Guardian 20/7/07
Leeds players hoping for resolution to pay crisis
LONDON, July 20 (Reuters) - Leeds United's players said on Friday they hoped to be paid overdue wages by the time they return to England from a pre-season training camp in Germany.
The players of the debt-ridden club have not received salary payments for June and a report in the Guardian newspaper on Friday said they would be free to break their contracts if the money did not arrive by a set date, which was not far off.
"We're hoping the club, PFA (Professional Footballers' Association) and the Football League can resolve the situation," the players said in a statement on the club Web site (www.lufc.co.uk).
"We're hoping the situation can be resolved by the time we return next week."
Leeds responded by issuing a separate statement on the Web site saying that the deferral was in accordance with agreements with the club's administrators.
"June's wages are due to be paid when the Football League/Football Association return the shares," the club said.
Leeds need their Football Share to play in the third division next season but the Football League declined the new owners' request to have their share returned on July 12.
Club chairman Ken Bates had won his battle to regain control of Leeds 24 hours previously when his group of investors bought the club back from administrators KPMG.
However, the League refused to transfer the Leeds share to the new regime after KPMG failed to attend a meeting, leaving the authorities seeking various documents and assurances from the administrators.
A Football League spokesman told Reuters on Friday there had been "no further update" on the matter since last week.
Leeds players hoping for resolution to pay crisis
LONDON, July 20 (Reuters) - Leeds United's players said on Friday they hoped to be paid overdue wages by the time they return to England from a pre-season training camp in Germany.
The players of the debt-ridden club have not received salary payments for June and a report in the Guardian newspaper on Friday said they would be free to break their contracts if the money did not arrive by a set date, which was not far off.
"We're hoping the club, PFA (Professional Footballers' Association) and the Football League can resolve the situation," the players said in a statement on the club Web site (www.lufc.co.uk).
"We're hoping the situation can be resolved by the time we return next week."
Leeds responded by issuing a separate statement on the Web site saying that the deferral was in accordance with agreements with the club's administrators.
"June's wages are due to be paid when the Football League/Football Association return the shares," the club said.
Leeds need their Football Share to play in the third division next season but the Football League declined the new owners' request to have their share returned on July 12.
Club chairman Ken Bates had won his battle to regain control of Leeds 24 hours previously when his group of investors bought the club back from administrators KPMG.
However, the League refused to transfer the Leeds share to the new regime after KPMG failed to attend a meeting, leaving the authorities seeking various documents and assurances from the administrators.
A Football League spokesman told Reuters on Friday there had been "no further update" on the matter since last week.
