According to the Times on Wednesday morning, Garry Monk may be spared a traumatic trip to South Wales on Saturday because Massimo Cellino has lost patience with him despite our late win over Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday night.

Monk is scheduled to lead the team against Cardiff City on Saturday lunchtime, the former Swansea boss is bound to get a rousing reception from the locals - if he's actually there. According to the Times his time is indeed already up and he'll be Cellino's SEVENTH managerial casualty in just over two-and-a-half years.

The Times story echoes a report circulating in Cellino's native Sardinia this week that once again "Il Duce" has reached the end of his tether with the latest "Watermelon".

Before the diabolical Derby defeat to the "Dog Botherers" on Saturday, I said Cellino's reaction maybe would indicate how far or close even he was to supposedly selling the club. Surely even the trigger-happy Italian wouldn't be reckless enough to fire a Head Coach inbetween two games in four days? Not to mention committing any incumbent new owners to paying off yet another salary? Albeit a modest, one-year rolling contract one unlike the "Kings Ransoms" we've had to shell out down the years to the likes of Venables and O'Leary. Last night on the journey back from Elland Road listening to Arsenal fans moaning about Arsene Wenger on the radio (for a change) we worked out we've had 18 managers at Leeds since Wenger's arrival nearly two-decades ago!

Former Arsenal superstar Ray Parlour predicted on national radio that any loser from last nights War of the Roses clash would pay with the sack. Owen Coyle is a hugely unpopular appointment with the Rovers fans and it was interesting to hear them berate him for bringing on Marvin Emnes last night, who subsequently scored against us. After the final whistle I mused that maybe we will see a former Leeds boss in the away dug-out when we face Rovers in the EFL Cup third round next Tuesday? Steve Evans maybe? Brian McDermott? Neil Warnock perhaps?

So I'll stand by my prediction, when we go head-to-head with Rovers next week, if there is any change in either sides' coaching staff then Coyle will be the one to have picked up his P45 and yes, I heard the rumours too pre kick-off that former Boro, Newcastle and Derby boss Steve McLaren was in the East Stand last night!

Photo: Action Images

TimWhelan added 18:16 - Sep 14 I was surprised that Monk managed to last beyond the weekend, but Cellino might be waiting until he's got someone else lined up. Another site has reported that Steve Mc.Claren was seen in the executive bit of the East Stand last night, in which case god help us, but if he'd been there I'm sure he would have lent Garry Monk his brolly.
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