Simon Grayson – The Stats

The low-down on the potential new manager

Simon Grayson’s career saw him start his playing career at boy-hood club Leeds United where he only managed to make 2 appearances before departing for pastures new.

He joined then second division side Leicester City, where he enjoyed promotion as a player to the First Division in 1992/3 and then further Promotion to the Premier League in 1993/4. Leicester were then relegated the following season but bounced straight back up. Grayson departed the Foxes at the end of the 1996/7 campaign.

Aston Villa was his destination where he enjoyed two season with Villa making 48 appearances.

In 1999/2000 he joined Blackburn Rovers where he made 34 appearances before spending several loan spells at Sheffield Wednesday, Stockport County, Notts County and Bradford City.

Blackpool where his final club as a player – he joined them in 2002/3 and enjoyed 4 seasons at Bloomfield Road amassing 126 appearances before drawing a close on his playing career at the end of the 2005/6 season.

.Management.

It was during the 2005/6 season that Blackpool gave their managers job to Grayson.

Grayson was already on the coaching staff and was managing the reserve team squad, he took over initially as caretaker manager after the departure of then manager Colin Hendry.

He was appointed as caretaker manager on the 10 November 2005 and was handed the role on a permanent basis after guiding Blackpool away from relegation that season.

Grayson took Blackpool to the League One Play-offs in May 2007 after a final league placing of third.

Blackpool dispatched of Oldham Athletic 5-2 on aggregate over two legs to set up a play-off final meeting with Yeovil Town at Wembley Stadium.

The seasiders won that fixture 2-0 and with it gained promotion to the Championship.

He guided Blackpool to a 19th placed finish in the Championship the following season.

Later that year in December 2008 Grayson tendered his resignation as boy-hood side Leeds United came knocking for his services after sacking Gary McAllister.

BLACKPOOL RECORD.

Won: 59

Drawn: 51

Lost: 51

Goals: 160

Win percentage: 36.88%

Leeds United.

Simon Grayson was unveiled as Leeds United manager in December 2008 and his first game was on Boxing Day against former side Leicester City – he gained a credible draw. (Leicester were top of the table)

He guided Leeds to a final position of fourth in league one, this saw the club enter the lottery of the play off’s where they lost out to Millwall by two goals to one on aggregate.

Grayson rebuilt and was all set to go again in the 2009/10 season. Leeds started the season with an unbeaten run in all competitions – which included 7 wins and a draw in their 8 opening league one fixtures.

Leeds finished the 2009/10 season in second place and earnt automatic promotion to the Championship.

Grayson had a good first season at Championship level in 2010/11 with Leeds guiding them to a 7th placed finish, narrowly missing out on the play-off positions.

However on February 1st 2012 Grayson was relieved of his duties at Leeds after a disagreement with Ken Bates over funding for players – A lot of his side had been sold from under him during his time at Leeds including Max Gradel, Kasper Schmeichel, Bradley Johnson etc.

A Leeds Club Statement said: ‘We have 18 games to go this season and are still within touching distance of the Play-Offs, but felt with the transfer window now closed we needed to make the change at this time in the belief that a new managerial team will be able to get more out of the existing squad of players and make the difference’

LEEDS UNITED RECORD.

Won: 84

Drawn: 40

Lost: 45

Goals: 169

Win percentage: 49.70%


So what does the future hold for Simon Grayson?

Strong rumours are claiming that Grayson is set to be unveiled as Huddersfield Town manager next week.

He certainly knows how to get a team out of this division – Blackpool via the play-off and Leeds automatically at the second attempt.

He does have play-off failure under his belt also – an experience that I am sure he and Huddersfield won’t want to see a repeat of!

Stay tuned to the Huddersfield manager saga……