Leeds removes director of football amid Allardyce reports
Leeds United’s Rodrigo looks dejected following his side’s defeat in the English Premier League soccer match between Bournemouth and Leeds United at the Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth, England, Sunday April 30, 2023. (Steven Paston/PA via AP)
Leeds announced the departure of director of football Victor Orta on Tuesday amid reports of an imminent managerial change that could see Sam Allardyce take over at the relegation-threatened Premier League club.
Orta leaves with Leeds in fourth-to-last place in the league and out of the relegation zone only on goal difference with four games remaining. The team has lost five of its last seven games — most recently 4-1 at Bournemouth on Sunday — and conceded 23 goals in that period.
Fans have been calling for the removal of Orta, who joined the club in 2017 and helped oversee changes that led to Leeds getting promoted to the top division under Marcelo Bielsa in 2020 after a 16-year absence.
“It is clear that it is time to change direction and therefore we have agreed that Victor will leave the club,” Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani said. “I understand supporters are hurt and upset, but now is a time for unity. We have four cup finals left to play this season and working together, I believe we can survive.”
Leeds manager Javi Gracia has been in his role for only two months but could also lose his job.
Allardyce, a 68-year-old former England coach, is being heavily linked with replacing Gracia for what would be his first coaching role since his time at West Bromwich Albion in the second half of the 2020-21 season. On that occasion, he failed in his short-term mission to keep the team in the Premier League.
Before that, he was regarded as a survival specialist because he had never been relegated from the Premier League in more than 20 years working as a manager in the division.
Leeds stayed up last season only after winning its game in the final round when Jesse Marsch was the manager. Marsch was fired in February.
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