Former Leeds United boss Neil Warnock feels selling Robert Snodgrass to Norwich City was the beginning of the end.
Warnock remains disappointed not to have led Leeds to promotion.
"I am always confident in myself and I feel it was very difficult," he said. "I relied on having [Robert] Snodgrass at the club and we had to sell him to Norwich and losing him was a major blow and at a crucial time in pre-season we never really replaced him.
"We lacked two or three signings and I think the new owners know that and I think the investment will be there for the new manager, but I wanted it yesterday and didn't think the takeover would take so long - it came just too late for January and the next manager will benefit from that."