Respected journalist Phil Hay, one of the foremost authorities on all things Leeds United, has suggested that manager Paul Heckingbottom will not be leaving this summer, as rumoured a few weeks ago.

It was thought that the former Barnsley manager would pay the price for a poor end to the season, but despite the speculation Hay has today moved to silence some of the chatter.

He tweeted on the situation, saying: "Orta staying put and at this stage, it looks like Heckingbottom will too. No smoke signals to suggest otherwise."

Leeds grabbed a vital win yesterday against Heckingbottom's former side, which sees them climb to 12th in the Championship table.

It was only the third win of his tenure as manager, a run that looked to threaten his future in the role.

He had expressed shock at speculation surrounding his role earlier this month, saying talk about his future as head coach had “surprised everyone”, and he expected to be in charge next season.

He signed an 18-month deal to take over from Thomas Christiansen in February, becoming the club's twelfth manager in just six years.

The Verdict

It might not be the news Leeds fans want to hear, but when Phil Hay feels confident enough to suggest he's staying put then I'm inclined to believe him. Leeds do need stability and Heckingbottom has been lumbered with substandard signings from the previous manager. He needs time to stamp his own mark on the side and should be judged after a year, not after little over two months in the hot seat.