Tuesday 24 May 2016 14:39, UK
Leeds have been refused permission to speak to Bristol Rovers manager Darrell Clarke after making a formal approach.
Current Leeds boss Steve Evans is still waiting to hear if he will be handed a new contract after steering the club to a 13th-placed finish in the Sky Bet Championship, but it appears owner Massimo Cellino is already looking for the Scot's replacement.
However, the Italian has seen his initial bid to lure Clarke to Elland Road rebuffed after he failed to meet Rovers' conditions for enabling talks to take place.
The Pirates have also offered Clarke a new and improved three-year deal to stay at the club - he is currently on a 12-month rolling contract.
Clarke, 38, who began his managerial career at Salisbury City, has secured four promotions in five seasons, guiding Rovers from the Conference to League One in the last two.
A statement on Rovers' official website said: "Bristol Rovers can confirm that they have received an approach from Leeds United to speak to Darrell Clarke regarding him taking over as manager at Elland Road.
"As yet, the Yorkshire side have failed to meet the conditions set out by Rovers to enable any talks to take place and until that happens there is nothing else to report.
"We can also confirm that Rovers have offered Darrell a new and improved three-year contract to remain as Bristol Rovers manager.
"Bristol Rovers will not make any further comment until, and unless, there have been any further developments."
Cellino has already met with MK Dons boss Karl Robinson, who is understood to have turned down the offer, while Oldham's John Sheridan had been favourite to succeed Evans last week.
Evans was of the belief that keeping Leeds in the Championship would earn him an extended deal with his current contract set to expire in June, but has yet to receive any official word from Cellino.
Evans told the Yorkshire Evening Post on Monday that he was "hurting" at the lack of contact from the Leeds hierarchy but intended to return to work on Wednesday after an end-of-season break.
His situation is nothing new for Leeds managers under Cellino. The last two summers have seen Brian McDermott and Neil Redfearn put in almost identical positions and then leave after limited contact from the owner.
Such issues have contributed to large sections of the Leeds support turning on Cellino, who said a fortnight ago he wants to sell the club.
The 59-year-old has courted controversy throughout his two-year reign and is currently considering how to respond to a Football Association charge of allegedly breaking its agent regulations over the sale of Ross McCormack to Fulham in 2014.
