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Paul Heckingbottom could be sacked after fewer than four months in charge with Leeds already searching for his replacement.

Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani is considering wielding the axe because he is unsure if Heckingbottom is the right coach to lead them next season.

Radrizzani has major doubts because Heckingbottom won just four of his 16 games after he appointed him in February as Thomas Christiansen’s successor to finish 13th.

Heckingbottom, 40, met the Leeds board before heading off on holiday when he told them which players he needs to mount a promotion push.

(Image: Birmingham Mail)

He is waiting to hear if Leeds will back him or sack him and the former Barnsley boss will be entitled to compensation for the remaining 12 months of his contract if Radrizzani axes him.

Leeds have already put out feelers around Europe to assess the pool of possible successors to Heckingbottom and are understood to favour a foreign coach.

(Image: Getty)

Leicester’s title-winning boss Claudio Ranieri has been linked, along with former Swansea coach Michael Laudrup, who has just left Saudi side Al Rayyan.

Radrizzani is keen to dispel Leeds’ trigger-happy reputation for sacking coaches from Massimo Cellino’s controversial reign.

But the Italian is just as determined that Leeds mount a promotion bid next season and is prepared to appoint his third manager in 12 months if he felt it was in the club’s best interests.