Sheffield United will fight any bid by Leeds United to tempt Gary Speed back to Elland Road if Gary McAllister moves to recruit the Welshman as his assistant manager.
Speed has emerged as a leading candidate for the position within McAllister's new coaching team, which the Scot was in the process of drawing together today, but Leeds would receive strong resistance from Bramall Lane were they to make a formal approach for another of their ex-players.
Speed started out as a trainee at Elland Road and played with McAllister in the Division One title-winning side of 1992, but he will turn 39 this year and is gradually nearing the end of his playing career.
Sheffield United signed the former Welsh international on loan from
Bolton at the start of this month and have lined up a £250,000 transfer which would give the midfielder an 18-month playing deal and a further 12 months as a coach. The Championship club would be reluctant to see Speed depart so soon after negotiating his arrival.
The appointment of McAllister by Leeds yesterday will see major changes among the backroom team at Elland Road, and Speed is one of a number of personalities linked to the assistant's post, along with ex-Bolton manager Sammy Lee.
McAllister's appointment has also prompted calls among supporters for former player, coach and manager Eddie Gray to return to the fold, though Gray is not thought to have received any contact from United's new boss.
Eric Black served as McAllister's number two at Coventry City, but he recently joined Steve Bruce's staff at Wigan and is unlikely to be a candidate for the job at Elland Road.
