Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink believes that the Leeds United board must invest in the team if they want to win promotion to the Premier League next season.
Leeds missed out on a place in the top-flight next season after losing their play-off semi-final to Derby County at Elland Road.
The defeat has left the future of manager Marcelo Bielsa up in the air with the boss admitting he would hold talks with the club.
"As it’s a painful situation, we are very disappointed,” he said.
“I have to say that we had the conditions to finish first or second (in the table) and all the conditions to be the best team in the play-offs.
“When you can’t reach something that was reachable, it always puts doubt on the head coach."
Hasselbaink thinks that whether or not Bielsa is still at the helm, the club must invest in the team this summer if they want to be challenging next season.
He told Sky Sports: “Regardless of whether he stays or not, there has to be investment if this club wants to go to the next level.
"There has to be a certain type of players that come in who can make that squad a little bit more competitive against each other.
"You have to keep the younger players but maybe two or three signings to help them get a little bit more players on that bench to come and make an impact."
Speaking about the loss, the one-time Leeds striker added: “Football is cruel.
"They have been absolutely magnificent this year, they gave the league a new dimension the way that they played.
"Unfortunately, they could not get what they really wanted and they had their chances.”
