Cellino Unveils Hockaday

In a move that may upset many loyal fans of Leeds United, outsider David Hockaday has somehow managed to convince Italian multi-millionaire Cellino that he has the credentials to take over Championship side Leeds United. Former Hull City player Junior Lewis also joins as Hockaday's assistant.

Hockaday has coached with a number of prominent sides, including Leicester City and MK Dons, but he is taking full control of a Football League squad for the first time.

A brief statement on the Leeds United Official Website said: Leeds United are pleased to announce that David Hockaday has been appointed to the position of head coach.

“The 56-year-old has signed a two-year contract and will assume overall responsibility for the coaching staff and first-team playing squad with immediate effect.

“David arrives at Elland Road with a vast amount of coaching experience and was integral to the management team at Watford that gained promotion to the Premier League in 2006.”

The statement added: “Leeds United’s new head coach will be joined by former Leicester City midfielder Junior Lewis.”

Shockwaves reverberated around the Leeds United fanbase when Hockaday became a shock leading candidate for the role with the bookies shortly after former boss Brian McDermott was sacked as head coach.

The appointment of the former Blackpool and Swindon defender is sure to spark a fresh wave of indignation on social media websites among Leeds supporters who had been hoping for a bigger name to lead the club’s promotion challenge in the Sky Bet Championship next season.

Other possible names for the role were former Leeds player and manager Gary MacAllister and Reading youth coach Eamonn Dolan were thrown around social media sites but it was Hockaday who ultimately took the job at Elland Road.



David Hockaday had previously been a right-hand man to Aidy Boothroyd at Watford in their Premier League promotion season back in 2006. Since then, he has taken the management role at Skrill Premier side Forest Green Rovers, and on one of the highest budgets in the league, still managed to send them down into the lower regions of the Conference leagues.

Hockaday did not share any surprise about his appointment.

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Hockaday: Don't Doubt Me Yet

In his first official press conference since taking over at the Whites, new gaffer David Hockaday has said to the loyal followers of Leeds United to keep their opinions to themselves until the league campaign starts.

The man from Durham said in an interview with LUTV: "I'm a strong character, one that suits this club well. I share the same ambitions as the fans here and I need to earn their respect straight from the off against Bournemouth in our first game, it's up to me to get these players fired up for that. If I don't blame me, not the players."

He went on to add "Leeds is a big club and equally, a big challenge. Especially for me coming from basically nowhere compared to Leeds. The fans who have stuck by the club during the Champions League days ten years have had to wait an eternity for them for those days to return to the city of Leeds. These fans deserve it.

Hockaday relegated his previous team Forest Green Rovers from the Skrill Premier in his first season in charge despite working on a one million pound budget - the highest budget in the league, but Hockaday has insisted he has learnt from his mistakes there upon arrival at the Whites.

Salerno Joins Leeds

Former Cagliari Sporting Director Nicola Salerno has today flown into Leeds Bradford Airport in Yorkshire to start his new role as Director of Football at Leeds United.

Following the arrival of Italian owner/chairman Massimo Cellino at Leeds United, the whole shape of the backroom staff has been tweaked with over recent months at the West Yorkshire club.

Salerno was part of the backroom staff at Cellino's old club in Italy, Cagliari Calcio and he was responsible with most of the arrivals of players during his time in Sardinia, Italy. He played a part in the moves of Colombian international Victor Ibarbo, Italian international Davide Astori and Belgian international Radja Nainggolan to Cagliari.

The controversial owner Massimo Cellino spoke on behalf of Salerno, who is still learning English and said: "Nicola is very happy to be here in England with me. Me and Nicola were very important in the improvement of Cagliari football club since he joined and now I am glad that he has joined me on my new adventure in football and is looking forward to it"

Pre-Season

As the first few challenges in David Hockaday's new job at Leeds came about, it wasn't too bad for the former Forest Green Rovers manager. In pre-season, Hockaday utilised many of the quality youngsters that Leeds United possesses through it's world-famous academy after providing the world with the joys of Billy Bremner, John Charles, Peter Lorimer and more recently, Micah Richards and James Milner. Youngsters Alex Mowatt, Sam Byram and Dominic Poleon were a few of the names that stood out to fans in pre-season, putting in some top quality performances for the Whites.

Leeds United 0 - 1 Toulouse FC

Friendly
Elland Road
Attendance: 7,001


Martin Braithwaite (71)

East Fife 2 - 2 Leeds United

Friendly
New Bayview Stadium
Attendance: 1,713


Ronnie O'Hara (9)
Mike Doris (16)
Alex Mowatt (67)
Ross McCormack (83)

Peterborough United 2 - 4 Leeds United

Friendly
London Road
Attendance: 2,403


Dominic Poleon (8, 27)
Chris Eagles (22)
Nile Ranger (69)
Scott Hogan (79)
Conor Washington (80)

East Stirlingshire 1 - 3 Leeds United

Friendly
Ochilview Park
Attendance: 3,668


Ross McCormack (25, 67)
Nile Ranger (35)
Alex McLear (87)

Leeds United 1 - 4 Valenciennes FC

Friendly
Elland Road
Attendance: 6,990


Maor Melikson (18)
Cheick Diarra (30)
Rudy Mater (41)
Nile Ranger (58)
Francis Massampu (67)



As standard before every season, a manager needs to add to his side, especially if you are new to the club, like Hockaday. Here are the arrivals and departures coming and going from Elland Road:

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Hockaday Releases New Numbers

Ahead of the new season, Leeds United manager David Hockaday has announced his team's squad numbers which are necessary for every club above Skrill Premier. These numbers come a few days before Leeds' and Hockaday's big kick-off against Nottingham Forest on the 3rd of August.