Leeds United will begin the search for a new manager after deciding to sack Simon Grayson following their 4-1 defeat at the hands of Birmingham City (8/1 Championship Outright) on Tuesday night.

The Whites sit just three points off the play-off places but performances from the West Yorkshire outfit have been less than convincing in recent weeks.

There has been plenty of criticism pointed at chairman Ken Bates for the lack of spending at the Championship club and the sale of skipper Jonny Howson last month.

However it’s Grayson who has paid the price for the club’s inconsistency over the past month and now the club will be looking for a new manager to fill the hot-seat at Elland Road.

Leeds’ chief executive Shaun Harvey has admitted the club want to give the new manager enough games to try and secure promotion back to the Premier League this term.

He said: “We have 18 games to go this season and are still within touching distance of the play-offs, but felt with the transfer window now closed we needed to make the change at this time in the belief that a new managerial team will be able to get more out of the existing squad of players and make the difference.”

Leeds have appointed youth team boss Neil Redfearn as caretaker manager ahead of their clash with Bristol City at Ashton Gate on Saturday (Bristol 11/8, draw 11/5, Leeds 13/8 Match Betting).