Simon Grayson is keen on the idea of a return to management at Leeds United

Simon Grayson would be interested in a return to Leeds as the Yorkshire club look for a replacement for Thomas Christiansen.

The 44-year-old Dane parted company with the Elland Road outfit on Sunday evening, a day after a 4-1 home defeat by Cardiff extended his side's recent run to seven games without a win in all competitions and left them seven points shy of the Sky Bet Championship play-off places.

Press Association Sport understands Grayson, who guided the club into the second tier as League One runners-up in the 2009-10 season, would be keen on a return, with sources close to the 48-year-old indicating he believes he has unfinished business at Leeds.

He was hugely popular with the fans, who saw him depart in February 2012 with his team sitting just three points outside the Championship play-off berths.

Grayson built upon his reputation during spells with Huddersfield and Preston, but suffered a bruising, brief tenure at Sunderland, where he lasted barely four months before being dispatched with the Black Cats in turmoil on and off the pitch in November last year.

Leeds took little time in launching the search for head coach Christiansen's replacement, with former England boss Steve McClaren swiftly installed as an early favourite with the bookmakers.

However, it is understood McClaren, who has attended the last two games, is not among those currently under consideration.

Former Scotland boss Gordon Strachan, who won the old Division One title as a Leeds player in 1992, Marco Silva and Paul Heckingbottom are among those who have also been linked with the vacancy.

Christiansen was in charge for less than eight months and followed Garry Monk, Steve Evans, Uwe Rosler, Neil Redfearn, Darko Milanic, Dave Hockaday and Brian McDermott out of the exit in the space of less than four years.