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Desperate Leeds survive transfer window with crown jewels intact
By George Caulkin
PAUL ROBINSON reached as far as London, Mark Viduka turned his car around en route to Teesside. Leeds United came perilously close yesterday to admitting defeat in their improbable quest to avoid relegation, agreeing to sell another two of their better players to rival clubs, yet, somehow, business ceased at 5pm with their first-team squad largely in one piece.
The departure of Michael Bridges on loan to Newcastle United was balanced by the temporary arrival of Steven Caldwell, the centre half, from St James’ Park. Elsewhere, there were near-misses. Viduka had finalised personal terms on a £3 million move to Middlesbrough, while Robinson underwent a medical at Tottenham Hotspur, but they and Alan Smith, the remaining crown jewels at Elland Road, should now see out the season at Leeds.
That eventuality depends on whether Trevor Birch can steer the club away from administration — which would leave Leeds vulnerable to offers for their leading assets — but the chief executive and acting chairman spoke last night of his pleasure of “surviving the transfer window relatively intact”. Birch’s position has been a thankless one, needing to raise funds while desperate to retain his club ’s status in the Barclaycard Premiership.
With Leeds six points shy of safety and in debt by £83 million, those hopes already look forlorn, but while there is a mathematical chance of avoiding relegation to the Nationwide League, they can only be improved by the presence of Viduka and Robinson. The team will continue to be managed on a caretaker basis by Eddie Gray, who, despite not possessing the requisite qualifications, has again been given special dispensation to do so.
Regarding the England goalkeeper, all formalities had been completed with Tottenham, including a fee of £2 million, with the player — who owns property in North London — set to return on loan to West Yorkshire until the end of May. However, Premier League rules barred such a cosy arrangement.
In a statement, Tottenham revealed their intention to “confirm this deal at the next available opportunity”, while Middlesbrough will also renew their pursuit of Viduka this summer. Steve McClaren, the manager, discussed Emile Heskey’s position with Liverpool, but the Australia striker had always been McClaren’s “top target” in the transfer market. “Mark would have been a great addition,” he said.
The complexities of that prospective signing were immense, despite a willingness to compromise from Leeds and Viduka’s appetite for a move. When Leeds bought the striker from Celtic for £6 million in 2000, they financed the deal through REFFS, a Guernsey-based company that is still owed a significant portion of the money.
Any fee received from Middlesbrough would have been paid directly to REFFS, which was not approved by other creditors. McClaren referred to “the politics at Leeds and other parties involved” and with Viduka on compassionate leave in Melbourne until yesterday, time ran out for Steve Gibson, the ambitious Middlesbrough chairman. “If we’d had another week, we might have done it,” McClaren said.
After being rebuffed by Leeds, Middlesbrough found that attitudes had changed by late last week. “In the end, they invited us to open negotiations,” a senior source said. Even more pleasing for the club was Viduka’s positive attitude. Friendly with Gareth Southgate, Ugo Ehiogu and Mark Schwarzer and with a house in Harrogate, he was prepared to take a pay cut.
While Middlesbrough consoled themselves by signing Ricardinho, the 27-year-old Brazil midfield player, on a short-term contract, Newcastle’s acquisition of Bridges for three months was accompanied by departures from Tyneside. Caldwell left for Leeds, where he will remain until the end of the season, while Lomana LuaLua, the Democratic Republic of Congo forward, joined Portsmouth for a similar period.
Sir Bobby Robson had been told to generate his own resources and, having amassed about £4 million for Carl Cort and Nolberto Solano this month — as well as reducing the wage bill — the manager had been expected to consummate his longstanding interest in Stephen Carr, of Tottenham. Newcastle have also been monitoring Smith’s position at Leeds, as have Birmingham City. “We made an inquiry, but that was it,” Steve Bruce, the manager, said.
Bridges, 25, whose contract with Leeds expires at the end of the season, will be offered a permanent deal should he prove his problems with injury are over.
