Mighty Leeds Weblog

Leeds United Football Club - Message From Trevor Birch Let me first say a big thank you to the players on behalf of all the directors and all at the club. Whatever has been reported in the last two weeks, asking everyone to defer a big proportion of their wages is a big ask. After the shock of the initial request the players have responded magnificently and acted in a mature and responsible way. They have played their part in securing the future of Leeds United for the rest of the season. It's now incumbent on us all to play our part and get behind the team and give them our support to play with confidence and without fear. Our survival depends on the team winning games and we can start today by cheering the team to victory. Work continues behind the scenes in talking to current interested parties and the principal finance creditors, but for the time being we have taken a big step towards securing a breathing space until the end of the season, which gives us more time to ...

Guardian Unlimited Football | Breaking News | INTERVIEW-Gray calls for mental strength in escape bid Reuters Friday January 30, 2004 9:11 PM By Sophie Hardach LEEDS, England, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Leeds United manager Eddie Gray has called on his players to display greater mental strength to save the debt-ridden club from relegation. The ailing Yorkshire club are bottom of the premier league, more than 80 million pounds ($144.9 million) in debt, and have just one week to resolve their cash crisis and avoid going into administration. Gray, however, says the players, who agreed to defer some of their wages on Thursday to help the club, must rise above the financial turmoil, starting with Saturday's must-win home match against Middlesbrough. "It is a vicious circle but football is like that," he said. "It's like the survival of the fittest, and the strongest mentally," he told Reuters on Friday. "And that's what we've got to be -- we'...

Sporting Life - Football BIRCH WINS LATEST LEEDS BATTLE By Ian Parkes, PA Sport Leeds chief executive Trevor Birch has won his latest battle with the club's creditors by gaining a further extension of the standstill period until next Friday. Over the past 10 days Birch has managed to raise the £5million needed to see Leeds through to the end of the season, which culminated in Thursday's unanimous agreement among the players to defer 25% of their wages. On Friday, Birch held the latest meeting with the creditors - bondholders M&G, MetLife and Teachers, along with player-leasing agents Registered European Football Finance Ltd - to outline his developments. Along with the £2.5million raised via the players, Birch turned to former managers David O'Leary, Terry Venables and Peter Reid, who have all agreed to defer severance payments owed in the wake of their sackings in the past 20 months, totalling just over £1million. Birch also received a timely windfall of £1....

Sky Sports - The Best Sport Coverage From Around The World LEEDS STARS AGREE TO WAGE DEFERRAL Leeds United players have agreed to a wage deferral of more than 20 percent to help the struggling club avoid going into administration. The club's players have been locked in talks with The Professional Footballers' Association and Elland Road officials for the past week in a bid to find an agreement to defer a portion of their wages until the end of the season. PFA chief Gordon Taylor revealed that the players has unanimously agreed to defer "more than 20 percent of their wages". Leeds had been given until Friday to find the £5 million needed to keep the club afloat until the end of the season and the move by the players is set to save the club from going into administration. Taylor was delighted that the players had agreed to the deferral, and praised them for their commitment. "We had a long discussion with the players - they are all together and have una...

Guardian Unlimited Football | News | Reprieve for Leeds on nine-point penalty Premier League chairmen have voted to dock clubs nine points if they go into administration, but Leeds United will be relieved to hear the new penalty will not come into force until June 3. That date will ease the pressure on Leeds, who could be forced into administration tomorrow if they fail to raise the £5m demanded by their creditors. Richard Scudamore, the Premier League's chief executive, revealed that Leeds had not voted as the big clubs followed the example set by the Football League before the start of this season - but only on a split decision. "If you like we have followed a lead from the Football League, who introduced the rule in the summer," said Scudamore. "If a club go into adminstration and can relieve themselves of debt it gives an unfair advantage in terms of league position. "The view of the clubs is that there should be a big disincentive for clubs to...

