Mighty Leeds Weblog

Leeds United Football Club - United Move For Blake United Move For Blake United boss Kevin Blackwell has strengthened his squad ahead of the New Year by signing Leicester striker Nathan Blake on a month's loan. Blake, 32, has been drafted in as a direct replacement for the injured Brian Deane who faces up to six weeks out of action after damaging his shoulder. The 29-times capped Welsh international has been played as a target man throughout his career and his arrival will enable Blackwell to stick with the system that has seen Leeds win the last two games and go unbeaten in four. Blake goes straight into the squad for the New Year's Day game against Crewe Alexandra and has been given squad number 21. Leeds are in discussion with Leicester to see if they will allow him to play in the FA Cup, with his his loan spell set to take in the fourth round of the competition should United get past Birmingham. His last league game would be against Derby County at Pride...

Leeds United Football Club - Deane Set For Scan Deane Set For Scan Related Links Brian DeaneUnited striker Brian Deane will go for a scan on his shoulder today amidst fears that the striker may be out for up to a month. Deane was forced to come off against Plymouth Argyle at half-time after damaging his shoulder minutes before the break with and is a major concern for boss Kevin Blackwell with the fear being that he dislocated it. "We had to take Deano off at half-time and it now looks as if we could be missing him for a few weeks," said Blackwell. "We'll have to x-ray it today before we know how just bad it is. Deane has been in superb form in recent games, scoring in the win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light and generally putting in spritely performances that defy his age. Blackwell knows he will have to face up to Deano's loss if his worst fears are confirmed. "Deano's been terrific for me, I think people forget th...

Leeds United Football Club - United Reject Carson Bid United Reject Carson Bid Related Links Scott CarsonLeeds United have re-iterated their desire to keep hold of Scott Carson after today rejecting an offer for the highly rated keeper from a Premiership club. United are not prepared to name the club involved, but recent media speculation has linked the 19-year-old with both Liverpool and Chelsea. The Cumbrian born stopper is out of contract in the summer and Leeds began negotiations with him and his representative before Christmas to try and secure his long term future at Elland Road, but their initial offer was rejected. Leeds have returned though with an improved offer for Scott and are hopeful both sides can come to an agreement. Speaking for the Leeds United board, Bryan Morris said: "An offer has been made for Scott Carson by a Premiership side." "This offer has been turned down and Leeds United is speaking to Scott's agent today in...

Yorkshire Post Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More Healy on target to end year on a highLeeds United 2 Plymouth Argyle 1 Richard Sutcliffe DAVID HEALY ended what can otherwise only be described as an 'Annus Horribilis' for Leeds United with a spectacular 35-yard winner to seal a second double of the season. It has been a wretched 2004 for everyone at Elland Road with the year ending as it began – United facing an uncertain future due to their precarious financial position. The past 12 months have also seen Leeds surrender their Premiership status, wave goodbye to the last of the star players that reached the Champions League semi-finals, as well as sell their ground and training ground to stave off possible meltdown. United did, however, round off 2004 with an important victory over Plymouth to chalk up a back-to-back wins for only the third time in 12 months. Kevin Blackwell's side may have been slightly fortunate to take the points...

Leeds United Football Club - Matchreport Leeds United vs Plymouth Argyle Leeds 2 Plymouth 1 Team news United boss Kevin Blackwell made just the one change to his side following the 3-2 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Boxing Day. Midfielder Sean Gregan returns from suspension to replace stand-in Matthew Spring in the centre, which meant Aaron Lennon, who scored on his full league debut on Sunday, kept his place in the starting XI. The Match Leeds began the game with all the fresh confidence that their win on Boxing Day had given them, but they quickly found that Plymouth were not going to afford them as much space as Sunderland had, and they were going to have to battle a little harder to break down the visitors. Brian Deane tried a spectacular overhead kick inside the area in the first minute of the game but in a crowded penalty area his shot was blocked and Plymouth escaped that and another chance for the Whites in the opening minutes of the game. Sean Gre...

