United legend Eddie Gray has hailed the appointment of Garry Monk as “a great coup for the football club”.

Gray was on hand to introduce Monk to the media at Elland Road on Thursday afternoon, with the former Swansea City boss having penned a one-year rolling contract to become the Whites’ new head coach just a matter of hours earlier.

“I think it’s a great coup for the football club to get such a young, talented manager to come to Leeds United, especially given what has happened over the last few years,” said Gray, who managed United between 1982-85 and also took caretaker charge in 2003.

“I’m sure the fans will be delighted and I think everybody connected to the football club will be delighted that Garry is here.

“Although Garry is a young manager, he has got a lot of experience.

“But the thing that has struck me is his enthusiasm for the game and his confidence in his own ability. I think he will bring a lot to Leeds United, and Leeds United will bring a lot to Garry.

“He knows we are a big football club, he knows the task ahead, he knows what the expectation level is from the fans and everybody connected with the club. He’ll be working on that from now to get it right.

“From all the questions he has been asked, everything he has answered is right but Garry himself has been in the game as a player and as a manager and he knows it is all about getting the players ready for that first game of the season.

“Whoever Garry decides to bring into the football club, coaching-wise, player-wise, it will be up to him and he will talk to people – he will talk to the owner.

“Basically, he knows his job – his job is to try and get Leeds United back in the Premier League.

“He has managed there already so he knows what it takes and the type of players that he needs. But there are players at the football club and he will assess them.

“He will soon make his mind up what players he thinks are going to fit in with the way he wants to play the game. I can only wish him all the best.”

Also in attendance at Thursday’s press conference was the club’s newest board member, Niccolo Pio Barattieri di San Pietro, who was appointed to United’s Board of Directors earlier in the week.

Mr Barattieri presented Monk to the media on behalf of the club and offered a glowing endorsement of the new head coach.

“He is one of the most exciting managers in the game,” he said.

“He’s already got extensive Premiership experience, even though he’s only 37 years of age – which makes me very jealous!

“He guided Swansea to an eight-place finish, which is the highest in Swansea’s history and with a record number of points.

“For us, having him here is really testament to the hard work of Mr Cellino and everybody involved here at the football club to attract such talent.

“We have been incredibly impressed with his meticulous approach to the game and his free-flowing football. We are excited for the coming season to have him leading us on the pitch.”