Leeds move for Wise
Guvnor becomes Gaffer
Hearts boss takes a break
—– Dennis Wise is set to become the new manager of Leeds United after the Championship strugglers agree compensation with his current club, Swindon Town. His Robins assistant Gus Poyet will follow him to the Yorkshire club.
The former Chelsea duo will be re-united with ex-Blues chairman Ken Bates at Elland Road.
The appointment of Wise is not universally popular among Leeds supporters but Ken Bates - who became a close friend during their time at Chelsea - is typically belligerent: “I am aware that he may not be everybody’s cup of tea but this is not a popularity contest. It is a question of the right man to resolve a serious situation.”
The former Millwall boss replaces Kevin Blackwell who was sacked on 20 September.
Coach John Carver has since been in caretaker charge but he left the club today following Saturday’s 1-5 drubbing at Luton Town.
Reserve team coach David Geddis takes charge of tomorrow’s Carling Cup tie with Southend United before Wise officially begins his new job on Wednesday.
He took the reins at Swindon in May following Town’s relegation to League Two
Club captain Adrian Williams agrees to take over as caretaker manager at the County Ground after youth coach David Tuttle turned down the opportunity.
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—– As his glittering playing career draws to a close, Paul Ince is unveiled as Macclesfield Town’s manager on an initial 14-month contract.
In his first managerial role, the former England and Manchester United midfielder succeeds the vastly experienced Brian Horton, who was sacked on 1 October.
Macc are without a win this season, are currently seven points adrift at the bottom of League Two and have the Football League’s lowest attendances.
The typically confident ‘Guvnor’ insists: “I wouldn’t say it’s a gamble - it’s a challenge and I never shirked a challenge as a footballer.
“It was a gamble to leave Manchester United for Inter Milan, so you do take chances, but that’s the way I am. I’m excited about it.”
—– The on-going managerial drama at Heart of Midlothian takes another twist as head coach Valdas Ivanauskas agrees to take a two-week leave of absence after a meeting with club owner Vladimir Romanov in Lithuania.
Ivanauskas had refused to talk to the media following Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat to Kilmarnock - a defeat that left Hearts eight points behind SPL leaders Celtic.
Romanov sacked George Burley and Graham Rix last season but has so far remained loyal to Ivanauskas.
First-team matters will be overseen by sporting director Eduard Malofeev, the 64 year-old Former Soviet Union and Belarus national coach.
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