Guardian Unlimited Football | Breaking News | United squeeze Leeds on final instalment for Ferdinand LONDON, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Manchester United paid debt-laden Leeds United the final instalment of their record 30 million pound ($54.90 million) purchase of Rio Ferdinand on Wednesday, but it was less than half what was due under the contract. Leeds, with 80 million pounds of debt, have been given until Friday to solve their financial crisis and are desperate for cash. Chief executive Trevor Birch needs five million pounds to see the club through to the end of the season. A consortium of local businessmen is also in talks over a possible 20-million-pound takeover of the club. United are expected to announce manager Alex Ferguson has signed a new contract later on Wednesday. In a statement to the stock exchange United, the English champions, said it had agreed to pay Leeds, bottom of the premier league, 1.5 million pounds as "full and final settlement" for the transfer ...

Sport Local consortium confirms Leeds negotiations By Nick Harris A representative of the secretive Yorkshire-based consortium that hopes to save Leeds United confirmed yesterday that his group is in "serious negotiations" with the club about a £20m rescue deal. "I can confirm there's a consortium that I have been asked to represent," said Gerald Krasner, who specialises in corporate recovery, restructuring and insolvency for Bartfields Chartered Accountants in Leeds. "We know what we have to do and they know where we are coming from. Our objective is to avoid administration at all costs." Leeds' chief executive and acting chairman, Trevor Birch, will spend the rest of the week in negotiations, seeking a way out of the financial mess that sees Leeds with gross debts of more than £100m. The latest extension to the "standstill agreement" with the club's major creditors runs out on Friday. Although administration remains a rea...

Leeds United Football Club - Interest Hots Up Speculation is growing that United could still be at the centre of a bidding war as potential suitors wait in the wings ahead of Friday's new deadline. Chief executive Trevor Birch on Monday managed to gain more time from the club's major creditors to continue talks with an un-named consortium, who have requested that their identity remain undisclosed, interested in taking control. Former plc vice-chairman Allan Leighton is reported to remain interested and the name of Sheikh Al Khalifa refuses to go away. Former Bradford City chairman Geoffrey Richmond has already denied his interest in United, but his name continues to be linked with a move for the club. Meanwhile, amidst all the growing speculation of who is, and who isn't, involved in the "mystery" consortium, one of four local businessmen has broken cover to confirm there is a strong interest in taking over the club. Spokesman for the group, Gerald...

Leeds United Football Club - United To Grant Mills His Move Leeds United and Middlesbrough are in transfer talks with a view to making Danny Mills move to The Riverside Stadium permanent. The 26-year-old has been on loan with the Teesside club since August and has quickly established himself as a fans favourite. The player has made it clear he wants to stay at The Riverside and Middlesbrough appear equally keen to do a deal before the January transfer window closes. Leeds have agreed to let him go if the price is right. The two clubs have not yet agreed a fee. United are understood to be seeking a fee in excess of £1m for the England right-back, capped 18 times. Meanwhile Italian side Siena have completed the signing of former Leeds loan signing Roque Junior from Milan. The Brazilian international has signed on loan until the end of the season after cancelling his loan spell at Elland Road by mutual consent.

Scotsman.com Sport - Latest News - Boro in Talks over Mills Deal By Damian Spellman, PA Sport Middlesbrough tonight confirmed that they have opened talks with crisis club Leeds United over a permanent move for Danny Mills. The 26-year-old England full-back joined Boro on a season’s loan during the summer after finding himself at odds with then Elland Road boss Peter Reid, and had previously indicated that he expected to return to the Yorkshire club at the end of the current campaign. But Steve McClaren has been hugely impressed with his no-nonsense defender during his time at the Riverside Stadium to date and admitted some time ago that he would like to secure Mills’ services on a more permanent basis. Chairman Steve Gibson tonight revealed that talks were already under way, and although he admitted that they might not come to fruition by the time the January transfer window closes on Saturday, he insisted that his club’s interest would continue. “We’ve had discussions with D...

