“Almost certainly will” – Phil Hay reiterates Leeds United managerial stance as huge Everton clash looms

Michael Skubala has every chance of remaining in-charge of Leeds United on a caretaker basis if results allow for it.

Leeds, who sit 17th in the Premier League, head to Everton this afternoon for what’s a huge fixture at the bottom of the table.

In the last fortnight Leeds have sacked Jesse Marsch to leave Skubala in caretaker charge of the club. He’s overseen two games with Manchester United, which brought around better performances, albeit with the Whites posting just a single point on the board.

A club statement in the last week confirmed that Skubala would continue to head a caretaker team including Paco Gallardo and Chris Armas for Leeds’ “upcoming fixtures”, presumed to be Everton and Southampton.

Will Skubala remain in-charge at Leeds?

He certainly will on a caretaker basis, starting with Leeds’ trip to Goodison Park this afternoon and continuing next week against Southampton at Elland Road.

Phil Hay has touched on the caretaker situation at Leeds, suggesting that, if results allow for it, the club will leave Skubala at the helm for the remainder of the season, before turning to a long-term target like Rayo Vallecano’s Andoni Iraola – a man they’ve so far been unsuccessful in luring to the Premier League.

“The better he does, the more inclined Leeds will be to leave him in charge. I don’t mean long term – if they stay up, expect an appointment like Iraola etc – but if Skubala can see them through to the end of the season then he almost certainly will. The problem will come if it goes wrong for him over the next few weeks. Then they really would have to think again.”

Hay via The Athletic.

A win for Leeds at Everton this afternoon will see them move four points clear of the Toffees in the Premier League standings. Yet a defeat for Skubala will see his side fall into the relegation zone.

There’s huge pressure on Skubala and the club.

Leeds have to win this afternoon to take the heat off the board for their decision to leave Skubala in-charge. It’s a huge risk and it needs to come up trumps with a minimum of four points in the next two games.

Failure to do that is going to have to lead to Leeds making a move to bring in a permanent successor to Marsch. At that point, whoever that individual is, it is likely they will be fighting against the odds to keep the club in the Premier League.

Quiz: How much do you know about Leeds United’s go-to caretaker Michael Skubala? Find out here…