Leeds United chairman Ken Bates has hailed the stability manager Simon Grayson has brought to the club on his two-year anniversary at Elland Road. Grayson joined the Whites back in 2008 and after losing in the League One play-off semi-finals in his first half-season in charge, led his side to promotion to the Championship last term.

He is the fourth longest-serving manager in the division and Bates hailed the stability that Grayson has brought to Elland Road.

"He's probably one of the longest serving managers in the league," Bates told the club's official website. "Simon has brought stability to the club. He's not a headline seeker, he's just got on with his job.

"We have supported him in a way we can afford and against that his demands are not excessive. He wants to build the club from the bottom.

"He has the respect of everyone at Thorp Arch and he has a good team around him. He's proved himself to be a leader and he has a cool head.

"I don't hear panic calls from him when we lose, just a cool, calm assessment.

"Football is very fickle, particularly with the media, but he just gets on with his job."

Leeds are currently fourth in the Championship and are looking to earn successive promotions back to the Premier League.