Sporting Life - Football LEEDS SECURE 'STANDSTILL' EXTENSION Trevor Birch has been granted a further four-day extension to a 'standstill agreement' with creditors as the Leeds chairman continues his attempts to find a buyer for the cash-strapped club. It would appear Birch has satisfied the principal creditors, who are owed a combined £82million, that a four-man, Yorkshire-based consortium are poised to take control of Leeds in a buy-out understood to be worth £20million. Negotiations are at an advanced stage, and being conducted through a prominent firm of lawyers in Leeds, with the possibility a deal could now be finalised by the end of the week. A statement to the Stock Exchange on Monday evening read: "The board of Leeds United PLC announces that the standstill period with the Company's principal finance creditors has today been extended to 5pm on 30 January 2004. As previously announced, the standstill agreement also provides for a further extens...

Sport Consortium's £20m offer gives Leeds new hope By Nick Harris Leeds United are considering an eleventh-hour £20m bid by a mystery consortium of four Yorkshire-based businessmen. Even Leeds' most senior executives do not know the identities of the bidders, who have invoked their right to client confidentiality and have made their approach solely via their accountants and solicitors. A flurry of weekend speculation suggested the bid might involve a remarkable footballing renaissance for businessman Geoffrey Richmond. The former chairman of Bradford, who oversaw a catastrophic financial meltdown at Valley Parade, denied any involvement last night. "I've had my 15 years in the game and I've got my bruises," he said. "I've got absolutely no interest in Leeds whatsoever, although I wish good luck to whoever has." Another name being linked to the bid is that of Jeremy Fenn, a former Leeds chief executive from the pre-Ridsdale era. He has l...

Leeds United Football Club - United Deny Ground Sale Plan - Again Leeds United again categorically deny claims in The People newspaper that we are in discussions to sell Elland Road and ground share with a local club. The paper, following on from its original story last week that was similarly denied, showed photographs of chief executive Trevor Birch attending what it said was a meeting with developers earlier this week. The report claimed Birch was involved in more than four hours of talks with Town and Country chief Clifford Goldhill, as well as with an architect from the firm and another company employee at the offices of Walker Morris Solicitors in Leeds on Thursday night. Trevor Birch though today responded: "I am not sure what game is being played by Town and Country Developments Ltd and (the newspaper) but I can categorically deny that I have had a meeting with Mr (Clifford) Goldhill or any other representative from that company and neither have I ever met or s...

Times Online - Sunday Times Leeds study £20m bid as creditors hover A NEW £20m rescue offer for Leeds United is being considered by the club and its creditors this weekend in a final, desperate attempt to prevent the company from sliding into administration, writes David Bond. Leeds’s chief executive, Trevor Birch, has until tomorrow to raise new funds for the club or persuade the club’s players to take a wage deferral until the end of the season. He needs £5m, and if he fails, the club’s creditors, who are owed more than £100m, will pull the plug. Selling players such as Alan Smith, James Milner and Paul Robinson is an option but Birch has already turned down offers and wants to keep the team together to try and fight relegation. After a failed bid by former vice-chairman Allan Leighton early last week, a new consortium of four Yorkshire-based businessmen has emerged as the club’s possible saviour. Leeds are taking the offer seriously. One of Leeds’s main creditors, M&G...

Times Online - Sunday Times Hidden payments plunged Leeds deeper into debt THE Monaco-based partner of Jason Ferguson contributed to the deepening financial crisis at Leeds United, according to documents seen by The Sunday Times. Mike Morris, described by insiders as an unofficial “fifth” director in Ferguson’s Elite sports agency, shared an unauthorised commission of £200,000 from the club when it was already mired in debt. This weekend Leeds are desperately seeking a benefactor to help pay back spiralling debts estimated at £105m. The club has until midnight tomorrow to raise at least some of the money or it will be forced into administration. Last summer, when Leeds already owed £78m, Morris and two other agents collected large commissions by cutting themselves into two of the club’s bargain basement transfer deals. Documents seen by The Sunday Times show that Morris was secretly colluding with an agent who had been retained by Leeds to prevent the club being ripped off ...

