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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 see how £5 million can be raised to keep the club going until the end of the season — it is impossible to see how administration can be avoided in the short term. There are even fears that the club could go into liquidation.
It may take that drastic step for the proposed backers who have been watching from the sidelines to come to the rescue. Allan Leighton, the former vice-chairman, appears the only hope given the empty promises of Sheikh Abdul Rahman bin Mubarak al-Khalifa. Putting together a consortium is Leighton’s only chance of avoiding damage to his considerable reputation, but no one will invest until the club has reached its lowest ebb.
The urgency of the situation did not appear to have been appreciated by the players when they gathered on Tuesday and, advised by agents and representatives that they could lose any money they deferred, they asked the club to explore all other avenues, including selling players. That strategy has been resisted by Trevor Birch, the Leeds chief executive, because it would hasten relegation from the Barclaycard Premiership and, in any case, there is no definite interest from buyers.
Alan Smith is the club’s most saleable asset but John Boocock, chairman of Leeds Independent Supporters’ Association, gave warning yesterday that the forward’s departure would cause outrage on the terraces. “The players have shown themselves to be selfish individuals,” Boocock said. “They are either stupid, badly advised, or both. It’s an incredible attitude, and if it means waving goodbye to Alan Smith to raise the money, they will feel the backlash. They will get dog’s abuse against Middlesbrough (Leeds’s next game, on January 31) if Smith has gone by then.
“These footballers have been shown for what they are. Nobody had the guts to stand up and back Trevor Birch. When this happens in industry, the workers take a pay cut and put in longer hours to keep the factory open. The problem with footballers is that they’ve never had to work in a factory. Gone are the days when Premiership players could say they need every penny because it’s a short career. They are paid more now in a season than a lot of the fans earn in a lifetime.”
Gordon Taylor, the chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association, attended Tuesday’s meeting and yesterday he reiterated his support for the players. He said the squad felt that it was not their fault that the club was in such a mess. “Everyone seems to want to pass the buck,” he said. “Not one of the players wants to go but one is prepared to go if it will save the club and the price is right. The fact is if they defer the wages, the club will still be in debt.”
Taylor showed some grasp of the magnitude of Leeds’s problems when, asked if the club would still exist in a year, he replied in the affirmative. “But then I’m an optimist,” he said.
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 see how £5 million can be raised to keep the club going until the end of the season — it is impossible to see how administration can be avoided in the short term. There are even fears that the club could go into liquidation.
It may take that drastic step for the proposed backers who have been watching from the sidelines to come to the rescue. Allan Leighton, the former vice-chairman, appears the only hope given the empty promises of Sheikh Abdul Rahman bin Mubarak al-Khalifa. Putting together a consortium is Leighton’s only chance of avoiding damage to his considerable reputation, but no one will invest until the club has reached its lowest ebb.
The urgency of the situation did not appear to have been appreciated by the players when they gathered on Tuesday and, advised by agents and representatives that they could lose any money they deferred, they asked the club to explore all other avenues, including selling players. That strategy has been resisted by Trevor Birch, the Leeds chief executive, because it would hasten relegation from the Barclaycard Premiership and, in any case, there is no definite interest from buyers.
Alan Smith is the club’s most saleable asset but John Boocock, chairman of Leeds Independent Supporters’ Association, gave warning yesterday that the forward’s departure would cause outrage on the terraces. “The players have shown themselves to be selfish individuals,” Boocock said. “They are either stupid, badly advised, or both. It’s an incredible attitude, and if it means waving goodbye to Alan Smith to raise the money, they will feel the backlash. They will get dog’s abuse against Middlesbrough (Leeds’s next game, on January 31) if Smith has gone by then.
“These footballers have been shown for what they are. Nobody had the guts to stand up and back Trevor Birch. When this happens in industry, the workers take a pay cut and put in longer hours to keep the factory open. The problem with footballers is that they’ve never had to work in a factory. Gone are the days when Premiership players could say they need every penny because it’s a short career. They are paid more now in a season than a lot of the fans earn in a lifetime.”
Gordon Taylor, the chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association, attended Tuesday’s meeting and yesterday he reiterated his support for the players. He said the squad felt that it was not their fault that the club was in such a mess. “Everyone seems to want to pass the buck,” he said. “Not one of the players wants to go but one is prepared to go if it will save the club and the price is right. The fact is if they defer the wages, the club will still be in debt.”
Taylor showed some grasp of the magnitude of Leeds’s problems when, asked if the club would still exist in a year, he replied in the affirmative. “But then I’m an optimist,” he said.
