Eoghan Stokes left Leeds to join Irish side Bohemians in February.
Former Leeds United striker Eoghan Stokes has told the Irish Independent that the Whites’ constant change of manager and rotation badly affected his development at Elland Road.
Stokes, 21, made his senior debut for Leeds this season in a Carabao Cup clash against League Two side Newport County before being released in February in order to allow the Irishman to return to his native country with Bohemians.
Owner Andrea Radrizzani appointed Paul Heckingbottom as manager earlier this year – the third manager of his stint in charge of the Yorkshire club and Stokes criticised the Whites’ lack of consistency in the dugout.
The nine-time Ireland Under-19 international reckons the change of managers and rotation played a part in his lack of growth at Leeds, and stated that it was a main reason for his departure in February.
“I was doing well over there, scoring goals every week, but it was unfortunate that at Leeds there was a constant change of manager, constant rotation of players and that didn’t benefit me,” Stokes said.
“I decided to get out of Leeds and come home as I wanted to play football, play men’s football. With the [Leeds] U23s, it’s fake. You can score four goals in a game and it means nothing.
“The lads who are in the first team ahead of you have 200 or 300 games under their belts so they will get picked, managers over there are under such pressure to get results.”
Stokes has started his spell with Bohemians in excellent form, making three appearances and even scoring on just his second outing in a 1-1 draw against Limerick.
He has a contract with the top-tier outfit until December 2018, as he looks to continue to prove that the Whites were wrong to allow him to leave without giving him the chances to establish himself in the first team.
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