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More trouble for Leeds as Batty refuses to go quietly
By Jeremy Cross
LEEDS UNITED’S decision to terminate the services of David Batty is in danger of backfiring after it sparked a furore that threatens to undermine the club’s battle to avoid relegation from the Barclaycard Premiership. Gordon Taylor, the chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association, has joined the debate over Eddie Gray’s decision to omit Batty from his Leeds squad for the rest of the season by branding the club’s treatment of the player as “disgraceful”.
To make matters worse for Leeds it emerged last night that Batty is not willing to depart quietly after rejecting an offer to negotiate a settlement for the remaining five months of his contract. Trevor Birch, the Leeds chief executive, has told Batty not to report for training and wants to discuss a payoff.
Batty, who is contracted until June and will earn a staggering £500,000 from the stricken club for sitting at home, is said to be devastated by the entire episode but determined to claim what he is entitled to. Hayden Evans, his agent, said: “What he does is up to him, but I would hope that David acts with more dignity than the club has done.
“To think he will end his Leeds United career sat at home hurts. The fans should not think for a minute that he doesn’t care about Leeds United because this has really set him back — he’s devastated. But if Leeds think they can negotiate a payoff they are being foolish. After the way he’s been treated I’m sure David will want all his wages.”
Taylor suggested yesterday that Leeds were in breach of contract and encouraged the 35-year-old former England midfield player to renege on his decision to accept a 27 per cent wage deferral to help the club’s financial crisis.
“The way that Eddie Gray has treated David Batty is absolutely disgraceful,” Taylor said. “Eddie is well within his rights to make a decision on David on merit ahead of each match and he can decide not to pick him for whatever reason, but this isn’t what he’s done.
“For whatever reason, he’s made David an outcast and that’s a disgraceful way to treat anybody, but especially someone who’s given so much for Leeds United. This is a shocking piece of man-management. He’s made the announcement in a press conference environment and that can only have been done with one thing in mind — the humiliation of the player. Eddie Gray has set out to humiliate David Batty and that’s no way to manage a football club.
“I could fully understand David going back to the club and telling them that he’s no longer willing to accept a deferral of wages and we would be 100 per cent behind him if he did that.”
BOARD DENIES TAKEOVER CLAIM
LEEDS UNITED have denied claims that Michael Ezra, a Ugandan businessman, is close to finalising a £60 million bid to take over the club. Ezra has claimed that he has the money in place to come to Leeds’s rescue, with the club only three days away from the latest “standstill” agreement deadline imposed by principal creditors.
Ezra, who helps to fund the Uganda boxing team, is quoted as saying that his “board would also spend an extra £30 million to strengthen the team”. However, he also states that it is the make-up of the board that is proving difficult, adding that it “doesn’t have any Britons and Leeds don’t find that acceptable”, while it also “lacks the technical expertise to bolster the club”.
Officials at Elland Road insist that Ezra’s comments are inaccurate but it is believed initial talks have taken place between the two parties.
More trouble for Leeds as Batty refuses to go quietly
By Jeremy Cross
LEEDS UNITED’S decision to terminate the services of David Batty is in danger of backfiring after it sparked a furore that threatens to undermine the club’s battle to avoid relegation from the Barclaycard Premiership. Gordon Taylor, the chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association, has joined the debate over Eddie Gray’s decision to omit Batty from his Leeds squad for the rest of the season by branding the club’s treatment of the player as “disgraceful”.
To make matters worse for Leeds it emerged last night that Batty is not willing to depart quietly after rejecting an offer to negotiate a settlement for the remaining five months of his contract. Trevor Birch, the Leeds chief executive, has told Batty not to report for training and wants to discuss a payoff.
Batty, who is contracted until June and will earn a staggering £500,000 from the stricken club for sitting at home, is said to be devastated by the entire episode but determined to claim what he is entitled to. Hayden Evans, his agent, said: “What he does is up to him, but I would hope that David acts with more dignity than the club has done.
“To think he will end his Leeds United career sat at home hurts. The fans should not think for a minute that he doesn’t care about Leeds United because this has really set him back — he’s devastated. But if Leeds think they can negotiate a payoff they are being foolish. After the way he’s been treated I’m sure David will want all his wages.”
Taylor suggested yesterday that Leeds were in breach of contract and encouraged the 35-year-old former England midfield player to renege on his decision to accept a 27 per cent wage deferral to help the club’s financial crisis.
“The way that Eddie Gray has treated David Batty is absolutely disgraceful,” Taylor said. “Eddie is well within his rights to make a decision on David on merit ahead of each match and he can decide not to pick him for whatever reason, but this isn’t what he’s done.
“For whatever reason, he’s made David an outcast and that’s a disgraceful way to treat anybody, but especially someone who’s given so much for Leeds United. This is a shocking piece of man-management. He’s made the announcement in a press conference environment and that can only have been done with one thing in mind — the humiliation of the player. Eddie Gray has set out to humiliate David Batty and that’s no way to manage a football club.
“I could fully understand David going back to the club and telling them that he’s no longer willing to accept a deferral of wages and we would be 100 per cent behind him if he did that.”
BOARD DENIES TAKEOVER CLAIM
LEEDS UNITED have denied claims that Michael Ezra, a Ugandan businessman, is close to finalising a £60 million bid to take over the club. Ezra has claimed that he has the money in place to come to Leeds’s rescue, with the club only three days away from the latest “standstill” agreement deadline imposed by principal creditors.
Ezra, who helps to fund the Uganda boxing team, is quoted as saying that his “board would also spend an extra £30 million to strengthen the team”. However, he also states that it is the make-up of the board that is proving difficult, adding that it “doesn’t have any Britons and Leeds don’t find that acceptable”, while it also “lacks the technical expertise to bolster the club”.
Officials at Elland Road insist that Ezra’s comments are inaccurate but it is believed initial talks have taken place between the two parties.