Pundit David Prutton believes Garry Monk’s departure as Leeds United manager will be a “huge blow” to the club’s ambitions.
Monk had led Leeds to a seventh-placed finish in the Championship last season, and with talks underway over an extended contract, Monk instead resigned from his post.
The decision came as a huge shock to club chiefs, the fans and the players, and Prutton believes Monk will be a significant loss after everything he did during his short time at Elland Road.
He wrote in his column for the Yorkshire Evening Post on Friday: “I think it’s a huge blow Garry Monk leaving, not only because of what people had seen on the pitch but also because he seemed to really throw everybody together.
“He built up a good relationship between himself and the fans and he was a bit of a buffer between the owner and the fans. He gave the fans that bit of hope they needed to get through these slightly tougher times.
“But I have heard Garry talk about projects and being in a position to build something. Garry obviously views that as being better elsewhere.”
Since leaving Leeds, Monk has been strongly linked with the vacant managerial position at Championship newcomers Middlesbrough.
The Boro are in need of new leadership following their relegation from the Premier League last season, and Monk has swiftly emerged as one of the frontrunners.
It was claimed by the Mirror on Tuesday that Monk is to be interviewed for the Middlesbrough post this week, but there are also several Premier League positions available.
Nevertheless, Monk’s departure leaves Leeds chasing their eighth manager since April 2014, and facing an uncertain future next season after such a promising campaign last term.
The Yorkshire club had held a comfortable position in the play-offs ahead of the final two months of the season, only to win just two of their final eight games to drop out of the promotion race.