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This story has been updated since it was first published on May 31, 2018 Leeds are lining up an ambitious move to hire Argentine manager Marcelo Bielsa as their new boss, sources have told ESPN FC. Paul Heckingbottom was sacked on Friday after less than four months in charge at Elland Road following a disappointing 13th-placed finish in the Championship. Heckingbottom was brought in to replace Thomas Christiansen, who was sacked in February following their dreadful start to 2018, but the former Barnsley boss was unable to turn his side's fortunes around. "Paul came to us during a difficult period in the season and has conducted himself in an exemplary manner despite results not going as any of us had hoped," Leeds managing director Angus Kinnear said in a statement. "Our objective is to bring in a head coach with more experience who can help us reach the goals we have talked about since we became custodians of the club last summer," he added, saying the Championship side hoped to make a quick appointment. Leeds are ready to go in a new direction to try and get the club in contention for winning promotion to the Premier League and Bielsa is the leading contender to take charge. Bielsa has been out of work since leaving French side Lille last December and sources have told ESPN he is interested in the role at Leeds. The 62-year-old boasts a wealth of experience having previously managed the likes of Marseille, Lazio and Athletic Bilbao as well as the national teams of Argentina and Chile. Landing Bielsa would be a major coup for Leeds as they look to recapture former glories. Information from Reuters was used in this report
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