Garry Monk had a mixed relationship with his Leeds United number two Pep Clotet, according to a reliable journalist.
Yorkshire Evening Post correspondent Phil Hay took to Twitter on Monday afternoon to claim that the two most senior member of the coaching staff in a season that transformed the club’s fortunes did not always see eye to eye.
Asked by a Leeds supporter about the relationship between manager Monk and his Spanish assistant Clotet, Hay reported on his personal Twitter account that “from what I’ve been told the relationship was up and down”.
from what I’ve been told the relationship was up and down. Monk’s gone but sounds like Clotet wants to stay.
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) June 5, 2017
Hay added that Clotet wants to remain at Elland Road even though Monk resigned 12 days ago and has been strongly linked with taking over at recently relegated Middlesbrough.
The Spaniard, 40, was the strong favourite on Monday to be appointed the new Leeds manager, with Sky Bet pricing him at 13/8, ahead of former Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri, who is 7/2, and Alan Pardew, who is priced at 5/1.
Clotet has previous managerial experience in Spain and Sweden, most notably at Halmstad in 2011.
He first linked up in the dugout with Monk at Swansea and then joined the 38-year-old’s backroom staff when he was appointed Leeds manager last June.
The pair appeared to be close allies, with Clotet regarded as providing the tactical nous in support of Monk’s passion and understanding of the English game.
Intriguingly, all is not quite as it seems, which means it is now not inevitable that Clotet will link up with Monk for a third time if he takes his third managerial post ahead of next season.
It remains to be seen whether the Spanish coach will stay at Elland Road as the new manager is likely to want to bring in his own coaching staff.