BBC 31/7/06
Midfielder Griffiths leaves Leeds
Midfielder Joel Griffiths has left Leeds United to return home to Australia after sealing a move to Newcastle United Jets.
The 26-year-old joined the Elland Road outfit last season but failed to impress boss Kevin Blackwell.
United had to appeal to Fifa to gain clearance for the player as he was at the centre of a wrangle with former Swiss club Xamax.
But he only went on to make two appearances from the bench for Leeds.
Yorkshire Evening Post 31/7/06
United woe as injury crisis deepens
by Phil HayLeeds United's injury problems were reaching crisis point today as Kevin Blackwell prepared to discover the fate of new signing Kevin Nicholls.
The 27-year-old midfielder, purchased for £700,000 from Luton last week, looks set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after sustaining a knee injury during his first training session with United's squad.
Nicholls was undergoing a scan today, and the injury, which will rule him out of this weekend's opening Championship fixture against Norwich City, is one of a growing number of problems facing Blackwell.
David Livermore – another of United's summer signings – was missing from the squad for the Elland Road club's friendly at Nottingham Forest on Saturday, although he is expected to be available for the visit of Norwich to Yorkshire.
But Richard Cresswell, Shaun Derry and Stephen Crainey are also on the injury list, and Blackwell was assessing Neil Sullivan and Eirik Bakke this morning after both sustained injuries at the City Ground.
Sullivan's knock has created a pressing problem for United after the club agreed to sell Ian Bennett to Sheffield United last week, a departure which left Leeds without a senior second-choice goalkeeper.
Blackwell has youngster Mark Wilberforce on his books, but the United boss may now give serious consideration to signing trialist Darren Ward, who replaced Sullivan for the final minutes of Saturday's friendly.
Ward is available on a free transfer and could present a convenient option if Sullivan's injury leaves him doubtful for the clash with Norwich.
Leedsunited.com 31/7/06
LEWIS LEVELS AT BLUNDELL
GRIMSBY TOWN 1 (McDermott 9) LEEDS UNITED 1 (Lewis 52)
Graham Rodger Testimonial Match
Grimsby: Barnes, McDermott (Croft 71), Newey, Harkins, Whittle, Futcher, Toner, Rankin (North 79), Bore (Foy 57), Jones, Beagrie (Hegarty 71). Subs: Barrick, Chamberlain.
United: Ward, Richardson (Madden 65), Bonasel (Camfield 77), Gregan, Benscheidr, Einarsson (Hird 56), Asaba (Gardner 46), Bayly, Beckford, Moore (Garra 56, Howson 84), Lewis (Morris 65). Subs: Wilberforce.
Referee: Mark Swift
Att: 3,575
Leeds United's final first team friendly ended in a 1-1 draw at Grimsby thanks to a second half equaliser from Eddie Lewis.
The American's 52nd minute strike cancelled out an opener from experienced Grimsby defender John McDermott. Both sides had chances to win the game, but honours deservedly ended even.
The testimonial clash was the penultimate chance for United manager Kevin Blackwell to look at some of his players ahead of the big kick-off - he may give some a run-out in Tuesday's reserve team game at York - and he handed full debuts to trialist goalkeeper Darren Ward and former Sheffield United and Millwall utility man Carl Asaba.
The Leeds boss also included two foreign trialists in his starting XI, at centre-back and left-back.
It was a veteran defender who took the honours in the first half, though. McDermott, who celebrated his testimonial last season with a visit from Leeds, hammered Grimsby into a ninth minute lead when the visiting defence failed to clear their lines after a good attack down the right.
Gylfi Einarsson had a chance to respond, but headed wide, and Grimsby keeper Phil Barnes pulled off a superb block to deny Jermaine Beckford with a fierce drive.
United goalkeeper Ward made his only save to deny Isiah Rankin on 26 minutes before Leeds slowly started to assume control.
Livewire midfielder Rob Bayly went close, United had an effort cleared off the line, and Asaba had a shot blocked as the visitors ended the first half strongly.
But seven minutes into the second period, United were back on level terms when Lewis converted, following good work by Frazer Richardson.As the game ebbed and flowed, Ward made a couple of good saves in the Leeds goal, including another fine stop from Rankin, and Beckford went close to finding a winner for the visitors.
