Mighty Leeds Weblog

Leeds Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More THE WAITING GAME By PAUL DEWS THE clock was today ticking on the latest takeover bid for Leeds United. The Elland Road board have demanded proof of the funds from the Trans-Atlantic consortium hoping to seize control with a £25m offer. And the YEP also understands that the club have been told to clarify the exact source of the funding by legal eagles. There appears to be a major concern over where the monies are coming from and until the consortium satisfy the United board and the legal team the deal will not go through. The board discussed the proposal at length again at yesterday's board meeting and, while the offer appears to be too good to turn down in monetary terms, have been advised to hold off making any firm decision. In principle the offer would be enough to satisfy the current board and the funds would not only ease United's debt problem but would also provide manager Kevin Blackwe...

BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Preston | Healy completes transfer to Leeds Healy completes transfer to Leeds Northern Ireland striker David Healy has completed his move from Preston North End to Leeds United. Healy signed for the Elland Road outfit on Friday morning after agreeing personal terms with the club and undergoing a medical. Leeds had several earlier bids turned down but then decided to meet Preston's asking price for the 25-year-old. The fee is understood to be in the region of £650,000 and Healy has committed himself to Leeds until 2008. Healy will go straight into the Leeds team to face Coca-Cola Championship leaders Wigan on Sunday. The Northern Ireland international admitted the two weeks in which the clubs have been wrangling over the fee had been difficult for him. "I never had any doubts. As soon as I knew Leeds were interested I wanted to come here," said Healy. "Everything about it is impressive. The stadium and facilities are...

Guardian Unlimited Football | News | Leeds set for takeover Sainsbury says he'll save Leeds The man spearheading a proposed take-over of Leeds says he wants to save the club's soul Staff and agencies Thursday October 28, 2004 Krasner: "No statement will be issued at the present time" Sebastian Sainsbury warned Leeds United chiefs today they face the stark choice of accepting his £25m bid or selling Elland Road. Sainsbury confirmed he is the leader of a consortium whose bid for the club is being discussed at a specially convened board meeting this afternoon. The 41-year-old banker and restauranteur insisted if he was successful the club's stadium would be saved and he would re-establish Leeds as one of the country's top clubs. "The board has two options," said Sainsbury, "the option we have put forward or the option of selling Elland Road, the pride and joy of Leeds United for the past 85 years." "...

Reuters | Latest Financial News / Full News Coverage Consortium poised to take over Leeds Thu 28 October, 2004 10:09 LONDON (Reuters) - An Anglo-American consortium is poised to take over Leeds United in a deal worth 25 million pounds, according to the Yorkshire Post. The newspaper said on Thursday the deal for the second division side should be completed within the next 24 hours with money made available to buy new players on completion. Leeds, top of the Premier League in January 2002, have plummeted to 17th place in the second division after being forced to sell off their top players to service debts estimated at 80 million pounds. The Post said 23 million would be pumped into the club to wipe out non-scheduled debts and loans if the takeover is successful. It quoted a source close to the new consortium as saying its aim was to make the club debt-free and that it did not plan to sell Elland Road, the team's home ground. Leeds, the dominant club in E...

Leeds United Football Club - United Agree Fee For Healy United Agree Fee For Healy Leeds United have today agreed a fee with Preston North End for Northern Ireland striker David Healy. Both clubs have agreed to keep the transfer fee undisclosed, but the 25-year-old will complete his move to Elland Road today subject to passing a medical and agreeing personal terms. Kevin Blackwell has left supporters in no doubt that he believes Healy would be a key addition to the squad. "David is a player I admire," he said. "He is a proven international player, a proven goalscorer and a player with a good pedigree. He is the type of player this club should be looking to attract if we are to move forward. "David wants to play for this club, so hopefully everything can be agreed quickly." Healy began his career as a trainee with Manchester United but only made three substitutes appearances for them. After impressing former Preston boss David Moyes ...

Yorkshire Post Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More With funds set to run out in January, selling was only optionDavid Parkin Business Editor AS Leeds United face yet another change in ownership, one is reminded that when it comes to football and business the two just don't mix. With the exception of Manchester United, arguably the world's biggest club, football clubs just can't be run at a profit. When clubs are saddled with massive debts it makes the job even harder. Just paying the interest on those borrowings is tough enough, never mind paying them off. The consortium which bought Leeds United earlier this year succeeded in erasing more than half of the club's £110m of debt. They borrowed £15m from property investor Jack Petchey to help fund the takeover and negotiated to pay in instalments to creditors such as the Inland Revenue and former managers and players owed compensation. But they were still saddled with more than £40...

