The Man with the Plan — Howard Wilkinson's Leeds United — April 2024

The Man with the Plan is the story of a master builder of football clubs, who brought success back to Leeds United in the early 1990s.

Within four years of taking charge in 1988, Howard Wilkinson turned Second Division also-rans into English champions. He's still the last Englishman to win the title.

In The Man with the Plan acclaimed Leeds United author Dave Tomlinson tells the extraordinary tale of how Wilkinson revived a football club that had fallen on hard times to develop the best team in the country, and provides a fascinating fresh insight into his methods and how he did it.

The Man with the Plan: Howard Wilkinson’s Leeds United tells the extraordinary tale of how Wilkinson revived a football club that had fallen on hard times, and developed the best team in the country. Read to discover:

• How Wilkinson reaches a meeting of the minds with chairman Leslie Silver in 1988 and explains the ten-year plan for the transformation of the club which was hatched
• How Leeds had won promotion to the top flight, became Football League champions and were back in European competition for the first time in 13 years, in less than four years
• Why Wilkinson was sacked a little over four years after his success, and how Leeds subsequently collapsed in similarly spectacular fashion
• The Man with the Plan provides a fascinating insight into what made Wilkinson so successful and examines his methods and footballing beliefs, while reflecting on an incredible time in the history of Leeds United

However much Wilkinson owed to Leeds and Silver, one thing is certain. Few other men could have matched his achievements in those golden years at Elland Road, could have turned round an oil tanker in such dramatic fashion, could have built such camaraderie and team spirit, could have developed such a conveyor belt of young talent, could have invested as wisely as he did, could have delivered such wonderful memories.

Wilkinson deserves a thousand thanks for what he did for Leeds United.

‘I have a really nice feeling when I think about my time there, recognising that I’m amongst people who actually recognise my part, the part I’m playing, don’t just take me for granted.’

This humble man then added, ‘I’m not sure anyone will remember yours truly, a lot of water has passed under the bridge in the last 25 years.’

There has, indeed, been an awful lot of water, but what a bridge was built by Howard Wilkinson, one of English football’s greatest ever managers!

Get a copy at Pitch Publishing or Amazon. Author signed copies are available by e-mailing dave.tomlinson@gmail.com.

Published by Pitch Publishing (1 April 2024)

ISBN 978-1801506960 (Hardback)

Paperback: 400 pages