Steve Evans is still talking up his chances of winning promotion next season, but it’s looking increasingly unlikely that he’s going to get the chance.
Evans was quoted by the Daily Star as saying "I believe we need between four and six quality players. If that happens I will deliver the play-offs next season, given the opportunity.” But he was telling the paper about a meeting he had with Massimo Cellino on Friday, and it seems that we won’t have to wait too much longer to find out who will run the team in 2016/7.
"There were a lot of positive, constructive things said about myself. I gave my views on what we need to win promotion next season and he gave his. Time beat us yesterday but the decision on my future may come sooner than the Preston game. I think Mr Cellino is ready to make his decision. You never hope one result is the difference between whether you are kept or not.”
But if yesterday’s game is the one that makes the difference, then god help him. The poor home form under Evans has been very frustrating, but before the Charlton game there were signs that had been overcome with wins over Reading and Wolves. That was a glimmer of hope that perhaps Evans could indeed deliver a successful campaign next season, but against Charlton it was very much as you were.
Cellino has already said that Evans talks too much and that he doesn’t like British coaches in general, and as he moves towards his final decision yesterday’s performance may well be the one that finally causes him to lose faith with Evans after all.
The Daily Mail have suggested that Cellino had approached Italy’s world cup winning captain Fabio Cannavaro to take over from Evans, but today they have backtracked on this story. They are now quoting ‘a club insider’ as saying "The Cannavaro deal is dead and buried. Evans will go, his contract will not be renewed. A foreign coach will still be appointed.”
Apparently it was all down to money, with Cannavaro wanting a bigger salary than we can afford. This is a bit of a relief, as Cannavaro’s only coaching experience was at clubs in Asia, where he had mixed results, though his former status with the Italian national side might have attracted a few decent players from that country.
But whether Cannavaro is coming or not, it looks like Steve Evans has taken charge of Leeds United at Elland Road for the last time, whatever he may think he could have done for us next season.