Desperate Leeds survive transfer window with crown jewels intact
By George Caulkin
PAUL ROBINSON reached as far as London, Mark Viduka turned his car around en route to Teesside. Leeds United came perilously close yesterday to admitting defeat in their improbable quest to avoid relegation, agreeing to sell another two of their better players to rival clubs, yet, somehow, business ceased at 5pm with their first-team squad largely in one piece.
The departure of Michael Bridges on loan to Newcastle United was balanced by the temporary arrival of Steven Caldwell, the centre half, from St James’ Park. Elsewhere, there were near-misses. Viduka had finalised personal terms on a £3 million move to Middlesbrough, while Robinson underwent a medical at Tottenham Hotspur, but they and Alan Smith, the remaining crown jewels at Elland Road, should now see out the season at Leeds.
That eventuality depends on whether Trevor Birch can steer the club away from administration — which would leave Leeds vulnerable to offers for their leading assets — but the chief executive and acting chairman spoke last night of his pleasure of “surviving the transfer window relatively intact”. Birch’s position has been a thankless one, needing to raise funds while desperate to retain his club ’s status in the Barclaycard Premiership.
With Leeds six points shy of safety and in debt by £83 million, those hopes already look forlorn, but while there is a mathematical chance of avoiding relegation to the Nationwide League, they can only be improved by the presence of Viduka and Robinson. The team will continue to be managed on a caretaker basis by Eddie Gray, who, despite not possessing the requisite qualifications, has again been given special dispensation to do so.
Regarding the England goalkeeper, all formalities had been completed with Tottenham, including a fee of £2 million, with the player — who owns property in North London — set to return on loan to West Yorkshire until the end of May. However, Premier League rules barred such a cosy arrangement.
In a statement, Tottenham revealed their intention to “confirm this deal at the next available opportunity”, while Middlesbrough will also renew their pursuit of Viduka this summer. Steve McClaren, the manager, discussed Emile Heskey’s position with Liverpool, but the Australia striker had always been McClaren’s “top target” in the transfer market. “Mark would have been a great addition,” he said.
The complexities of that prospective signing were immense, despite a willingness to compromise from Leeds and Viduka’s appetite for a move. When Leeds bought the striker from Celtic for £6 million in 2000, they financed the deal through REFFS, a Guernsey-based company that is still owed a significant portion of the money.
Any fee received from Middlesbrough would have been paid directly to REFFS, which was not approved by other creditors. McClaren referred to “the politics at Leeds and other parties involved” and with Viduka on compassionate leave in Melbourne until yesterday, time ran out for Steve Gibson, the ambitious Middlesbrough chairman. “If we’d had another week, we might have done it,” McClaren said.
After being rebuffed by Leeds, Middlesbrough found that attitudes had changed by late last week. “In the end, they invited us to open negotiations,” a senior source said. Even more pleasing for the club was Viduka’s positive attitude. Friendly with Gareth Southgate, Ugo Ehiogu and Mark Schwarzer and with a house in Harrogate, he was prepared to take a pay cut.
While Middlesbrough consoled themselves by signing Ricardinho, the 27-year-old Brazil midfield player, on a short-term contract, Newcastle’s acquisition of Bridges for three months was accompanied by departures from Tyneside. Caldwell left for Leeds, where he will remain until the end of the season, while Lomana LuaLua, the Democratic Republic of Congo forward, joined Portsmouth for a similar period.
Sir Bobby Robson had been told to generate his own resources and, having amassed about £4 million for Carl Cort and Nolberto Solano this month — as well as reducing the wage bill — the manager had been expected to consummate his longstanding interest in Stephen Carr, of Tottenham. Newcastle have also been monitoring Smith’s position at Leeds, as have Birmingham City. “We made an inquiry, but that was it,” Steve Bruce, the manager, said.
Bridges, 25, whose contract with Leeds expires at the end of the season, will be offered a permanent deal should he prove his problems with injury are over.
