Leeds' experiment with David Hockaday has ended after just six games as owner Massimo Cellino sacked his head coach.

Fifty-six-year-old Hockaday was a shock appointment by the Italian on June 19 and now, ten weeks later, he has lost his job.

Hockaday - who listed Forest Green as his only managerial experience prior to taking the Leeds job - has lost four of his six games in charge.

His end comes the day after a 2-1 defeat to the Bantams in the Capital One Cup and four days after Cellino backed out of a decision to sack him in the wake of a 4-1 humbling at Watford.

Cellino said at the time that he had chosen to blame himself and not Hockaday, but the man known in Italy as the 'manager eater' has now pulled the trigger for a third time since arriving in Yorkshire in January.

"I'd like to thank David for his efforts over the last two and a half months," Cellino said.

"But the results since the start of the season have meant we needed to act and make this decision.

"After the defeat at Bradford I realised that my decision to keep David at the club following the defeat at Watford was wrong, and I had to change my mind on the coach's position. As a club we will now begin our search for a new head coach."

Hockaday's assistant, Junior Lewis, has also lost his job and Neil Redfearn will lead the team against Bolton on Saturday.

Hockaday was never welcomed by Leeds fans on account of his limited managerial pedigree and unfavourable chants started against him just four matches in.

At Valley Parade, all four stands chanted “you’re getting sacked in the morning”.

Hockaday had been scheduled to give a press conference at 10am tomorrow but will now be clearing his desk.

It was not an outcome he envisaged – or publicly at least – after the Bradford loss.

“My emotion is one of determination. I’m not a quitter, I’m a fighter,” he said.

With Cellino’s stated desire to have a say in the running of the club’s transfer policy, it remains to be seen how many respected coaches will be interested in replacing Hockaday.

Cellino’s friend Gianluca Festa is likely to be mentioned – Cellino had him overseeing Brian McDermott’s reign either side of the two times he sacked him – while Benito Carbone could also return to the club having been dismissed from an unpaid role earlier this month.

Rolando Maran and Ivo Pulga – Italian coaches Cellino knows well – may also be considered, although it is understood academy boss Redfearn has no interest in taking the job himself.