SIMON GRAYSON would be interested in a return to Leeds United as the Yorkshire club look for a replacement following Thomas Christiansen's sacking.

The 44-year-old Dane parted company with the Elland Road outfit on Sunday evening.

This was just a day after a 4-1 home defeat by Cardiff extended his side's recent run to seven games without a win in all competitions and left them seven points shy of the Championship play-off places.

It is understood that Grayson, who guided Leeds into the second tier as League One runners-up in the 2009-10 season, would be keen on a return.

Sources close to the 48-year-old indicate that he believes he has unfinished business at the club.

He was hugely popular with the United fans, who saw him depart in February 2012 with his team sitting just three points outside the Championship play-off berths.

Grayson built upon his reputation during spells with Huddersfield and Preston but suffered a bruising tenure at Sunderland.

He lasted barely four months there before being dispatched, with the Black Cats in turmoil on and off the pitch in November last year.

Leeds took little time in launching the search for head coach Christiansen's replacement, with former England boss Steve McClaren swiftly installed as an early favourite with bookmakers.

Yet it is understood that McClaren, who has attended the last two games, is not among those currently under consideration.

Former Scotland boss Gordon Strachan, who won the old Division One title as a Leeds player in 1992, Marco Silva and Paul Heckingbottom are among those who have also been linked with the vacancy.

Christiansen was in charge for less than eight months and followed Garry Monk, Steve Evans, Uwe Rosler, Neil Redfearn, Darko Milanic, Dave Hockaday and Brian McDermott out of the exit door in the space of less than four years.

Christiansen, an unknown who had worked in Cyprus before he got the Elland Road job, looked like he may buck the trend after his appointment, taking Leeds to the top of the table in early September.

Yet a run of one win in eight put the skids on his early momentum and, despite a December revival, his latest slump cost him his job.

Leeds' disciplinary record is also appalling, having six players sent off this season.

Mitigation for Christiansen comes in the form of a horror injury list and the fact that a number of his under-performing players were picked with the help of director of football Victor Orta.

Owner Andrea Radrizzani opted to fire his head coach, though, with a club statement reading: "Leeds United can confirm that head coach Thomas Christiansen has left the club.

"Chairman Andrea Radrizzani and the board of directors would like to thank Thomas and his staff for their hard work over the past eight months."