LEEDS SUSPEND OSTER AND McMASTER: Sporting Life - Football | Transfer News, Live Scores, Barclays Premiership, SPL, Championship, European News, Fixtures, Results, Tables LEEDS SUSPEND OSTER AND McMASTER Leeds United have suspended John Oster and Jamie McMaster following alleged breaches of club discipline. The pair were suspended by boss Kevin Blackwell on Christmas Eve following an incident at the club's official festive party last week. Blackwell said the duo were set for showdown talks on Friday. "We have suspended them pending further enquiries," he told the Yorkshire Evening Post. "We are conducting our own internal investigation. Until that is concluded and we have met with the players again there is nothing further I can say." Oster, who is on loan from Sunderland, was arrested outside a Durham nightclub two weeks ago. He was released without charge but fined by Leeds and warned about his future conduct. It is thought Leeds will take a hard-li...

Sport Blackwell pride bolstered by young Leeds Sunderland 2 - Leeds United 3 By Gary Emmerson 27 December 2004 Faced with the prospect of becoming the manager of the worst-ever Leeds United side, Kevin Blackwell received a late Christmas gift when his mix-and-match side earned three points from their Boxing Day bout with promotion-chasing Sunderland. On a day when Sunderland fans held a traditional end-of-year minute's silence to mark the passing of past managers and players, including the legendary 1973 FA Cup-winning manager Bob Stokoe, Leeds exerted some kind of revenge for that Wembley defeat some 31 years ago. This, however, is a vastly different Leeds to the side beaten by Stokoe's underdogs and Blackwell has a job on his hands restoring order to Elland Road after the club went into free-fall towards potential financial ruin. But Blackwell and his young team of fighters ensured they headed down the A1 with three points in the bag. Sunderland, and thei...

Telegraph | Sport | Lennon opens account to help Leeds defy odds Lennon opens account to help Leeds defy odds By Rob Stewart (Filed: 27/12/2004) Match Details Sunderland (1) 2 Leeds United (1) 3 Leeds managed to lend some weight to Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy's theory that all the teams in the Championship are "as bad as each other" by securing a win that made a mockery of either side's current ranking. The visiting team had begun proceedings in 20th place in the Championship due to Brighton's lunchtime victory but defied the odds to humble opponents who wasted the chance to go top of the table for the first time since relegation from the Premiership. "I say, tongue in cheek, that we're all as bad as each other and maybe the results this weekend have highlighted that," said McCarthy. "There's nobody that good that they're going to keep winning games all season.'' After David Healy had spurned...

Leeds United Football Club - Matchreport Sunderland vs Leeds United Sunderland 2 Leeds 3 Team News: Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell was forced into making changes due to suspensions and with John Oster being refused permission to play against his parent club. Midfielders Sean Gregan and Simon Walton were both serving one match bans which gave Matthew Spring the chance to make only his second league start of the season, whilst Aaron Lennon also made a rare start. The Match Sunderland started the game with real gusto, looking desperate for the early goal, but soon dropped the tempo which was largely thanks to the experience of some of United's older heads making sure the game was slowed down. The home side won two early free-kicks but Leeds dealt with them comfortably, especially with Brian Deane's height coming in handy whilst acting as a makeshift defender. The Black Cats right winger Liam Lawrence looked a real live wire and he was going to take some ext...

Yorkshire Post Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More We weren't wealthy enoughFormer Leeds United director claims consortium didn't do 'sufficient homework' before taking over troubled club A MEMBER of the consortium that took charge of Leeds United earlier this year has admitted they did not have sufficient resources to buy the club. Richard Sutcliffe David Richmond last night broke his silence on a four-month spell as managing director at Elland Road and admitted to wishing he had never got involved. He was part of a five-man consortium led by current chairman Gerald Krasner that took over United in March, but quit in July after the gates to his home were padlocked by thugs as part of a campaign aimed at drivimg him away from Elland Road. Leeds's debts have been reduced from more than £100m to just below £25m by the current board, although the club remain in financial trouble, Krasner last week asking the Inland Revenue for ...

