoon summoned to meet with Richmond after it emerged Parkin had failed in his £25m (€37m) bid to assume control of Leeds.

After talks to smooth over the situation, Blackwell has now stepped up to take on the most difficult challenge of his career.

Blackwell now finally has the chance to implement his own ideas after his plans were put on hold when it became apparent soon after his arrival the situation was not as he first thought.

But Blackwell has a clean slate with Leeds for there is currently no backroom staff, while it is anticipated the majority of the current first-team squad will be sold to further ease debts.

While Blackwell is highly regarded within the game as a coach, cutting his teeth with the Blades, he has not yet taken on the sizeable task of being a manager.

Blackwell knows he will not be working with Paul Robinson, Alan Smith, Mark Viduka, Danny Mills, and possibly Dominic Matteo and James Milner next season as the squad is to be decimated over the next few weeks.

Blackwell has his own thoughts on who he needs to strengthen the squad, but will need to work in the free transfer market as the money accrued from the sales of players will go into paying off the debts.