McAllister Returns to Football at Leeds

Leeds United have acted swiftly to replace the Newcastle-bound Dennis Wise by appointing the former Elland Road midfielder Gary McAllister as their new manager.

McAllister has been out of the game since resigning as player-manager of Coventry City in December 2003 to spend time with his wife, who was seriously ill with breast cancer and died in 2006.

McAllister's appointment, which will initially be until the end of the season, is sure to find favor with Leeds fans as the former Scottish international is something of a legend in west Yorkshire. He was part of the Leeds squad that won the First Division title in 1992 and played almost 300 times for the club between 1990 and 1996.

His managerial experience amounts to little more 1½ years as manager at Coventry. McAllister's only full season at Highfield Road ended with the club in 20th place in the second tier and he had guided his side to mid-table before leaving the club, though he did win a plethora of titles and competitions as a player. The 43-year-old was recently linked to the Scotland post eventually taken by George Burley and had also been mentioned in connection with roles at Leicester and Cardiff.

He rejoins Leeds with the side in fifth place in League One, just one point behind second-placed Nottingham Forest. However he will have to arrest a mini-slump that has seen Leeds pick up only eight points in their last six league games. United face Southend this evening and McAllister's first home game as manager will be a crucial fixture with play-off chasing Tranmere on Saturday.