Jermaine Beckford admits he admires why Andoni Iraola has now rejected his chance to be the next Leeds United manager. But he would like the Rayo Vallecano boss to take charge.
Leeds have held talks with Iraola about taking over the vacant hot seat at Elland Road after sacking Jesse Marsch. The West Yorkshire outfit fired the American on Monday following a 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest. It left the Whites winless in seven Premier League games.
But Onda Cero reports Iraola has now decided to reject Leeds’ advances to stay with Rayo Vallecano. The Spaniard does not want to leave his La Liga side stranded in the middle of a strong season. He has the Estadio de Vallecas outfit sat fifth in the table through 20 games.
Iraola also believes Rayo Vallecano can enjoy an exciting second half of the campaign. They sit just three points outside of the Champions League places in just their second term back in the division. The 40-year-old guided Los Franjirrojos to top-flight promotion in 2020/21.
Leeds tried to tempt Iraola to leave Rayo Vallecano, where the manager has a €10m (£9m) release clause. But the progress the Madrid club made in the first half of the campaign has convinced the Usurbil native to stay. Yet his contract there lapses at the end of the season.
Beckford admits he admires Rayo Vallecano manager Iraola for rejecting Leeds
Reports by Sky Sports also add Rayo Vallecano have blocked Leeds from hiring Iraola, who was open to becoming their next manager. Whites chiefs considered the Spaniard to be a leading candidate to replace Marsch. But the Elland Road outfit’s search must now go on.
Beckford hopes Rayo Vallecano’s objection is not the end of Leeds’ efforts to name Iraola as their next manager, though. He appreciates the successes the Spaniard has achieved at the Estadio de Vallecas. The Whites hero also admires Iraola for why he is choosing to stay.
“I don’t think it will be the end of it,” Beckford has now told Sky Sports News (9/2, 10:07).
“I’m hoping it won’t be the end, to be honest, because he’s done really, really well and the team he’s managed to get to fifth in La Liga on one of the smallest budgets playing some pretty good, exciting football.
“It would be exciting to see him coming to Leeds and playing with a slightly higher calibre of player. But also have owners that will be prepared to back him in the summer, as well.
“There’s an element of him not turning up now that I quite admire because it shows that he’s committed to the cause. So, he doesn’t get his head turned that easily. But whether it’s himself or the club that are dismissing Leeds United so far is to be seen.”
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