Simon Grayson on Leeds United and Sunderland’s promotion bids

Football writer Mark Carruthers speaks to Simon Grayson about Leeds United and Sunderland’s promotion bids.

Transcript

00:00You mentioned that you'll be back sort of late April, early May.

00:03That'll be when the championship promotion race is hitting its climax,

00:07or just about to finish, really.

00:10Two your former clubs in there.

00:11Leeds looking good for promotion now.

00:14Sunderland confirmed in the playoffs.

00:16They've both got a good chance of being in the Premier League next season,

00:18you'd think.

00:19Yeah, look, the Leeds one is one that's close to my heart,

00:22obviously, supporting, playing and managing the club.

00:25The last week has been an incredible week for them,

00:28given sort of at one stage it looked like we were slipping away a little bit,

00:32then all of a sudden back-to-back wins and results elsewhere

00:34have sort of put us in a real strong position with four games to go.

00:39But you can't take anything for granted.

00:40But hopefully I'll be back for the last game of the season

00:44when hopefully it's a celebration game down in Plymouth.

00:48So, fingers crossed that happens.

00:51Look, Sunderland have done really well this year.

00:53The new coach has come in, young squad,

00:55and have really embraced what he's been doing.

00:59So, again, I love the backing of the supporters at the stage in light.

01:03And if you get into the playoffs, no matter who you play,

01:07it's a bit of a toss of a coin of what may end up,

01:14whether who you play, who turns up on the day.

01:17And obviously Sunderland were there a couple of years ago

01:19with Tony Moeburn and fell in the semi-finals at Luton.

01:23But I'm sure Sunderland will think they've got as good a chance

01:27as anybody in the playoffs.

01:28Let's do this.