Allan Clarke took over from Adamson and in his first season he guided United to ninth place in Division One. The following season, however, United, who had paid £930,000 to sign winger Peter Barnes, lost their top-flight status, finishing 20 ^th in the table. Relegation cost Clarke his job and Eddie Gray took over.

United had to adjust to life in the Second Division and Gray set about re-organising the side, off loading some of the more experienced players and putting a lot of faith in youth, though he did bring back Peter Lorimer, at the age of 37, to lead the side.

It was during this second spell with United that Lorimer scored the goals that enabled him to overtake John Charles as the club's highest ever League goalscorer. The record stood at 158 League goals and Lorimer went on to increase that League tally to168, a record that still stands today.

Gray's first season at the helm saw United finish in eighth place, the second term United had dropped to tenth but in 1984-85 the news was better - a seventh place finish.

It was a not a popular decision with supporters but the decision stood and Billy Bremner was the next Revie 'old boy' to try his luck as manager. That season United finished in 14 ^th place in Division Two.

United beat Oldham in the play off semi-final with a couple of goals from Keith Edwards but it was First Division Charlton who faced United in the final. Charlton won the first leg and a goal from Brendan Ormsby earned United a win at home so the tie went to a replay at St Andrews , Birmingham , which Charlton won 2-1 to retain their top-flight status.

In the FA Cup semi final played at Hillsborough, United took First Division Coventry City to extra time but lost 3-2.

Having missed out on promotion at the last hurdle, hopes were high for the 1987-88 campaign but United fell short of expectations and finished in seventh place.

Bremner held his job until late September of the following season before being sacked when indifferent results had seen the side slip to near the foot ofDivision Two.

Sheffield Wednesday manager, Howard Wilkinson, was the man United turned to next and he managed to guide the team away from the depths of the division and finish in a creditable 10th place.

LEEDS UNITED THROUGH THE DECADES - CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW FOR MORE

2000s | 1990s | 1970s | 1960s | 1950s | 1940s | 1930s | 1920s