Leeds United Football Club - Matchreport Leeds United vs Millwall Leeds 1 Millwall 1 Pre-Match United boss Kevin Blackwell has been able to name un unchanged side to the one that drew with West Ham a little over a week ago, with David Healy, Matthew Kilgallon, Jermaine Wright and Frazer Richardson having all shaken off injuries. The Match United were looking to build on the valuable away point gained at West Ham and they knew they would have to work for the full 90 minutes against a Millwall side that thrive on bringing a physical approach to the game. They could have been given a rude awakening after just a minute when Lions skipper Darren Ward was left unmarked inside the area but fortunately sent his header well over the top of Neil Sullivan's goal. Leeds though took control of the opening exchanges, Healy setting John Oster free down the right after two minutes but the offside flag was up against the Welshman. With five minutes having been played the first real c...

Leeds Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More On the town Oster on the carpet Blackwell showdown with loan ace by charles heslett and paul dews LEEDS UNITED boss Kevin Blackwell was today meeting John Oster to discuss the player's Elland Road future. The on-loan Sunderland winger has been released with a police caution following his arrest in connection with a drunken brawl outside a nightclub. The 26-year-old Welsh international was seized along with another man, aged 29 and from Skegness, following a fracas involving three men outside the Studio nightclub in North Road, Durham, in the early hours of yesterday morning. United's players were on a day off yesterday, but Blackwell's first task today was to meet with Oster at the club's Thorp Arch training complex. Said Blackwell: "As it stands we don't know the full circumstances and until then I can't really comment on what action we will take as a club." As revea...

Yorkshire Post Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More No Christmas relief for LeedsRichard Sutcliffe GERALD KRASNER has revealed any possible rescue deal for Leeds United will not be completed until the New Year at the earliest as the Elland Road takeover saga rumbles on. It means United are facing a second successive festive season in which their future is shrouded in doubt with the club even requesting time to pay a substantial tax bill that is due today. The current board restructured the debt to the Inland Revenue on taking charge in March and have made regular payments since then. But the latest instalment, believed to be £1.2m, appears to be beyond United's reach so Krasner is seeking a deferral and a further rescheduling. It is expected the Inland Revenue will agree to Krasner's request, especially as Leeds could soon be in the hands of new owners. United's solicitors met Sebastien Sainsbury's legal team to discuss his propose...

Guardian Unlimited Football | News | Fears of Leeds training ground house sell-off Fears of Leeds training ground house sell-off Matt Scott Tuesday December 14, 2004 There are fears that houses may be built on a portion of Leeds United's training ground within the next five years. The Guardian has seen a document relating to the property interests of the club which suggests that should planning permission be received in the next five years a developer could erect houses or offices on the valuable land close to Wetherby. Over the past six months the club has completed the sale and leaseback of its Thorp Arch premises, dividing the land into three separate tranches: the Grange, the Barn and the first-team training pitches. When the club was considering the last of these deals the proposed lease made specific provision for development. In the event of the development going ahead, Leeds's tenancy on the first-team training pitches at Thorp Arch would be terminated....

Yorkshire Post Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More Healy rescues Leeds late onWest Ham United 1 Leeds United 1 David Healy's stoppage-time penalty rescued a hard-fought draw for Leeds United in the Coca-Cola Championship at West Ham last night. Leeds started the match strongly but struggled in the second half, having fallen behind to Luke Chadwick's goal just after half-time. The visitors had a good chance to take the lead on 11 minutes when a poor back pass from Hammers' on-loan defender Darren Powell presented Brian Deane with a sight on goal. But the veteran striker's shot clipped the bar against his former club. Leeds continued to have the better of the early chances and a 35-yard drive by Healy brought a good save from Stephen Bywater after 14 minutes. The Hammers' appeals for a penalty in the 23rd minute were quashed when Leeds captain Paul Butler appeared to foul Sergei Rebrov in the box before Healy again went close...

Sport Pardew rues 'cruel blow' as Leeds rescue point West Ham United 1 - Leeds United 1 By Amar Azam 11 December 2004 A torrent of boos rained down upon David Healy and his Leeds United team-mates as they walked off the Upton Park pitch but they left east London safe in the knowledge they had snatched a precious point with a controversial late penalty. The Northern Ireland striker converted the spot-kick after his tumble in the penalty area three minutes into injury time, leaving West Ham manager Alan Pardew fuming with referee Mike Pike's contentious award. "We are incensed with the decision," said Pardew. "There were one or two claims before that and they shouldn't have reflected on the third decision. "He took a desperate dive and the referee has given the decision. It is a cruel blow for the players and their efforts. We were defending very well but we should have got the second." Three minutes was all it took for West H...

