McClaren's managerial dilemma

McClaren has been at Middlesbrough for 13 months

By John Sinnott BBC Sport Online

As Steve McClaren suns himself on holiday in Spain the Middlesbrough manager is the latest name to be linked with managerless Leeds.

After being rejected by Celtic manager Martin O'Neill, Leeds' chairman Peter Ridsdale has insisted the club expect to announce their new manager by Thursday.

Boro play down McClaren move

BBC Sport Online assesses whether McClaren should make the short journey south to Leeds.

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Title potential

For moving: Leeds last won the title ten years ago, which was also the last time the top flight was won by an English manager - Howard Wilkinson.

But under David O'Leary the Leeds team - a potent mix of youth and experience - showed that they have more than enough potential to challenge the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool.

Against moving: Middlesbrough have never won a major title, though they did finish runners-up in the 1997 FA Cup Final.

If McClaren wins a cup or gets the club into Europe then he will be the club's most succesful manager ever.

He will have to work miracles to better Don Revie's track record at Elland Road.

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Player potential

For: Despite the need to sell players to help balance the books, Leeds' squad drips with quality.

Fowler and Viduka are two of Leeds' prized assets

Rio Ferdinand, Mark Viduka, Robbie Keane, Robbie Fowler, Harry Kewell and Olivier Dacourt are the type of player that McClaren became used to working with when he Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant at Manchester United.

Against: McClaren has shown a shrewd eye in the transfer market for Boro signing Franck Queudrue and Gareth Southgate.

But historically Boro have had problems getting high-profile players to stay at the club - most recently Christian Ziege.

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Europe

For: Leeds will be competing in the Uefa Cup this season and under O'Leary regularly appeared in the major European competitions.

Against: Boro have never qualified for Europe.

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Job satisfaction

For: McClaren was part of Sir Alex Ferguson's coaching staff when Manchester United won the European Cup in 1999.

And as a key member of Sven-Goran Eriksson's England coaching set-up he is used to working with the very best and pitting his tactical wits against the very best.

Against: The way football works these days the best McClaren could hope for with Boro is winning either the Worthington Cup or the FA Cup.

Its unlikely that Boro could either afford or attract the type of player that would see the club win the Premiership.

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Boardroom support:

For: Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale might have sacked David O'Leary, but their relationship over the last four years showed a man prepared to back his manager's judgment - to the tune of almost £100m.

True Boro broke their club record transfer fee last week when they paid Empoli £8.15m for striker Massimo Maccarone.

Boro pursued Maccarone throughout the summer

But there is a also a growing suspicion that there is more than meets the eye to the proposed swoop for Brazilian World Cup winner Juninho.

The Atletico Madrid player is a favourite of chairman Steve Gibson, but is not thought to have been on McClaren's summer shopping list.

A great boost for Boro's season-ticket sales, but would he fit into the McClaren masterplan for Boro?

Against: Ridsdale ultimately answers to the plc board, where the bottom line is more important than the pursuit of glory and silverware.

Boro chairman Steve Gibson owns 75% of the club and has shown in his patience with former manager Bryan Robson that he is not a hire-and-fire owner.

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Loyalty

For: Managerial jobs like the Leeds one do not come along very often.

Against: Boro's best card. McClaren is just one year into a five-year deal with Middlesbrough.

Since he became a coach his career shows a man that does not flit from one job to another.

He stayed three years with Oxford, four years with Derby and two seasons with Manchester United.

The signing of Maccarone hints that McClaren might be happy to slowly build on what he has achieved at the Riverside.

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Fans

For: Leeds fans are desperate to see the club win some silverware.

But in their desperation they have never deserted Elland Road.

Against: Boro's followers have proved more fickle - under 20,000 turned up at the Riverside to watch the third round FA Cup game against Manchester United.

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Money

For: The Leeds financial package - a £10m five-year deal - would nearly treble McClaren's salary.

Against: Boro are paying their manager an estimated £800,000 annual salary.

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The Manchester United factor

For: Sir Alex Ferguson's decision to extend his stay at Old Trafford has given McClaren a three-year breathing space if he hankers after replacing his former mentor.

If he does go to Leeds and succeeds in bringing silverware to Elland Road, his chances of replacing Ferguson will increase significantly.

Against: It is unlikely that the Old Trafford hierarchy would consider a man whose only major managerial experience had been at a club like Boro.

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Conclusion

If Leeds come calling and McClaren listens to his head then the Middlesbrough manager would have no hesitation in moving to Elland Road.

But if he listens to his heart, the man so highly-rated by England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson will feel he has a job to finish and continue his quiet Riverside revolution.