McDermott reveals team change

03 February 2014 14:17

Brian McDermott revealed the Leeds team he had prepared on Friday for the match with Huddersfield was changed overnight following his apparent dismissal.

McDermott, who returned to training on Monday and now appears to have been reinstated as manager, tried to shed some light on a bizarre few days at the club at a lunchtime press conference.

McDermott ran through the timeline of events, which started with him receiving a phone call from a lawyer acting for prospective new owner Massimo Cellino on Friday night saying he was being sacked.

He then followed Saturday's 5-1 win over Huddersfield on television before reading about his reinstatement on his iPad.

He said: "The only thing I was thinking on Friday night was to get a result. I set the team up on Friday, it was changed overnight, (assistant) Nigel Gibbs changed the team back."

It was not immediately clear who made the changes to McDermott's team on Friday night. Even more mysterious was the new player at training on Monday morning, whom McDermott said arrived on transfer deadline day without his knowledge.

"We have an Italian player," McDermott added.

"I'm not sure the deal has been ratified (by the Football League). I don't know the player, he came on transfer deadline day. If the player has been ratified he will get the utmost respect and opportunity if we feel he can help us."

Source: PA