Guardian Unlimited Football | Match Reports | Hammers rise in anger as Healy falls Hammers rise in anger as Healy falls Sean Ingle at Upton Park Saturday December 11, 2004 As widespread boos rattled round the Boleyn ground, David Healy slotted home an injury-time penalty which salvaged an unlikely point for Leeds United last night. West Ham's players as well as their fans were incensed at the way Healy had gone to ground under an innocuous-looking challenge from Neil Lomas. Until Healy's goal Leeds had looked set for their third successive defeat after Luke Chadwick had put West Ham ahead on 50 minutes. However, the home side wasted countless chances and probably only had themselves to blame. West Ham came into the match on the back of two successive victories, so there was no surprise that the home side - buoyed by a near-capacity crowd - piled forward from the start and after only three minutes Neil Lomas's ferocious drive from 20 yards was palmed uncon...

Leeds United Football Club - Matchreport West Ham United vs Leeds United David Healy stepped up and comfortably converted the late penalty which arrested the slide for Leeds United, and it was no more than they deserved. Healy had missed his first penalty for the club, in a game against where it did not matter, but with all the pressure bearing down on him, he kept his cool and fired home. The relief was evident as every Leeds player got together in a huddle to celebrate. The decision to award the spot-kick was met with fierce protests from the West Ham players, and even Kevin Blackwell would admit it was generous, but there had been two more obvious penalties for Leeds that the referee was not so generous with. On balance, neither side can complain too much about a point from a game that really only sprang to life in the last half hour. Team News: United boss Kevin Blackwell made two changes to the side that lost at Elland Road against Leicester last week. ...

Sport Sainsbury forces new Leeds meeting By Nick Harris 11 December 2004 Sebastien Sainsbury's on-off bid to buy Leeds United was given fresh impetus yesterday when the Elland Road chairman admitted talks regarding a £25m buy-out will resume next week. Gerald Krasner terminated protracted negotiations with a Sainsbury-fronted, American-backed consortium on 12 November, saying the group had failed to provide proof of funding. Sainsbury subsequently parted company from the US investors, Nova Financial Partners, and found another investor, thought to be an Italian multi-millionaire, and restructured the deal. Although Leeds dismissed Sainsbury's renewed efforts as recently as last week, Krasner said yesterday: "A meeting is planned between our legal team and Mr Sainsbury's legal team early next week. "We will then need time to digest what is said at that meeting so it is impossible to say what will happen after that." The meeting will take...

BLACKWELL: WE DESERVED POINT: Sporting Life - Football | Arsenal v Chelsea, Transfer News, Live Scores, Barclays Premiership, SPL, Championship, European News, Fixtures, Results, Tables BLACKWELL: WE DESERVED POINT Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell was satisfied three wrongs had made one right after David Healy's controversial injury-time penalty rescued a Coca-Cola Championship point for struggling Leeds in a 1-1 draw at West Ham. Defeat was on the cards for the visitors until Healy tumbled under the challenge of his Northern Ireland international colleague Steve Lomas, and referee Mike Pike pointed to the spot after earlier turning down what had appeared stronger claims. Healy kept his cool to fire past Stephen Bywater for the equaliser which left Blackwell delighted. He said: "I'm just pleased to get a very good point against a very good side. "West Ham aren't happy with the penalty. But Danny Pugh should have had a penalty in the first half, and Dar...

Yorkshire Post Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More Krasner ready for fresh talksRichard Sutcliffe SEBASTIEN SAINSBURY'S £25m bid to take over Leeds United could move a step closer on Monday after club officials agreed to meet his legal team. The 41-year-old great grandson of the founder of the supermarket chain revived his interest in taking charge at Elland Road early last week after securing fresh backing. United chairman Gerald Krasner immediately ruled out possible talks, accusing Sainsbury of 'spoiling tactics', while stressing a possible investment of £9m by local businessman Norman Stubbs was the more likely option. But last night Krasner told the Yorkshire Post: "A meeting is planned between our legal team and Mr Sainsbury's legal team early next week. We will then need time to digest what is said at that meeting so it is impossible to say what will happen after that. "As a club, we do not deal in speculation an...

BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Leeds United | Leeds to offer Carson fresh deal Leeds to offer Carson fresh deal Carson has impressed for Leeds to date Leeds United will offer young goalkeeper Scott Carson a new contract at Elland Road. The 19-year-old's deal expires at the end of the season but Leeds are keen to tie him down to a long-term contract. "He could be a free agent soon but we want to keep him at the club which is the reason for this new contract," said club spokesman Brian Morris. "We believe he and several other young players at the club are the future of this club and we want him to stay." Carson has made just two first-team appearances for Leeds against Chelsea and Manchester United last season. He is courting interest from a host of Premiership clubs, which Leeds admitted could scupper hopes of keeping him at Leeds. "If a big club comes in you cannot stop the lad from moving, especially if it's a top Pr...

Yorkshire Post Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More Leeds in danger of prolonging declineIan Appleyard at Elland Road Leeds United 0 Leicester City 2 KEVIN BLACKWELL reserved criticism of his players to the confines of the dressing room but nothing can hide the latest crisis engulfing Leeds United. Defeat against Leicester City on Saturday plunged Leeds yet another step closer to the Championship relegation zone and prompted angry supporters to vent clear disapproval at the final whistle. Chants of 'What a load of rubbish' and 'You are not fit wear to the shirt' have rarely been heard at Elland Road over the last 15 years but Leeds are sinking to new depths and could yet drop into League One unless things improve. Manager Blackwell inherited a thankless task last summer and deserves more time to get it right – but the patience of supporters and club directors is already starting to wear thin. Fresh from the embarrassment of losi...

people.co.uk - FOOTBALL: LILIAN ON THE LASH TO GIVE KEV SHAKES Leeds 0 Leicester 2 By Andrew Collomosse BEFORE the game Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell tipped both these sides to figures in the promotion shake-up at the end of the season. But while Craig Levein's no-nonsense outfit showed why they looked set to climb the table after a disappointing start, it's hard to see Blackwell's men heading back towards the big time. Beaten at Rotherham a week ago Leeds stumbled to their fourth home defeat of the season - and another hangover - courtesy of a 48th-minute strike by Lilian Nalis and a Gary Kelly own goal with 12 minutes left. And while Leeds had their chances, they never looked anything like as resilient as a Leicester side which has conceded just 10 goals in 11 away games. Yet it might have been a different story had Leeds hitman David Healy not fluffed a simple chance in the fifth minute. The £500,000 striker looked odds on to notch his fourth goal in eight games ...

Leeds United Football Club - Matchreport Leeds United vs Leicester City Team news United boss Kevin Blackwell has been able to field a near full strength team with Clarke Carlisle completing a miraculous recovery from a tendon injury and Brian Deane returning after overcoming a hamstring problem that kept him out of Monday's defeat at Rotherham. David Healy had a groin problem in midweek but also plays on. Matthew Kilgallon remained at left-back. The Match There were just three minutes on the clock when Leeds created their first good opening. Brian Deane battled for the ball 20-yards out and managed to get it through to John Oster, he then flighted the ball in for Healy to come in on and everyone anticipated the first goal of the game when the Northern Ireland international met it with a clean header but it was too close to Stuart Taylor in the Leicester goal and the shot wandered wide. Leeds continued to press hard and won two corners in the opening twelv...

Leeds Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More Gylfi's United Career On Ice By PAUL DEWS NEW Icelandic star Gylfi Einarsson will learn his Leeds United fate next week. The Elland Road club have appealed to FIFA in the hope of securing his availability sooner rather than later and football's governing body are poised to deliver their decision. The English FA are refusing to let the former Lillestrom midfielder play until the international transfer window re-opens in January – but they have said they will comply with any ruling from FIFA. Einarsson, pictured, was technically unemployed on Tuesday when his playing contract in Norway expired and, under EU law, should be free to gain employment elsewhere. He has agreed a short-term contract with Leeds and is now playing a frustrating waiting game. Einarsson said: "It's very frustrating not being able to play, but I know people are working on it and we will see what happens. "It is...