Simon Grayson endured a torrid time at Oakwell this afternoon.

Grayson was ruthlessly taunted by the gleeful home faithful as Barnsley romped to a 4-1 win that his three year tenure will be ended as the clocks chime in 2012.

Maybe it was a small crumb of fortune for the manager that chairman Ken Bates is apparently celebrating hogmany at home in Monte Carlo and one prays for Grayson's sake the humilation of this defeat will lose some of its impact as it reaches the south of France.

The visiting fans chose to vent their spleen at Bates, despite the Leeds chairman claiming on Yorkshire Radio this week that the ongoing hate-campaign against him is deterring potential investors in the club.

Bates will mark seven years in charge at the end of next month. He has already dispensed with two managers in his time at Leeds (Kevin Blackwell and Gary McAllister) and the question is, will he call time on Grayson's reign?

The unlikely relationship between the brash Londoner and the bluntly spoken Yorkshire lad seemed impregnable, however much has been made of Bates' programme notes "promotion or bust" two weeks ago for the visit of Reading - which ended in a 1-0 defeat.

A report following the Derby defeat on Boxing Day suggested that the Leeds chairman had lost faith in Grayson and the issue of giving the boss some much needed, precious funds in the transfer-market did not appeal to him - therefore his former Chelsea charge Roberto Di-Matteo had been lined-up to step into the fray.

Howeer reported more locally, today's Yorkshire Post (published prior to the Barnsley defeat) claims that Grayson's first signing of the new transfer window, a loan-move for Tottenham's Andros Townsend will take place shortly after the clock strikes twelve, the £500,000 payment due to Stoke for Danny Pugh will also go through and Leeds will look at making two more signings before the FA Cup Third Round clash with Arsenal on January 9th. 

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