Speaking in the aftermath of Leeds latest dismal result against Derby, Simon Grayson played down reports that pressure to go-up this season is responsible for the cracks that have appeared in Leeds season.
Chairman/Owner Ken Bates's demands are clear, promotion to the Premiership at the end of the season anything less will not do.
Grayson celebrated three-years in charge last week and following today's defeat at Derby quipped that Bates had given him two more years more than most managers, but there are already questions being asked about Grayson's ability to return Leeds to the top-flight they exited in 2004 - as well as the continued scrutiny on Bates's stewardship of the finances of the club.
Anti-Bates' chants have been heard at every game this season, including today at Derby where two shall we say erm elderly gentleman told me off for daring to criticise "the saviour" of our club. In last week's programme notes, Bates outlined his expectations for his manager and told the playing staff who are hankering after Premiership wages to "get us there first".
Speaking after the 1-0 defeat, Grayson said "I’ve had meetings with him (Bates) and identified the targets we’d like to bring in and hopefully we can once the window opens,” he added.
“Every chairman in the Championship wants to get promoted. Obviously, with the size of club that Leeds are there’s a need to be back in the Premier League. We are still in a decent position to try and crack on for the rest of the season and one or two players will help.
“There are different ways of being given money. There’s wages, loan deals and transfers and we’re looking to bring people in.
“We’re hopeful. When you do it in January is another question. We’re working hard to do that. It could be anything, I like to do my business in private and we’re trying to get the players we want without alerting other clubs. We’re not going to put a figure on what we’re looking to spend.”
To what extent Bates will back his manager is the million dollar question, austerity is very much what the Leeds chairman is preaching, indeed it is hard to argue againgst a return to the Ridsdale era when we lived way beyond our means. However the distribution of our income is one of the biggest bug-bearers, Bates's persistance in projects such as redeveloping the corporate facilities in the East Stand has been seen by many as coming at the expense of team-investment.
As well as dissatisfaction in Bates, Grayson is increasingly becoming a target for frustrated fans on web-forums and radio phone-ins. The team were booed off following the 1-0 reversal at home to Reading and save a late flurry of chances which ultimately came to nothing, Leeds again looked second best in all departments against a Derby side who started the game in 16th place.
With his reputation at Chelsea for dispensing of managers and to a lesser extent at Leeds, will Grayson survive January? My feeling is he will be allowed some modest moves in the rtransfer-window and will be at the helm for as long as it is mathematically possible to either make the play-offs or promotion.