Times Online - Newspaper Edition Leeds board preparing to accept inevitable By George Caulkin LEEDS UNITED’S desperation to avoid the break-up of their first-team squad — a move that Trevor Birch, the embattled chief executive, insists would be tantamount to accepting relegation as a fait accompli — is causing the board of directors to resign themselves to the prospect of entering administration. Officials at Elland Road are now apparently coming to the conclusion that such a draconian decision may best safeguard the club’s future. With little immediate sign of putative rescue packages from Sheikh Abdul Rahman bin Mubarak al-Khalifa or Allan Leighton, the former Leeds vice-chairman, Birch must raise £5 million — the cost of running the business until the end of the season — by Monday, when creditors will either expect to see hard evidence of a workable financial plan or carry out their threat to hand the club over to the administrators. While that would be harrowing, Birch...

Telegraph | Sport | Leeds players probably resent being martyrs By Paul Hayward (Filed: 24/01/2004) At the end of a carnival of mismanagement - for which you are not to blame - your boss strides into the office like David Brent, fiddles with his tie, throws one leg over the corner of a desk and invites you to agree to a 30 per cent wage deferral. He asks you to forget five years of corporate history: the £20 a month on tropical fish for the chairman's office, the £600,000 yearly bill for the fleet of 70 company cars, the £70,000 tab for private jets for directors and senior management. Amnesia is also requested when it comes to the £5.7 million splashed out on compensation packages for sacked managers and the £500,000 still being paid to an employee who has long since left (Robbie Fowler). This is no time either to be raising the subject of the £1.75 million that went to the Norwegian agent, Rune Hauge, after Rio Ferdinand's transfer to Manchester United, or the £1 mi...

Sport D avid Conn: Leeds employees count cost of financial crisis While the players resist proposals to defer their wages, up to 75 staff at Elland Road have been made redundant After two years of Football League clubs sliding into administration leaving a stream of bad debts, Leeds' millionaire players' refusal to defer some of their wages to help the club limp to the end of the season has meant that, finally, the morality of football's barmy economy has hit the Premier League. Incensed fans immediately made the connection between the 30 per cent the players were being asked to delay receiving of their salaries of between £20,000 and, in the case of Mark Viduka, a reported £50,000 a week, and salaries of the mortals of West Yorkshire, where most people will never make near that in a year. At Leeds, a club spokesman confirmed this week, up to 75 staff have been made redundant since the club's financial black hole opened up last year - ordinary workers across ...

toellandback.com - Story Payback time for McKenzie? By Mark Monk Trevor Birch is apparently seeking Prof. John McKenzie to pay-back some of the £200,000 consultancy-fee he trousered out of the club late last-year. Clearly the admirable Birch is leaving no-stone unturned as he tries to come up with £5m by midnight on Monday! Former chairman McKenzie controversially paid himself "consultancy fees" in advance just prior to his resignation in December. And it is reported that Birch is hot on the trail of the cash! Birch has apparently agreed deferal's on outstanding compensation payments due to David O'Leary and Peter Reid. O'Leary has already publicly offered to defer compensation outstanding. Peter Reid said: "If Leeds United want to defer any payments then I am happy with that. As long as I would eventually get what I am owed then I don't have a problem with it." And grudgingly, Terry Venables appears to be happy with the arrangement...

Sport Former managers to help Leeds' survival battle Struggling Leeds United has asked three former managers - all of whom were fired - to help out the financially strapped club by deferring severance payments. Leeds' acting chairman Trevor Birch needs between 3.5 million pounds (US$6.44 million) and 5 million pounds (US$9.2 million) to keep the club running until the end of the season. He's asking Peter Reid, David O'Leary and Terry Venables to help - Leeds owes the three a combined 7 million pounds (US$ 12.88 million). Reid was in charge for seven months before being sacked last November. "If Leeds United want to defer any payments then I am happy with that," said Reid, who was fired as Leeds manager in November after seven months in charge. 'As long as I would eventually get what I am owed then I don't have a problem with it." O'Leary was owed 4 million pounds (US$7.36 million) when he was sacked in 2002 after four years in ...

