Simon Grayson and his coaching staff have been sacked by Leeds United.

Chief executive Shaun Harvey has revealed that the board made the decision to give the club the possible chance of achieving promotion to the Premier League.

"We have 18 games to go this season and are still within touching distance of the play-offs, but felt with the transfer window now closed we needed to make the change at this time in the belief that a new managerial team will be able to get more out of the existing squad of players and make the difference," read a statement from Harvey on the club's official website.

Grayson had been in charge of Leeds since December 2008.

Current youth team manager Neil Redfearn will take charge on an interim basis.