Gary McAllister knows he has to overcome the ‘Elland Road’ factor as he desperately searches for new players to strengthen his squad in the January transfer window.

Echoing almost every Leeds manager since Don Revie, McAllister said: “The players who come to Leeds have got to be a little bit different from players who go to other clubs in our division because there’s a different ‘ask’ here.”

And in a comment that is probably as much aimed at his current squad as the future one, the Leeds boss added: “You can be a wonderful player from Monday to Friday but come Saturday when you have to jump over the white line you need to be a special type who can cope with Elland Road.

“There’s high expectations here so I am only interested in bringing in people who have the quality to be good enough for Leeds.”

After four defeats in a row and with games against two of the top three next up, McAllister may not get the chance to delve into the market.

Chairman Ken Bates has a fine balancing act to face – if he has doubts about McAllister he should move quickly so that any new manager has a chance to assess the squad before the window opens in January.

Otherwise he must keep faith with the Scot and provide him with the funds he needs.

Meanwhile, Hartlepool - six points behind Leeds - have sacked boss Danny Wilson and put Chris Turner in temporary charge.