Ken Bates will test Blackpool's resolve to keep hold of Simon Grayson, with the Daily Mail reporting that "Larry" will be installed as Leeds' ninth manager in 10 years later today.

Although Blackpool have told Leeds to back-off over an attempt to lure Grayson from Bloomfield Road, the Mail which admittedly is hardly at the cutting-edge for getting its exclusives correct, reckon that a £200,000 compensation-package should ease the deal through later today.

If this is the case, then Grayson would be in charge for the visit of Leicester, who ironically he left Leeds for in the early nineties.

For disappointed Blackpool fans, the signs must look pretty ominous. The bookies have suspended taking bets on who the next new Leeds-boss will be and Blackpools firm rebuff on Monday night is pretty customary - it also said something that they were making no further comment "at this stage".

It is a sad fact of life that money talks and I understand Leeds received around £200,000 compensation for the services of coach Neil McDonald, who moved to Blackburn last week to be part of Sam Allardyces backroom staff.

Obviously in that scenario, Bates' timing was impeccable and those silly duffers at Blackburn living a charmed life on Jack Walker's legacy have had to pay compensation for somebody they may have got for free - after Macca received the bullet at the weekend.

However I must echo the thoughts of Gary Edwards, Leeds-fan, painter/decorator and author who appeared on BBC Radio Leicester's football talkshow yesterday evening (I was down in Loughborough at the time). Gary shared the views of many Leeds fans who are sympathetic towards McAllister and he appeared to express an element of surprise that old white beard had not got a replacement for Macca firmly lined-up. Gary also hinted that Grayson would not have been his first choice.

Granted, Grayson has done a fine job at Blackpool with little or no money to spend, however I am always cautious of taking someone elses manager because it has a funny habit of blowing up in your face as Blackburn found out with Ince and we did to some extent when we took Wise and Poyet from Swindon.

I honestly believe there are better candidates out there unattached to clubs, Tim Whelan has already mentioned Aidy Bothroyd - my own personal choice would have been Billy Davies who worked micracles at both Preston and Derby. Indeed at Derby I would argue he was a victim of his own success having got the Rams promoted ahead of schedule and unable to bring quality players to Derby in time for their Premiership hiding to nothing. Davies's successor Paul Jewell has hardly done much better.

Davies is also a Scot and barring Don Revie, they do make the best football managers!

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