New Leeds manager Gary McAllister has confirmed he did try to bring in Sammy Lee as his assistant.
But Leeds boss insists Staunton is not 'second choice'
New Leeds United manager Gary McAllister has confirmed he did try to bring in Sammy Lee as his assistant.
McAllister has appointed former Liverpool team-mate Steve Staunton as his No.2 at Elland Road for the rest of the season.
Prior to drafting in Staunton, the new Leeds boss was keen to recruit Lee, who left Bolton Wanderers back in October.
However, Lee is still negotiating his pay-off from the Premier League club, prompting McAllister to turn to Staunton.
Difficult
"I did look to bring Sammy Lee in, but he's still negotiating with Bolton over his contract and that made the situation difficult," McAllister told the
Yorkshire Evening Post.
"I told Sammy that I needed to get someone in straight away and he understood where I was coming from.
"It was fortunate for me that Steve was available and willing to take the job.
"Steve knows that I was going after Sammy initially, and it's not a case of him being second choice. Steve's an experienced guy in his own right and he fits the bill."
