OPINION
Leeds United reached the ignominious milestone of 20 league defeats this season after falling to a 2-1 loss to Norwich on Saturday afternoon, with things going from bad to worse for manager Paul Heckingbottom.
The 40-year-old boss has managed just three wins in his 15 games in charge of the Whites since leaving Barnsley in early February, and many fans are now turning on him and calling for him to be sacked.
Aside from fan pressure there is no suggestion from the club, or Heckingbottom, that his job is in jeopardy, and Leeds fans may have to grin and bear it this summer as he sets out to revamp a squad which has let the club down in recent months.
While there still remains a strong argument that Heckingbottom has not been given a transfer window to work some magic and turn the club’s fortunes around, recent reports suggest that handing him such an opportunity will merely make things worse.
The Whites have been linked with a move for Middlesbrough striker Ashley Fletcher in recent weeks, with Heckingbottom knowing the player from a successful stint at Barnsley together.
According to a report last week in the Gazette Live, Heckingbottom remains a fan of the 22-year-old, and is likely to make a move for him this summer.
A further report from the same publication this week suggests that a Leeds move is indeed on the cards, with Elland Road described as destination that would suit Fletcher, should Heckingbottom remain in his job.
If this is the kind of player that Heckingbottom will swoop for this summer then Leeds are destined for more mid-table mediocrity, or possibly worse, next season.
Fletcher has shown little in his senior career so far to show that he has what it takes to succeed in the Championship, with just two goals in 30 appearances in the competition.
His most successful period came under Heckingbottom at Barnsley while they were in League One, but even nine goals in 26 appearances does not exactly inspire confidence.
Quite simply, if Heckingbottom is indeed eyeing up such a move, it is clear that he does not know what it takes to succeed at this level and must be sacked.
Even if these reports turn out to be wide of the mark, there is little to suggest that Heckingbottom will survive long in this job, and fans could be in for another rough season in mid-table.