Former Leeds United assistant Gus Poyet has ruled out a return to Elland Road as the club look to replace sacked boss Simon Grayson.

Grayson was dismissed on Wednesday following a poor run of form which culminated in a 4-1 home defeat by Birmingham.

Poyet joined Leeds as assistant to manager Dennis Wise in 2006, leaving for Spurs a year later, and was one of the favourites for the position at Elland Road.

The Brighton boss said: "It's a massive club and it's a great place to manage, I've got no doubt.

"I would go back to Leeds at any time, of course not right now. We'll see what happens because, like I said, it's a magnificent place to manage."

The 44-year-old Uruguayan said he was bemused by the news that Leeds chairman Ken Bates had sacked Grayson.

"I didn't understand the decision," he added. "I like Ken Bates a lot but I'm sorry Ken, wrong.

"You are only able to base your opinion on the results. I've seen Simon's record at Leeds and I think it's very good, so I don't know if it is something we don't know.

"I think you can analyse if it is right or not at the end of the season."