Who would have thought it would be Huddersfield Town rather than Leeds United’s managerial situation which would be the major talking point ahead of the latest West Riding derby?
Town’s sacking of Chris Powell the day after Steve Evans gained his first win as Leeds boss and the subsequent appointment of David Wagner as head coach has added another dimension to an already intriguing neighbourly tussle.
While Town are set for their fifth new boss in seven years – Wagner officially starts work on Monday – colourful Evans is Leeds’ fifth since the close-season before last.
He has followed Dave Hockaday, Darko Milanic, Neil Redfearn and Uwe Rosler into one of football’s hottest seats.
It’s been a tough start for the former Rotherham United boss, who claimed a vital victory in Huddersfield with the Millers in March and is assisted by former Town striker Paul Raynor.
After draws at Fulham and Bolton Wanderers, Leeds were beaten 2-0 at home to Blackburn Rovers.
Fans turned on Massimo Cellino, the controversial club owner disqualified by the Football League after being convicted of tax evasion for the second time in a year by an Italian court.
The eccentric millionaire, who bought Leeds for £32m 19 months ago, has pledged not to attend any more games while he sets about selling the club.
Cellino might not be present but Leeds will have a sell-out allocation of more than 3,8000 fans at the John Smith’s, and they will have been buoyed by Tuesday’s 1-0 home win over Cardiff City, sealed by a sizzler from Alex Mowatt.
With Town held 2-2 at Reading in Powell’s last game in charge, they are now a place and a point behind Leeds in 18th, with both sides having won three times.
Mark Lillis is in caretaker charge for the 65th league derby (Town 26 victories, Leeds 21, 17 draws).
The 55-year-old featured in five as a Town player, twice scoring in victories and never finishing on the losing side.
And in his fourth stint as temporary manager there’s now way Town’s academy boss will want to taste defeat now.
