The Proof will be in the Hockaday Pudding

Article by e-Leeds United Correspondent Gwyn Hughes

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Believe it or not but I feel relieved that Leeds United have finally sorted out a coach. The fact that I and probably the majority of Leeds fans were surprised, sceptical and, yes, stunned, when we heard who was the favourite to land the job was an understatement. I was hoping to get Roberto Di Matteo or perhaps Tim Sherwood in, young and hungry to succeed and proven in managing teams that play attractive football. I also felt sure that Cellino (El Presidente!) was going to appoint an Italian, something that we all thought he would be a safer bet as his first victim, alluding to his history of hiring and firing coaches as often as he changes his sports car.

It is a bit of a shock to find that he has opted to hire Dave Hockaday, who with the greatest respect even the media were struggling to find information on him. The fact that he was part of the set up at Watford when they beat Leeds in the Championship play-off final of 2006 was unknown to me, and he has also been involved with Southampton as well. These were attractive teams to watch by the way.

In equal measure we are all scratching our heads to why Cellino chose this particular path for Leeds. From the fans' perspective we have been expecting a 'name' be it British or Italian, to basically appease the fans. May I remind you all that we have had such people in the past who have not been in a position to sort the real problems at Leeds; the financial running of the club. Every manager since 2002 has had both hands tied behind their backs and gagged for good measure. No manager can succeed in such circumstances.

Now we have a man like Cellino in charge things will be done differently, and I'm glad that the cycle of airy-fairy promises, wasted opportunities and, even more serious, money hemorrhaging at an unsustainable flow will soon be at an end. I'm afraid that the big signings that we envisaged coming to the club are a way off and will only start to happen when Cellino sees that the club is finally in a position to not waste his money. As Cellino said recently, "I've been told since I arrived here the club is a sleeping giant. I found out it wasn't sleeping, it was close to dead. Showbusiness is very important in football, but now is the time to be silent and to work."

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So getting Hockaday in seems a sensible option. I think now that he is our coach it helps to make fans realise what a disaster the last 12 years have been for Leeds. The underwhelming response to his appointment, although understandable to the level of expectations of Leeds fans, shows our pitiful standing in the football world. If Cellino had appointed a big personality in the game, I fear the destructive cycle would have carried on; big signings on big wages are even more of a risk than appointing an 'unknown' coach who will not demand money in order to make him look successful. We have, I believe, an honest grafter who is as grass roots as they come, perhaps just what Leeds need at this moment in time.

Hockaday should be given the same respect as a Di Matteo or anyone we consider as worthy to be at the helm of Leeds United. David O'Leary had no management experience, and little coaching experience for that matter, and look what he accomplished. He seems a no-nonsense kind of guy which will complement the Cellino way. I for one am looking forward to who they can get in and work with.

By going a different way to what we expected shows what a confident and assured individual he is. He quickly assessed the situation and is acting as a responsible owner should. Before he came along, we were still under the impression that we were a big club and could compete as such. We couldn't. Even other clubs we considered were not as big as us were miles ahead in all aspects, football and management and financial strategies.

But Cellino lives in the real world and this is why we should trust his decisions and his vision for a profitable future of Leeds United. It's about time we had a sensible and realistic approach to the club.

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