Leeds boss Simon Grayson reckons the Championship promotion race is “wide open” as he looks to lead the Whites to back-to-back promotions (Leeds 14/1 – 2010/11 Championship Outright).
The Elland Road outfit may have limped over the line to finish as runners-up in League One last season, but it was enough to get them back in the second tier of English football.
And now Grayson is looking to kick on by insisting he is not just going up into the Championship next term to make up the numbers.
He told the Yorkshire Evening Post: “I’m not going to settle for finishing fourth from bottom and staying up.
“It’s a risky strategy anyway and a negative way to look at things. To be honest, I don’t think that many people in Leeds would see it as an achievement.
“Most people would probably see it as a disappointment and I accept that.
“Staying up is your first target but I won’t be the only manager who’s looking at the Championship and seeing a wide open league.
“Twelve teams could have a real chance, maybe more. I said in May that I go into every season looking for promotion and I still believe it might be a possibility.”
Totesport makes Nottingham Forest the 8/1 favourites to win the Championship next term, with Middlesbrough (9/1) and Queens Park Rangers (10/1) just behind them.
Leeds must do without the goals of Jermaine Beckford next season after the striker made the move to the Premier League with Everton.
Billy Paynter has been snapped up from Swindon as his replacement although Grayson is still weighing up whether or not to make permanent moves for last season’s loan stars, Michael Doyle and Neill Collins.
Grayson added: “They’re players who did really well for us last season but they’re obviously tied to other clubs.
“I’m not going to say we will try to sign them or that we won’t. It’s a case of looking at all the options and seeing what’s best for the club.
“We’re at the end of June and there’s no need for clubs or players to rush into decisions.”
Leeds kick off their season with a home clash against Derby on August 7.
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