Michael Gray had two spells with Leeds United, but says the second one, under Dennis Wise, wasn’t great.
Michael Gray has revealed that former Leeds United manager Dennis Wise was a bit too hands-on during his second spell at Elland Road in 2007.
The 43-year-old was part of the Leeds side which were relegated to League One under Wise during the 2006-07 campaign, having joined on loan from Blackburn Rovers.
The former Chelsea midfielder had only been out of the game for a few months when he was appointed as Kevin Blackwell’s replacement in Yorkshire.
Gray had previously enjoyed another stint with the Whites a couple of years previous, but claims that his return was somewhat soured by Wise, whom he claims thought he was better than the Leeds playing staff.
After raving about his first spell at Leeds, he told BBC Radio Leeds: “The second time with Dennis was a little bit different.
“It was more meetings and falling-outs with players. ‘I’m better than the players so I’ll join in training and I’ll tell you what to do’ so it got a bit strange.”
Wise, now 50, later quit Leeds midway through their League One campaign during the 2007-08 campaign to take a role at Newcastle United under Mike Ashley.
He was later replaced by Gary McAllister, who lasted a year before Simon Grayson took the reins.
Today, United take on Grayson’s Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, as Leeds – now under Thomas Christiansen – look to protect their unbeaten Championship record this season.
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