Yorkshire Post
Krasner vows Leeds will stay at Elland Road
Matt Reeder
THE Yorkshire-based consortium seeking to take control of Leeds United have promised to meet with the club's suspicious supporters if they successfully conclude a deal.
Many fans are wary of the takeover, which could be completed tomorrow, following the news that Bradford City's former chairman Geoffrey Richmond was acting as an adviser to the group.
Little information has been released on their intentions for the future and fans' groups across the city have even lobbied the Premier League in an attempt to have them either block or investigate proceedings.
However, the Premier League have no power over buy-outs unless the club has entered administration.
Lawyers from the club, their principal creditors and the group yesterday met at Elland Road to discuss the deal and a completion meeting has been arranged for tomorrow.
Consortium spokesman Gerald Krasner last night assured fans that Richmond had been nothing more than an adviser and claimed his group's intentions would become clear once they were in power and had held a public meeting.
Their secrecy has spawned a number of rumours including: the selling and possible lease back of Elland Road; the disposal of Thorp Arch; ground-sharing with Barnsley; and the selling of all top players.
Krasner insists Elland Road will remain the club's home but is unable to make any further comment about their way forward.
"We are getting nearer and we are aiming to do it as quickly as possible. We seem to be kicking out the remaining points quickly," he said. "We have proved to the club and to the other parties that the money is sitting in a solicitor's client's account.
"I'm not going to raise fans' hopes by putting a day on it because then, if it's later, people will be asking whether we can keep our promises. Every day we are getting nearer.
"Leeds United will continue to play at Elland Road. We intend, if we get the club, to have a meeting with the fans and tell them our plans. I don't think it's right to say anything else until then.
"I can't go into the mechanics of it all, all I can do is confirm that rumours that we are going to redevelop Elland Road or ground share are untrue. Elland Road will continue to be the home of Leeds United."
Richmond yesterday pleaded with supporters to accept that he was only acting in an advisory role. I am helping the consortium because the alternative is not very appetising," he said. "It seems to be if the consortium fails in its bid then the only realistic alternative will be for the club to go into administration and then possibly liquidation, which would result in the loss of hundreds of jobs and would leave the future of Leeds United at stake.
"I am an unpaid adviser to the consortium, not a leading member, nor an investor and I have already said I will not be a director of the club going forward. I have been doing what I can to help and I believe I have been of assistance."
John Boocock, co-chairman of the Leeds United Supporters' Trust, feels a bond of trust was broken early on in the negotiations when it was denied that Richmond had anything to do with the group, only for him to then announce he was.
"This is typical of this group of people – they refuse to deal in an open and transparent way," he said. "They did not tell us the full story about Geoffrey Richmond's involvement so what else are they not telling us about? They have no reason to hide anything – unless they are doing something untoward."
If the takeover fails and the club do drop into the hands of administrators then it is likely a number of groups will be waiting in the wings to come forward.
Krasner vows Leeds will stay at Elland Road
Matt Reeder
THE Yorkshire-based consortium seeking to take control of Leeds United have promised to meet with the club's suspicious supporters if they successfully conclude a deal.
Many fans are wary of the takeover, which could be completed tomorrow, following the news that Bradford City's former chairman Geoffrey Richmond was acting as an adviser to the group.
Little information has been released on their intentions for the future and fans' groups across the city have even lobbied the Premier League in an attempt to have them either block or investigate proceedings.
However, the Premier League have no power over buy-outs unless the club has entered administration.
Lawyers from the club, their principal creditors and the group yesterday met at Elland Road to discuss the deal and a completion meeting has been arranged for tomorrow.
Consortium spokesman Gerald Krasner last night assured fans that Richmond had been nothing more than an adviser and claimed his group's intentions would become clear once they were in power and had held a public meeting.
Their secrecy has spawned a number of rumours including: the selling and possible lease back of Elland Road; the disposal of Thorp Arch; ground-sharing with Barnsley; and the selling of all top players.
Krasner insists Elland Road will remain the club's home but is unable to make any further comment about their way forward.
"We are getting nearer and we are aiming to do it as quickly as possible. We seem to be kicking out the remaining points quickly," he said. "We have proved to the club and to the other parties that the money is sitting in a solicitor's client's account.
"I'm not going to raise fans' hopes by putting a day on it because then, if it's later, people will be asking whether we can keep our promises. Every day we are getting nearer.
"Leeds United will continue to play at Elland Road. We intend, if we get the club, to have a meeting with the fans and tell them our plans. I don't think it's right to say anything else until then.
"I can't go into the mechanics of it all, all I can do is confirm that rumours that we are going to redevelop Elland Road or ground share are untrue. Elland Road will continue to be the home of Leeds United."
Richmond yesterday pleaded with supporters to accept that he was only acting in an advisory role. I am helping the consortium because the alternative is not very appetising," he said. "It seems to be if the consortium fails in its bid then the only realistic alternative will be for the club to go into administration and then possibly liquidation, which would result in the loss of hundreds of jobs and would leave the future of Leeds United at stake.
"I am an unpaid adviser to the consortium, not a leading member, nor an investor and I have already said I will not be a director of the club going forward. I have been doing what I can to help and I believe I have been of assistance."
John Boocock, co-chairman of the Leeds United Supporters' Trust, feels a bond of trust was broken early on in the negotiations when it was denied that Richmond had anything to do with the group, only for him to then announce he was.
"This is typical of this group of people – they refuse to deal in an open and transparent way," he said. "They did not tell us the full story about Geoffrey Richmond's involvement so what else are they not telling us about? They have no reason to hide anything – unless they are doing something untoward."
If the takeover fails and the club do drop into the hands of administrators then it is likely a number of groups will be waiting in the wings to come forward.
