Wise set for Magpies move

Leeds agree compensation package for manager

Last updated: 28th January 2008

Wise set for Magpies move

Wise: Newcastle-bound

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Leeds have confirmed Dennis Wise is set to leave the club to join Newcastle.

Reports on Monday suggested Newcastle had targeted a move for Wise to be director of football at St James' Park.

New Magpies boss Kevin Keegan is keen to have Wise in his new-look backroom team having worked with the player during his time as coach of England.

The news will come as a massive shock to Leeds fans as they battle to win promotion from League One and they will now begin their search for a new manager.

Leeds confirmed that Wise will make the move to Tyneside on Tuesday after they agreed a compensation package for the former Millwall player/manager.

Compensation

"We have agreed a compensation package with Newcastle United for the services of our manager Dennis Wise and he will part company with the club on Tuesday January 29 after completing the preparations for our game at Southend United that evening," read a club statement.

"Newcastle had approached us for permission to speak with Dennis on Friday and since then things have happened very quickly.

"We will always be grateful to Dennis for the way he has turned things around at the club on the playing side and he goes with our best wishes for the future.

"We are not prepared to comment on the inevitable speculation that will now follow about who will replace Dennis. That is not the way we do our business at this club."

Leeds chairman Ken Bates admitted he could not stand in Wise's way after Newcastle made an approach for him.

"Dennis said he was sorry it was such short notice, but it was too good an opportunity to miss," Bates told Yorkshire Radio.

"In football you never stand in the way of anyone who wants to improve themselves.

"We've agreed that he will prepare the team for tomorrow, but it wouldn't be appropriate if he was at the game.

"He leaves the club in a much stronger position on very solid foundations."

Comments (41)

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David Pilkington (Leeds United fan) says...

Gave Dennis the benefit of the doubt when he joined, and have enjoyed the success, thanks to Gus, the real star of LUFC's comeback. Good luck Dennis. Chris Coleman would be a great replacement, if he would afford himself the vision of a move to league 1, and what the future may bring. Other choices - Sheri, well a dream move on both sides I would think, a hero of mine and a great manager to boot. Then O'leary, did well in his early (pre-silly money) days at LUFC when he brought in the kids that did us so proud. Under Uncle Ken this would probably be a good move also.

Posted 09:44 29th January 2008

Andy Daniels (Birmingham City fan) says...

Suprised that one report says Keegan does not know about the Wise appointment! What a start to the revolution!

Posted 09:19 29th January 2008

Paul Cooper (Leeds United fan) says...

I'm not quite sure Wise had ever won over Leeds fans completely, especially after the incident at Southend at the end of last season, so personally I'm not too bothered he has moved on. At the moment we need a manager who has been in the lower leagues, gained promotion and knows what it takes to get Leeds back to the Premiership. Micky Adams for example.

Posted 08:49 29th January 2008

Alistair Houston (Leeds United fan) says...

To all the fans asking why us Leeds fans are happy he's gone. Since Gus Poyet left we have had form of a team fighting for mid-table if not worse. It appear Gus was the brains of the 2 and unfortunately he left us. Please uncle Ken, DO NOT GIVE THE JOB TO HARRY BASSETT! John Sheridan is a good shout i think, Gary Mac - would love to see him back at Leeds but would he be able to do the job, i have doubts, Strachan would be great but i doubt he'd leave Celtic for us (just now anyway), OLeary - mmm, we havent got £100m to spend just yet so probably not a good idea and i'd be very surprised if Coleman, Big Sam etc would come to a League 1 side, regardless of who we are and could be again

Posted 08:38 29th January 2008

Paul Bisby says...

Vinnie Jones is the man for Leeds!!

Posted 07:55 29th January 2008

Lewis Gomersall leeds fan says...

We should get in John Sheridan - he's Leeds through and through, is a good manager and plays good football. Also thanks Wise for what you did this season.

Posted 22:21 28th January 2008

Michael Jones (Leeds United fan) says...

I finally hope we get a good manager like Chris Coleman for example he did well at Fulham with next to no money this could be the best thing for us as the results have gone from bad to worse since Gus Poyet left.

Posted 22:17 28th January 2008

Joe Mott (Leeds United fan) says...

