McDermott close to spelling out Leeds transfer plans
Yorkshire Post 19/4/13
LEEDS United manager Brian McDermott has hinted that he could look to his former club Reading for signings this summer.
The Elland Road is boss set to begin laying out his transfer plans for United next week.
But McDermott dismissed the possibility of a mass influx from the Madejski Stadium, saying: “That won’t happen.”
The 52-year-old is two games into his reign at Leeds and will reach the end of the season in a fortnight’s time, throwing him into his first transfer window as United manager.
McDermott won the Championship title with the Royals last year and will find several of the players who worked under him – former Leeds United left-back Ian Harte, Simon Church, Noel Hunt and Alex Pearce among them – out of contract in little over a month’s time.
Asked if he will consider raiding the club who sacked him last month after three years in charge, McDermott said: “Not necessarily. If we’re talking about Reading players, not necessarily.
“Is there a possibility of that? There could be. But I wouldn’t say I’m going to sign six players from Reading. It won’t happen.
“We’re talking about it all now but it’s been difficult this week because we’ve had a few games in a short period of time. Maybe next week will be the time to have a little bit more of a talk.”
Questions remain about the financial support which McDermott will be given by United owner GFH Capital, the Dubai-based firm which bought Leeds in December but has been in talks about selling the club again.
“One of the owners (director Salem Patel) talked to me after the game against Burnley on Tuesday and said thanks for everything,” McDermott said. “He said they’re going to support me and I’m sure that’ll be the case.
“But this is never going to be about me. It’s never going to be about the club backing me. The club aren’t backing me. The club are backing themselves. I don’t ever want it to be ‘we’re backing you.’ No - you’re backing the players, the staff, everyone together.
“There are other things we need to do too. We need to improve the training ground and the infrastructure. That’s important to me. Our travel needs to be top-notch and we need to look after the players. The players are special and it’s really important that they get the best. These players should be treated like the best.”
LEEDS United manager Brian McDermott has hinted that he could look to his former club Reading for signings this summer.
The Elland Road is boss set to begin laying out his transfer plans for United next week.
But McDermott dismissed the possibility of a mass influx from the Madejski Stadium, saying: “That won’t happen.”
The 52-year-old is two games into his reign at Leeds and will reach the end of the season in a fortnight’s time, throwing him into his first transfer window as United manager.
McDermott won the Championship title with the Royals last year and will find several of the players who worked under him – former Leeds United left-back Ian Harte, Simon Church, Noel Hunt and Alex Pearce among them – out of contract in little over a month’s time.
Asked if he will consider raiding the club who sacked him last month after three years in charge, McDermott said: “Not necessarily. If we’re talking about Reading players, not necessarily.
“Is there a possibility of that? There could be. But I wouldn’t say I’m going to sign six players from Reading. It won’t happen.
“We’re talking about it all now but it’s been difficult this week because we’ve had a few games in a short period of time. Maybe next week will be the time to have a little bit more of a talk.”
Questions remain about the financial support which McDermott will be given by United owner GFH Capital, the Dubai-based firm which bought Leeds in December but has been in talks about selling the club again.
“One of the owners (director Salem Patel) talked to me after the game against Burnley on Tuesday and said thanks for everything,” McDermott said. “He said they’re going to support me and I’m sure that’ll be the case.
“But this is never going to be about me. It’s never going to be about the club backing me. The club aren’t backing me. The club are backing themselves. I don’t ever want it to be ‘we’re backing you.’ No - you’re backing the players, the staff, everyone together.
“There are other things we need to do too. We need to improve the training ground and the infrastructure. That’s important to me. Our travel needs to be top-notch and we need to look after the players. The players are special and it’s really important that they get the best. These players should be treated like the best.”
