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Simon Grayson: 'Leeds United wanted me back'

Simon Grayson reveals that he turned down the opportunity to return to Leeds United as manager earlier this season.

Simon Grayson has revealed that he turned down the opportunity to return as Leeds United manager this season.

The 45-year-old, who is currently in charge of Preston North End, spent four years at Leeds between 2008 and 2012, leading them from League One into the Championship in 2010 and a seventh-placed finish the following year.

Grayson says that he had talks with the Yorkshire side regarding a potential return to Elland Road.

"I was very successful at Leeds," he told the Daily Mirror. "I left when we were a few points away from the playoffs to get into the Premier League.

"I got them back into the Championship. I'd love to go back to Leeds one day if it was the right time. I was offered the Leeds job earlier this year and it was 50-50 whether I went. My head was telling me one thing, my heart another.

"I am pleased I turned it down. If we go up, it will be strange to go back to Elland Road as I was a Leeds fan as a kid and I haven't been back since I left."

Grayson's Preston will play Chesterfield in the League One playoffs after they narrowly missed out on automatic promotion to the MK Dons.

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A general view of Elland Road Stadium during the Sky Bet Championship match between Leeds United and Sheffield Wednesday at Elland Road on August 17, 2013
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd21145230111945
2Leeds UnitedLeeds21126337152242
3Burnley2111822681841
4Sunderland21117332171540
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn2011452517837
6Middlesbrough21104735251034
7Watford2010462926334
8West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom2171132416832
9Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds218582630-429
10Swansea CitySwansea217682322127
11Bristol City216962626027
12Norwich CityNorwich216873632426
13Millwall206772018225
14Luton TownLuton2274112538-1325
15Derby CountyDerby2266102728-124
16Coventry CityCoventry216692730-324
17Preston North EndPreston2141162127-623
18Stoke CityStoke215792328-522
19Queens Park RangersQPR2141072127-622
20Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2046102133-1218
21Cardiff CityCardiff2046101932-1318
22Portsmouth193882134-1317
23Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2045111942-2317
24Hull City2137111930-1116


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