Midfielder Griffiths leaves Leeds
Midfielder Joel Griffiths has left Leeds United to return home to Australia after sealing a move to Newcastle United Jets.
The 26-year-old joined the Elland Road outfit last season but failed to impress boss Kevin Blackwell.
United had to appeal to Fifa to gain clearance for the player as he was at the centre of a wrangle with former Swiss club Xamax.
But he only went on to make two appearances from the bench for Leeds.
Yorkshire Evening Post 31/7/06
United woe as injury crisis deepens
by Phil HayLeeds United's injury problems were reaching crisis point today as Kevin Blackwell prepared to discover the fate of new signing Kevin Nicholls.
The 27-year-old midfielder, purchased for £700,000 from Luton last week, looks set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after sustaining a knee injury during his first training session with United's squad.
Nicholls was undergoing a scan today, and the injury, which will rule him out of this weekend's opening Championship fixture against Norwich City, is one of a growing number of problems facing Blackwell.
David Livermore – another of United's summer signings – was missing from the squad for the Elland Road club's friendly at Nottingham Forest on Saturday, although he is expected to be available for the visit of Norwich to Yorkshire.
But Richard Cresswell, Shaun Derry and Stephen Crainey are also on the injury list, and Blackwell was assessing Neil Sullivan and Eirik Bakke this morning after both sustained injuries at the City Ground.
Sullivan's knock has created a pressing problem for United after the club agreed to sell Ian Bennett to Sheffield United last week, a departure which left Leeds without a senior second-choice goalkeeper.
Blackwell has youngster Mark Wilberforce on his books, but the United boss may now give serious consideration to signing trialist Darren Ward, who replaced Sullivan for the final minutes of Saturday's friendly.
Ward is available on a free transfer and could present a convenient option if Sullivan's injury leaves him doubtful for the clash with Norwich.
Leedsunited.com 31/7/06
LEWIS LEVELS AT BLUNDELL
GRIMSBY TOWN 1 (McDermott 9) LEEDS UNITED 1 (Lewis 52)
Graham Rodger Testimonial Match
Grimsby: Barnes, McDermott (Croft 71), Newey, Harkins, Whittle, Futcher, Toner, Rankin (North 79), Bore (Foy 57), Jones, Beagrie (Hegarty 71). Subs: Barrick, Chamberlain.
United: Ward, Richardson (Madden 65), Bonasel (Camfield 77), Gregan, Benscheidr, Einarsson (Hird 56), Asaba (Gardner 46), Bayly, Beckford, Moore (Garra 56, Howson 84), Lewis (Morris 65). Subs: Wilberforce.
Referee: Mark Swift
Att: 3,575
Leeds United's final first team friendly ended in a 1-1 draw at Grimsby thanks to a second half equaliser from Eddie Lewis.
The American's 52nd minute strike cancelled out an opener from experienced Grimsby defender John McDermott. Both sides had chances to win the game, but honours deservedly ended even.
The testimonial clash was the penultimate chance for United manager Kevin Blackwell to look at some of his players ahead of the big kick-off - he may give some a run-out in Tuesday's reserve team game at York - and he handed full debuts to trialist goalkeeper Darren Ward and former Sheffield United and Millwall utility man Carl Asaba.
The Leeds boss also included two foreign trialists in his starting XI, at centre-back and left-back.
It was a veteran defender who took the honours in the first half, though. McDermott, who celebrated his testimonial last season with a visit from Leeds, hammered Grimsby into a ninth minute lead when the visiting defence failed to clear their lines after a good attack down the right.
Gylfi Einarsson had a chance to respond, but headed wide, and Grimsby keeper Phil Barnes pulled off a superb block to deny Jermaine Beckford with a fierce drive.
United goalkeeper Ward made his only save to deny Isiah Rankin on 26 minutes before Leeds slowly started to assume control.
Livewire midfielder Rob Bayly went close, United had an effort cleared off the line, and Asaba had a shot blocked as the visitors ended the first half strongly.
But seven minutes into the second period, United were back on level terms when Lewis converted, following good work by Frazer Richardson.As the game ebbed and flowed, Ward made a couple of good saves in the Leeds goal, including another fine stop from Rankin, and Beckford went close to finding a winner for the visitors.
