Steve Evans has claimed he feels “sorry” for the Leeds supporters after Garry Monk’s shock resignation on Thursday.
Monk resigned on Thursday morning and the Championship giants announced in a statement on their official website on Thursday afternoon that they were “shocked and disappointed” at his decision.
It comes after the 38-year-old steered Leeds to seventh in the division and became the first manager of the Massimo Cellino era to last a full season in the dugout.
Monk’s immediate predecessor Evans was given his marching orders last summer after the club finished 13th, becoming the sixth manager to be dismissed by Cellino during his controversial three-and-a-half year reign.
The 54-year-old is now in charge at League Two outfit Mansfield and spoke to Sky Sports on Thursday afternoon about the exit of his successor.
“I feel sorry for the Leeds United supporters, once more they are back to something new,” Evans said, as quoted by the personal Twitter account of Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Lee Sobot.
“I feel sorry for the Leeds United supporters, once more they are back to something new” Steve Evans speaking to Sky about Monk going #lufc
— Lee Sobot (@LeeSobotYEP) May 25, 2017
Nevertheless, Evans has been impressed at how Monk mounted a genuine promotion challenge on what was a shoestring budget compared to most of Leeds’ rivals.
“It has to be said he has done nothing short of a magnificent job,” said Evans.
Steve Evans on Monk: “It has to be said he has done nothing short of a magnificent job.” #lufc
— Lee Sobot (@LeeSobotYEP) May 25, 2017
Monk, who spent 10 years as a player at Swansea before taking over as manager in February 2014, leaves Leeds without compensation and is available to take another job immediately.
He won 48% of his league games in charge, the fifth-highest percentage in the club’s history, but was unable to steer Leeds back into the Premier League during his one season in charge.
He has been linked with the vacant posts at Crystal Palace and recently-relegated Premier League trio Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Hull City.