A look at how quickly Leeds United’s playing staff has turned over in the past 18 months.
Brian McDermott is poised for his first job back in football management since his dismissal by Leeds at the end of the 2013/14 season.
The BBC report McDermott is to return to another of his former club’s, Reading, after Steve Clarke was fired earlier this month.
Leeds have undergone numerous changes since McDermott was sacked – and that’s just in the head coach department.
Dave Hockaday, Darko Milanic, Neil Redfearn, and Uwe Rosler have all been hired and fired by owner Massimo Cellino, with Steve Evans the latest to attempt to make a go of it.
All of this turnover has meant plenty of players coming and going too – in fact only two starters remain from McDermott’s final Leeds XI from their 1-1 draw against Derby County.
Here is a look at the team and where they are now…
Jack Butland
The promising goalkeeper was at Leeds on loan, benefitting from regular football without really enhancing his reputation. He is finally living up to the hype this season, earning a spot in the England squad.
Danny Pugh
Push was coming to the end of his second spell at Leeds, and was released the same summer. The 33-year-old had a difficult spell at Coventry City last season, playing only five times, and signed with Bury in the summer where he has been a regular for the League One side.
Jason Pearce
Jason Pearce began the following season as club captain, only to be sold in January after losing his place in the team to summer signing Liam Cooper. He signed with Wigan Athletic, who were relegated, and he remains in League One.
Tom Lees
Leeds felt they were making the right move letting Tom Lees go to Sheffield Wednesday, but the centre-back has proved them wrong. Lees has been excellent for the past one and a half seasons and is attracting interest from Premier League sides.
Scott Wootton
Wootton is one of two players in this line up to remain at Leeds, but was loaned out this time last year to Rotherham after failing to impress Neil Redfearn initially. He is trusted by current boss Steve Evans, and is a regular in the side without being first choice.
Rodolph Austin
Leeds surprisingly let Austin leave in the summer on a free, after more than 100 games for the club. He attempted to return to England but was oddly denied a work permit despite being a regular Jamaica international. Austin went on to sign with Danish side Brondby.
Michael Tonge
Michael Tonge struggled to hold down a place in the team last season and was eventually loaned out to Millwall before being released in the summer. After months on the shelf as a free agent, he signed for Stevenage in October.
Michael Brown
Brown was released by Leeds the same summer McDermott left, and is still playing at 38-years-old. He signed with Port Vale where he made 39 appearances last season, but is making his way into coaching, playing only three times this campaign.
Luke Murphy
Luke Murphy was McDermott’s biggest signing, and he never really hit form for his manager. He improved last season, but this time around he has struggled, and has been replaced in the team lately by Sunderland loanee Liam Bridcutt.
Ross McCormack
No player’s departure has been more controversial under Massimo Cellino than Ross McCormack, who was the club captain, and finished as top scorer in McDermott’s final season. He was signed by Fulham for £11 million, but the proceeds from the sale have had limited improvement on Leeds’ fortunes.
Matt Smith
Leeds also surprisingly sold strike partner Matt Smith to Fulham the same summer, despite getting him to sign a new contract in the final months of McDermott’s tenure. After a poor start in west London which saw him loaned to Bristol City, he is back in favour.
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