Reid and O'Leary offer to help out The Leeds players may have turned their noses up at the club in their hour of need - but former managers Peter Reid and David O'Leary are willing to help by deferring payments on their compensation payments. With the Leeds players announcing they will take a wage deferral only as a last resort, acting-chairman Trevor Birch has spent the last few days exploring all avenues in a bid to raise the cash needed to see the club through to the end of the season. Birch has made it clear no player is to leave before the transfer window closes next Saturday, which would undermine the battle for survival for the Barclaycard Premiership's bottom club. Leeds need between £3.5m and £5m in order to trade over the next four months, yet despite the constant speculation surrounding Alan Smith, Mark Viduka, Paul Robinson and James Milner, they all now seem set to remain at Elland Road. In order to generate the cash required, Birch is considering turning to th...

Sporting Life - Football PFA ACCUSE LEEDS OF 'MORAL BLACKMAIL' By Ian Parkes, PA Sport PFA chief Gordon Taylor claims the Leeds board are subjecting their players to "moral blackmail" in an effort to force them to defer part of their wages. Taylor believes that Leeds' failure to secure a rescue package and reluctance to sell any players to secure the £5million needed to avoid administration puts all the pressure on to the squad. Meanwhile, it has become clear that Leeds' total net liabilities have now reached around £93m - they owe a total of £105m with cash assets of only £12m. Although their net borrowings are £78m they also owe around £10m to the Inland Revenue and £5m to former managers Peter Reid and David O'Leary. Acting chairman Trevor Birch wants the players to defer up to 35% of their wages until the end of the season - but Taylor said some of the squad fear they would then never see the money. Taylor said: "That is a big worry for...

squarefootball, original football articles. The options for Leeds United "It is not only the players who are causing problems for Leeds United with their stubborn behaviour." If they are to avoid going into administration the board, management and players of Leeds United face some very difficult decisions this week. Having temporarily managed to stave off this threat the Elland Road club were given an additional seven days to find the money needed to keep them in business for the rest of the season. In all likelihood, if the money is not raised by this coming Monday (January 26) then Leeds United will become the first Premiership club to be placed into the hands of administrators. The figure required to rescue the club from this fate is said to be around five million pounds, but it seems that finding the best way to raise this cash is causing yet more friction at the stricken club. Earlier in the week the Leeds United players were asked what they thought of the idea...

Leeds United Football Club - Player Statement: Wage Deferral The playing staff of Leeds United today released the following statement: "We wish to make it clear that we are fully behind the club and are working with Trevor Birch and the Professional Footballers Association in the hope of solving the problems. Some of the reports we have read in the newspapers are wrong. We are together as a team and no decision has yet been made one way or the other on whether to defer a percentage of our wages. We have said that we will be prepared to support the club, should it be required."

Leeds United Football Club - No Smith Sale With intense media speculation concerning his future at the club, Leeds United have once again moved to deny we are prepared to sell Alan Smith. Chief executive and acting chairman Trevor Birch has dismissed reports that the 23-year-old will be allowed to leave the club. A number of players have also been linked with other clubs following the disclosure that the players would not take a wage deferral unless it was still necessary after "all other avenues" to raise money to keep the club operating had been explored. Most of the speculation has centered around Smith, whilst Paul Robinson, Eirik Bakke and James Milner's names have also been prominent in the press. Supporters Association chairman Ray Fell is hoping the club continue to fend off "the vultures" looking to snap up Leeds players on the cheap. "Can Leeds stay up without Alan Smith? I think it would be very difficult, " he told Radio 5 Liv...

Leeds United Football Club - Roque Junior Heading Out Leeds United expect to part company with Brazilian defender Roque Junior later today. The AC Milan centre-half is keen to leave Elland Road and the club are prepared to terminate his season long contract in West Yorkshire. United are still waiting for final confirmation from his agent, but do not expect any problems. The World Cup winner is said to be interesting Bundesliga side Hamburg, with representatives of the German club said to have flown to Milan to open talks over a permanent transfer. His agent, Alessandro Lucci, also revealed he could return to Italy. "There are two or three interesting offers for the player but we need this contract annulled," he said. "Siena are one of the interested parties and I can confirm that Perugia are also interested." Roque Junior joined United on a season long contract before the end of August from AC Milan, but has started just five Premiership games an...

