However, with head coaches at the club only enjoying a short lifespan under the Italian, it remains to be seen if Clarke will be receptive to any offer made by Leeds.
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A statement via the club’s official website read: “Bristol Rovers can confirm that they have received an approach from Leeds United to speak to Darrell Clarke regarding him taking over as manager at Elland Road”.
“As yet, the Yorkshire side have failed to meet the conditions set out by Rovers to enable any talks to take place and until that happens there is nothing else to report”.
If Clarke is appointed, he will become Leeds United’s sixth manager under Massimo Cellino.
Cellino has never been reconciled with the concept of a first-team boss with overarching power, but there is ample evidence that Leeds United’s owner is at least indulging the option of a domestic replacement for Steve Evans.
After they were relegated out of the Football League in 2014, they bounced back via the play-offs 12 months later before they were promoted again on the last day of the 2015-16 season.
Clarke, who has been in charge since 2014, guided Rovers to third position in League Two this season and the promotion to League One was just reward for some brilliant performances.
Cellino, who has been snubbed by MK Dons boss Karl Robinson, revealed on Tuesday afternoon he is back in his homeland meeting another candidate.
Evans’ reign could also be over within days, as his contract at Leeds expires in June and his job has been left hanging by a thread after Cellino accused him of “talking too much” and claiming he “cannot work with English managers”.
Evans told the Yorkshire Evening Post yesterday that he was “hurting” at the lack of contact from the Leeds hierarchy but meant to return to work tomorrow.
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Such issues have contributed to large sections of the Leeds support turning on Cellino, who said a fortnight ago he wants to sell the club.
