adminTroy Deeney drops Leeds relegation prediction as he calls for another sacking at Nottingham Forest
believes Leeds United’s relegation rivals could still avoid the drop despite the club’s decision to part ways with manager .
Dyche became Forest’s third managerial dismissal of the campaign, following the exits of and earlier in the season.
Forest currently occupy 17th place in the table, sitting three points above the relegation zone and three behind a determined Leeds United side. Their situation comes just over a week after a damaging 3–1 defeat to Leeds at in a crucial relegation showdown on 6 February.
Writing shortly after that result, Deeney warned that all the managerial “chopping and changing” at Forest could plunge the club into “chaos”.
The former striker knows the dangers well, having experienced relegation himself in 2020 after playing under three permanent managers and one interim boss in a single season.
According to Deeney, that kind of instability is rarely helpful for a team battling to survive. Yet, despite Leeds’ apparent stability, he still feels they remain at serious risk.
In a column for , the 37-year-old argued that having four managers in one campaign almost always leads to one outcome: relegation.
Reflecting on his Watford experience, Deeney said constant upheaval breeds division throughout a club, particularly within the squad.
He also suggested that some Forest players, including fan favourite , would be deeply affected by the turmoil at the this season.
However, he believes others will simply focus on securing a summer move away. Deeney claimed that such players quickly slip into “selfish mode”, doing only what is required before leaving at the first opportunity. When adversity hits, he added, uncertainty creeps in and performances suffer badly.
Despite all that, Deeney still feels Leeds are the side most likely to go down, even after their spirited 2–2 comeback draw against on Tuesday night.
He admitted Leeds have collected some impressive results, including their win over Forest, but insisted he remains unconvinced about their survival chances.
The former forward also questioned when Forest’s Global Head of Football, , would come under scrutiny. Deeney believes the former chief was central to Forest’s early-season problems that ultimately led to Nuno’s dismissal.
He argued that Edu lacks a clear philosophy and urged him and his staff to dig deeper into why players are underperforming, suggesting incentives may be needed to ensure survival.
Will Leeds’ quiet January window cost them?
Ahead of the January transfer window, Leeds boss Daniel Farke hinted that owners would back the club with new signings in their fight to stay up.
Leeds were heavily linked with , but were ultimately outbid by for the striker. The 25-year-old completed a £48 million move to , leaving Leeds to settle for just one January addition — on loan from .
Farke had long been searching for a number 10, but despite finally landing one, the German has yet to show much faith in the 21-year-old.
Buonanotte is still waiting for his first Leeds start, with his involvement limited to brief substitute appearances. While he could be handed an opportunity against in the fourth round, he does not appear close to becoming a regular starter.
Compared to Leeds, Forest, and were far more active in the winter market. And while Leeds’ recent form has been encouraging, Deeney warned they could be one injury away from serious trouble.
Leeds opted against making major moves in January. Whether that cautious approach proves costly in their battle for Premier League survival remains to be seen.
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