TEAMtalk Football - Football News Service - Tottenham Hotspur News Story Spurs see double Leeds raid rejected Leeds have told Tottenham to double their bid for keeper Paul Robinson and winger James Milner after rejecting a £5m double swoop for the pair. The Whites are demanding a double-your-money offer from Tottenham for the highly-rated duo as the cash-strapped club are refusing to let any of their stars leave on the cheap. Acting-chairman and chief executive Trevor Birch has turned down a £5m offer for the pair, despite the fact Leeds need that figure to see them through to the end of the season. With Leeds' most-highly paid players refusing on Tuesday to accept a wage deferral - rejecting an initial 35% cut and then a later offer of 30% - it was expected Birch would be forced to sell to raise the necessary cash. Although Arsenal and Newcastle have been linked with a £5m move for United's most-bankable asset in Alan Smith, Birch has reiterated the striker is not fo...

Ananova - Leeds trio to bid farewell Leeds trio to bid farewell Roque Junior, Lamine Sakho and Salomon Olembe look likely to leave Leeds United before the end of the transfer window. Roque Junior, on loan from AC Milan, is expected to have his short-term deal terminated, with a move to Germany or back to Italy on the cards. Agent Willie Mackay has also revealed that on-loan Marseille duo Sakho and Olembe - currently with Senegal and Cameroon respectively preparing for the African Nations Cup - are on their way. Olembe is poised to serve the remainder of his loan deal at Blackburn, while winger Sakho will move to another Premiership club. "I have lined up deals for both players and they will be moving before the end of the transfer window," confirmed Mackay. "The only problem is they are both in Tunisia for the African Nations Cup. But I don't see a problem with either deal." Alessandro Lucci, the representative for AC Milan centre-half Roque Junior, ...

Sport Spurs offer £5m for Robinson and Milner By Alan Nixon Leeds United, desperate to raise money to ease their financial crisis, last night received a £5m offer from Tottenham for their goalkeeper, Paul Robinson, and their young prospect James Milner. Spurs' interest in the England goalkeeper Robinson, whom they have valued at £2m, was already known, but the move for the teenager Milner is more controversial as he is seen as vital to Leeds' future. Daniel Levy, the Spurs chairman, thought the time was right for to make a move and that Leeds are resigned to losing Robinson. He hoped Milner might become available if Leeds were forced to sell in the next few days. Leeds have tried to cut their wage bill for the rest of the season by asking the squad to defer some of their salary, but after initial talks the team seem to favour selling players instead. Leeds are also trying to cancel the contracts of the on-loan pair Zouma Camara and Didi Domi. The Elland Road chief ...

Sport Furious reaction to Leeds players' stand on wages By Jason Burt Leeds United players were facing an angry backlash from fans last night after they said they would rather sell one of their star names than take a wage deferral. Gordon Taylor, the chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association, confirmed that the players had unanimously agreed to the sale of Alan Smith, Paul Robinson or James Milner. It followed a meeting in which they had been asked to take a cut of 35 per cent in their salaries until the end of the season in order to prevent the debt-ridden club sliding into administration. The players in question accepted the decision - as long as the transfer fee is right. Ironically, all three are home-grown talents who are seen as the most loyal to the club. Leeds will now seek a fee of not less than £3.5m, and hopefully around £5m, which means that Smith is the most likely to be sacrificed. That possibility increased last night as Newcastle Unit...

Times Online - Newspaper Edition Supporters turn on players after financial reality bites at Leeds By Matt Dickinson, Chief Football Correspondent LEEDS UNITED have found someone willing to come to their financial assistance but, for the club’s directors, it may amount to nothing more than bailing out the Titanic with a bucket. David O’Leary has intimated that he would be willing to defer £600,000 he is due to receive on March 1 as part of his £4 million compensation package but, unless the players follow suit, their former manager’s offer will be far too little, far too late. The refusal of the squad to countenance an immediate deferral of their wages, a decision made on Tuesday to the dismay of fans and the board, has done what no one thought was possible — exacerbate an unprecedented financial crisis. Each deadline has been reached with even less time or money to spare and, unless the impasse between club and players is resolved before Monday — when the creditors want to se...

