Leeds United have confirmed that the head coach, Steve Evans, has left the club. Evans, along with his assistant Paul Raynor, departs Elland Road after a seven-month stay.

The former Swansea City manager, Garry Monk, is the early frontrunner with the bookies to become the new head coach.

Evans’ exit had been on the cards for some weeks, with the 53-year-old publicly calling for clarity on his future while the owner, Massimo Cellino, looked at other candidates for his job. Evans was told he would be given a new deal beyond the end of the season if he kept Leeds in the Championship but he was then left in limbo by Cellino, who went weeks without contacting the former Rotherham United manager.

While Evans – whose contract expired at the end of June – waited for news, Cellino reportedly spoke to the MK Dons manager, Karl Robinson, and made an unsuccessful approach for Bristol Rovers’ Darrell Clarke, making it all the more clear that he would not be retaining Evans.

Cellino said: “I would like to thank Steve Evans for his efforts as the head coach of Leeds United. Steve completed the job he was brought in to carry out – to keep the team in the Championship – and his hard work here has been greatly appreciated. I wish him and Paul Raynor the very best for the future.

“We have, however, decided that a different approach is required in order to achieve our targets for the new season. The club is now looking to appoint a new head coach to build on the good work of Steve and Paul and deliver the special season which our supporters deserve.”

Evans, despite losing his job, was not looking to point the finger. “First and foremost I have always believed that, if you’re an owner and have the final say, you’re duty bound to put the best man in the chair for the job,” he said.

“If Mr Cellino has an option on me to extend my contract and sees fit to speak to other people, I had to ask myself, ‘One, was he doing it because he doubted me or, two, he wanted to see if there was something better in the market?’

“For a time I believed it was the second of those two but the last week I saw there were other people in for the job and I took the opinion it was not going to be me.”

As a consequence Evans requested a meeting where the club secretary, Stuart Hayton, delivered the news on Cellino’s behalf. The Italian has not told any of the six coaches he has sacked in two years of the news himself.

“I got the news from the club secretary late this afternoon,” Evans added on Sky Sports News.

“I went up to Elland Road, it fell upon me given recent events to be asking the question whether my contract was going to be extended and, following a meeting with the board and Mr Cellino, Stuart was asked to convey to me that it would not be renewed.

“It was hard to sit there and accept. When you work for Leeds United, the first thing you realise is the size and the fans are simply stunning and wonderful people and you realise you have to keep your dignity and respect. If you come out of that club, it’s a sad day. I will move on but it’s been a wonderful experience.”