Ex-Cellino target Darrell Clarke sacked two years after Leeds snub

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Darrell Clarke decided to snub Leeds United in 2016 before Garry Monk was appointed at Elland Road.

When Leeds made an approach for Darrell Clarke in 2016, it appeared that Massimo Cellino was looking at one of the brightest managerial prospects in the Football League.

Clarke had just delivered back-to-back promotions with Bristol Rovers to guide them into League One. And while Steve Evans was more popular with the Leeds fans than he had been when he arrived, appointing Clarke appeared to be a great move from the Whites.

But Clarke surprised many by deciding to reject Leeds following Cellino’s approach and sign a new three-year deal with the Gas – as reported by the Daily Star.

Now however, six months before that deal would have been due to end, Clarke – who subsequently signed a five-year deal last summer – is looking for his next job after Rovers confirmed on Thursday that they had parted company the 40-year-old.

In fairness to Clarke, the majority of Bristol Rovers fans appear to be furious with the decision and blame the board for their current struggles in the third tier rather than the man who got them there in his first two full seasons at the helm.

Following his departure, Clarke may perhaps be wondering what would have happened had he taken the Leeds job in 2016. Cellino’s ruthless, and sometimes reckless, nature would suggest that he would not have got the time that Garry Monk received had he made a similarly slow start at Elland Road.

He will probably not regret snubbing Leeds therefore, but he has now seemingly got an enormous amount of work to do to get himself back into contention for a job of that size elsewhere.