Times Online - Newspaper Edition Players ready to sacrifice Smith By Matt Dickinson AS THE stricken club attempt to ward off financial ruin, Leeds United’s first-team squad have agreed in principle to accept a wage deferral, but the detail behind their apparently selfless offer represented grim tidings for their embattled employers. With Leeds needing to raise about £5 million to remain in business, the players made it plain that every option must be exhausted before they consented to sacrificing their salaries. At a squad meeting yesterday, the Leeds players — led by David Batty, their Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) representative — made it plain that they would prefer the club to sanction the sale of one of their team-mates before accepting any reduction in pay. In practice, that would mean the departure of Paul Robinson, Mark Viduka or Alan Smith — and most likely the last-named. It is understood that the stance was backed by senior professionals, including I...

Leeds United Football Club - Players Will Help Out - Taylor Players Will Help Out - Taylor Professional Footballers' Association chief Gordon Taylor is confident the Leeds players will agree to a wage deferral as Trevor Birch prepares to discuss the issue with the players this week. United announced they have another seven days in which to address the financial shortfall at the club, with £5m needed for operating costs until the end of the season, and wage deferrals is seen as one of the best options to achieve this saving. Chief executive Trevor Birch has made it clear he does not expect the club to find a buyer until the club knows which division it will be in next season. Taylor, who points to Leicester City and Ipswich as prime examples, says players are generally receptive to helping out however they can when clubs are in trouble. "In order to keep the club alive, I believe the attitude of the players is excellent," said Taylor. "People underes...

Times Online - Newspaper Edition Players to defer wages to give Leeds lifeline By Ashling O’Connor LEEDS UNITED will this week meet the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) to discuss the deferral of players’ wages as the heavily indebted Barclaycard Premiership club struggles to stay in business. The footballers’ union is prepared to accept the argument that wage deferrals are necessary to see the club to the end of the season but has not yet agreed a figure. “We were hoping it wouldn’t get to this, but there doesn’t seem to be a white knight coming over the horizon,” Gordon Taylor, the PFA chief executive, said. “Players are prepared to help so long as they are not taken advantage of. They have commitments like anyone else. Above all, they want to keep the club together.” Leeds are expected to ask their players to defer a third of their wages, which accounts for about £40 million of the £50 million staff costs. This would free up £12 million, which could be enough...

Sky Sports - The Best Sport Coverage From Around The World SURVIVAL ON THE PITCH COMES FIRST - BIRCH Leeds are expected to put back the self-imposed January 19 deadline for administration. In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports News, chief executive Trevor Birch admitted that a standstill agreement with their "principle creditors", will give the Elland Road outfit until the end of the month. They need £5million to see them through until the end of the season, but although Birch rubbished Sunday newspaper reports that they were about to sell their ground as "nonsense" and admitted that would-be buyer Sheikh Abdulrahman Bin Mubarak Al Khalifa had failed to show them "the colour of his money", he is confident they can get that - without selling players. And Birch also piled the pressure on Eddie Gray's depleted squad, making no bones about what awaits should they get relegated from the Premiership - less than 24 hours after the defeat at Sou...

Sky Sports - The Best Sport Coverage From Around The World LEEDS GET SEVEN DAY EXTENSION Leeds United have confirmed to the Stock Exchange that they have agreed with the club's principal creditors to extend their standstill agreement by another week. The club, who are more than £80 million in the red, have been holding talks for the last few days and have been given another seven days to raise the £5 million to see them through until the end of the season. Leeds also confirmed that the agreement could be extended by a further two weeks, should they achieve certain financial goals in the next seven days. A club statement read: "The board of Leeds United PLC announces that the company's principal finance creditors have today agreed to extend the standstill period (announced on 4 December 2003) by a week, to midnight on 26 January 2004. "This agreement also provides for a further two week extension to 6 February 2004, conditional on achievement of certain fina...