I still don't understand why he has left he was a manager of a great team now hes gone to Newcastle not even to be a manager. Hopefully we will get a big name manager like Chris Coleman or Steve McClaren. But we need to get it sorted out soon.

Posted 22:03 28th January 2008

Brian Hill (Millwall fan) says...

Dennis Wise did well at Millwall, did well at Swindon and has done a fantastic job at Leeds, considering they had a 15- point deduction to start with. Why are supporters of Leeds and Newcastle moaning about Wise. I think he has a lot to offer to Newcastle

Posted 21:58 28th January 2008

Danny Harrison (Newcastle United fan) says...

I think that Newcastle have made a clever move! Dennis Wise a footballing man, and with his knowledge and experience I think he can help build a future with Newcastle! After Kevin Keegan as well! Good move Kev!

Posted 21:56 28th January 2008

Steve Mullins says...

I never once thought Dennis Wise was the right man for Leeds, he has just used Leeds United as a stepping stone for getting himself into the Premiership. Clearly once Gus Poyet left ,results were pretty poor. As for loyalty well Dennis Wise has none.

Posted 21:46 28th January 2008

Pete Croker (Leeds United fan) says...

I think Dennis is a fool for leaving, he could have made a right name for himself here. To be honest I dont think he'll be missed, Leeds fans had accepted him but never really liked him. Don't get me wrong I'm thankful for the job he's done this season but lets face it, things haven't been the same since Gus left.

Posted 21:37 28th January 2008

Michael Cooke (Leeds United fan) says...

Dennis a director of football? Don't think I've ever laughed so hard on a Monday! agree with everyone else that things were not quite the same after Gus left, Dennis knew it too, that's why he's gone. David O'Leary should come back, just no more stupid books please Dave.

Posted 17:23 28th January 2008

Paul Allen (Chelsea fan) says...

I can not believe some of the comments on here from some Leeds fans. They started the season with a 15 point deduction and Wisey will leave them perfectley placed for a play off place. They should be grateful, it is also about time that they came to terms with the fact that they are no longer a major force in English football and that Dennis may just want to better himself by going to a premier league club.

Posted 17:23 28th January 2008

Davidson Shillingford (Leeds United fan) says...

Good luck to him, he did a good job while he was here, Now get chris coleman in i think he would do well for us. MOT

Posted 17:05 28th January 2008

Steve Smith says...

Typical Dennis Wise - he always leaves for Bigger Clubs, first he moved from Swindon when Leeds came knocking and now he has used them as a stepping stone to Newcastle. Surely he would rather be a manager making all the decisions himself or does he expect Keegan's reign to be short lived? - either way leaving a club like Leeds for a backroom job at Newcastle must be seen as a demotion and I'm not even a Leeds fan!

Posted 17:04 28th January 2008

Bill Clinton (Arsenal fan) says...

This is a surprising development and I can't help but wonder why Denis is leaving, their results have taken a turn since Poyet left and maybe he was the real brains behind the good results. If I was a Leeds fan I'd be hoping for Chris Coleman to get the job.

Posted 17:03 28th January 2008

Keir Hostler (Portsmouth fan) says...

Wise and Keegan will be about as effective as Laurel and Hardy. What are the Newcastle Board thinking about?

Posted 17:01 28th January 2008

Rob O'connell (Southend United fan) says...

I cannot see how Dennis Wise has failed at every team - he took Millwall on that awesome FA Cup run, he has turned a Leeds Utd team with no money and a massive points deduction into a battling team, even though he is not gonna be there against my boys tomorrow, I can't see us taking a point. We came down last season, and I thought we were unlucky, this season, I have watched as Leeds are seemingly clearing every team out their way. I do hope they do not give us a pasting, but I get a strange feeling they will. Please Please Please, can Southend sign a big name player who is getting on a bit... Dino Baggio or Tino Asprillia or Sheringham or something!!!! We need that big name player boost!!!

Posted 17:01 28th January 2008

Paul Duggan (Leeds United fan) says...

Shame about Dennis Wise athough things have not gone to plan since Gus Poyet left. We need to move fast to get a manager in to keep promotion push going. I say bring back David O'Leary!!!

Posted 16:59 28th January 2008
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