Former Middlesbrough defender Craig Harrison believes that Leeds United were crazy not to tie down Garry Monk at the club and backed the manager to take over at the Riverside Stadium.
Ex-Boro star Harrison has just taken over at Hartlepool United and is hoping to build bridges with Middlesbrough, Sunderland and Newcastle United as he bids to steer Pools back up to the Football League.
Harrison takes a keen interest in his former club Middlesbrough, for whom he played in the senior side from 1996 until 2000.
He is backing Monk, with whom he has struck up a friendship, to take over and feels Leeds should have made sure the former Swansea City boss could not leave Elland Road.
"Garry is fantastic. He’s someone I look up to", Harrison, who enjoyed success in charge of Welsh side TNS before taking the Hartlepool job, told Gazette Live.
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"I’ve spent quite a bit of time with him over the last two or three years. I’ve done my licences with him and I’ve spoken to him numerous times.
"Whenever TNS have done well he’s dropped me a text. Similarly, I’ve done the same for him.
"I hope he does get the Boro job, speaking as an ex-Middlesbrough player.
"I think Garry would be excellent for any club, Leeds United are crazy.
"They should have had him tied up, he’s a top, top coach and a manager", the 39-year-old added.
Monk managed to put Leeds in the thick of the promotion battle in the Championship this season, but a late tumble in form saw the Whites slip out of the playoff places and finish in seventh spot.
Whites fans quickly launched a 'sign Garry Monk' movement to convince the club to keep him, but despite the offer of a one-year extension to his contract, Monk opted to quit.
