LEEDS United’s failure to secure a SkyBet Championship play-off slot means the club can start planning for next season immediately.

However, it remains to be seen whether the powers-that-be at Elland Road act quickly enough to build on the foundations laid by coach Garry Monk.

As ever at LS11, there are a host of unanswered questions.

Monk has been told talks about his future must wait another month.

Should he and the club fail to agree a new deal then United could once again find themselves playing 'catch-up' - just as they did when Monk’s predecessor, Steve Evans, left last summer.

Despite having only modest resources, Monk has taken Leeds closer to the Premiership than any other man in the Elland Road hot seat since 2006 and the club's play-off defeat to Watford.

Monk's record will attract admirers should Leeds fail to secure his future. Among them could be Norwich, one of this season’s big under-achievers, who stunned the Whites by going 3-0 up inside 44 minutes at Elland Road on Saturday.

Steven Naismith’s 25-yard strike and a Nelson Oliveira double put the Canaries in complete control but a Chris Wood goal just before the interval gave Leeds hope.

Kyle Bartley scrambled in the second on 49 minutes before a Pablo Hernandez free-kick drew them level with 12 minutes to play.

Although the visitors had Naismith red-carded for a crude challenge on Ronaldo Vieira towards the end, United could not fashion a winner to keep their season alive and a thrilling game ended 3-3.

Having looked like top-six certainties for five months, the Whites could not match the pace of the other contenders, winning just one of their last seven matches.

Barring a mathematical miracle, Huddersfield, Reading, Sheffield Wednesday and Fulham will now contest the play-offs.

Monk said: “It is difficult to be critical of the group as we've said, for so long, how much they've given to the club. The reality is, the majority of the group were not quite ready for this situation. And that's not a criticism, it's just a fact."

With Massimo Cellino's ownership now at 50 per cent, and possibly getting lower this summer, Leeds have said Monk's future - which now has just a 12-month option left - will be discussed in June. It is a delay Leeds can ill afford.

If Monk stays and gets financial backing then can Leeds plan for next season, otherwise they may find themselves back at square one.

"The club have said when they want to speak, I have to respect that," said Monk. "Even when that comes, it's us both agreeing on how we take this forward. I have my views and the club will have theirs."

Leeds United: Green, Ayling (Pedraza 72), Bartley, Jansson, Beradi, Vieira, O’Kane (Phillips 81), Roofe, Hernandez, Dallas (Doukara 61), Wood. Subs (not used): Peacock-Farrell, Taylor, Sakho, Coyle. Cautions: Jansson, Beradi

Norwich City: Ruddy, Pinto, Bennett, Martin, Dijks, Dorrans, Howson, Pritchard, Nainsmith, Murphy (Klose 90+2), Oliveira (Jerome 83). Subs (not used): Jones, Whittaker, Wildschut, Maddison. Caution: Dorrans. Sent off: Naismith

Referee: Tony Harrington (Cleveland)

Attendance: 34,292