HE’S LEEDS’ PRODIGAL GRAYSON
Banners still fly for their ex-boss
SIMON GRAYSON discovered a giant banner of himself draped over Elland Road this week.
The Sunderland boss was stunned at the tribute, having been sacked as boss five years ago.
This evening he will entertain Leeds hoping they finish second in the Championship this season – behind his new team.
Grayson still has a soft spot for the club where he was manager for four years and began his career as a player.
But to see a banner alongside greats like Don Revie and Howard Wilkinson (right) was a surprise.
He said: “I have a big affiliation with that club and if Sunderland go up as champions and Leeds finish second this season – that’s a good way of fulfilling a lot of ambitions and keeping friends happy.”
The last time the two clubs met was in 2006 when Roy Keane was in charge of Sunderland and they have been divisions apart every since.
Grayson added: “Losing my job there was hard to take because it was the first time I’d been sacked and it was my club.
“But I was more disappointed because I didn’t see it coming because we were only three or four points off the play-offs. It’s history now, but Leeds is a big part of my life and I was successful there.
“When I went there this week, they’ve started putting pictures outside and it was nice to see mine next to Don Revie and Howard Wilkinson.
“That’s how highly regarded you are as a manager and as a person there. Hopefully, in another 10 years, there might be something like that up here.” The fixture has a heavyweight feel even if both clubs have hit tough times lately.
Grayson added: “If you ask a lot of supporters, they would like to see Sunderland and Leeds back up, because of the sheer size of the clubs, the fanbase.
“But neither club has the divine right to do that because we are in the Championship competing against all the other clubs as well.”