Yorkshire Post Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More Leeds to step up move for HealyRichard Sutcliffe THE PAST two-and-a-half years have seen Leeds United undergo so much chopping and changing at the top that fans have been left wondering if Elland Road's main gates had been replaced by a revolving door. During that time, Leeds have had five managers, five chairmen and so many prospective owners that it has been difficult for the club's long-suffering fans to keep pace. United have also slipped from missing qualification for the Champions League by a point in the 2001-02 season to today being in the bottom half of the newly-named Coca-Cola Championship. Everyone from Colonel Gaddafi's son to a lifelong Arab fan professed their interest in taking over a club whose finances spiralled so far out of control that they owed more than £100m as recently as March. But nothing came of the talks. However, today's revelation that a British-Ame...

Leeds United Football Club - Matchreport Portsmouth vs Leeds United Portsmouth 2 Leeds 1 Pre-match United boss Kevin Blackwell was forced into a number of changes for the visit to Fratton Park. Suspensions for skipper Paul Butler and Matthew Kilgallon forced him to reshuffle his squad and in at centre half came Simon Walton, whilst Danny Pugh reverted to left-back. Matthew Spring made a rare start in midfield after finding himself on the bench for recent games. Simon Johnson, recalled from his loan spell at Sunderland played on the left of midfield. Upfront Blackwell went for Deane alongside Julian Joachim, who missed the Brighton trip to be at the birth of his fifth child. Portsmouth started with a forward pairing of Ricardo Fuller and Diomansy Kamara, leaving Yakubu and Lua Lua on the bench. The Match The signs were ominous for Leeds from the start as Ricardo Fuller showed the danger he possesses after just a minute as he volleyed a shot over the top of Neil Sullivan...

Telegraph | Sport | Leeds look Stateside for injection of further funds Leeds look Stateside for injection of further funds By Richard Bright (Filed: 26/10/2004) Leeds United, who have sold their training ground and entered into an agreement with a casino chain in the last month in a desperate attempt to reduce crippling debts, are now hoping to secure a multi-million pound rescue package with an American company. A delegation of Leeds officials will travel to the United States this week to continue talks which are already at an advanced stage with Nova Financial Partners regarding a proposed injection of funds into the ailing Championship club whose debts have been reduced from over £100 million to less than £30 million in 18 months. The deal between the Leeds chairman, Gerald Krasner, and the American group, headed by the Miami businessman Burl Sheppard, will include Elland Road being sold and then leased back to the club in the same way as the Thorp Arch training ground. ...

Leeds United Football Club - Talks Continue Talks Continue Leeds United director Melvyn Helme is hopeful that a deal with a potential new investor in the club can be reached in the near future. Helme was responding to press reports which revealed an American consortium has been in discussions with the club about a possible takeover, but he would not confirm or deny the identity of any potential suitors. He said: "We have had a policy ever since we took over at Leeds that in view of all the various speculation there has been, we have never commented on individual situations. "We have just done a deal for the casino land at Elland Road and we were talking to four or five casino operators. We have successfully concluded a deal which is to the benefit of Leeds United and we did not comment on any part of it before an announcement was made. "At this point in time we are trying to stabilise the club's finances still and we are also trying to find mone...

BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Leeds United | Leeds hopeful over new investors Leeds hopeful over new investors Leeds United's finance director Melvyn Helme has hinted that the club are close to securing major new investment. He would not comment on reports of a potential takeover by American Burl Sheppard but said the board are making progress in attempts to find new money. "Talks with a number of parties have reached an advanced stage," he told the Mail on Sunday. "It would be wrong to comment on any one person. I'm not sure which party will come forward in the end." A group led by current chairman Gerald Krasner paid £22.5m when they took over Leeds last March and since then they have reduced the club's debts from £103m to just over £30m. The club's Thorp Arch training ground was recently sold for £4.2m and up to £15m more could be raised by the sale of land adjacent to Elland Road for a proposed casino. "My dream is for El...

Leeds United Football Club - Matchreport Brighton Pre-match United boss Kevin Blackwell fielded yet another unchanged line-up for the game at the rain-soaked Withdean Stadium. Any thoughts he might have had about changing the attacking line-up were dashed when Julian Joachim pulled out to be with his wife who has gone into labour. Martin Woods was recalled from his loan spell at Hartlepool and featured on the bench. Brighton made two changes with Richard Carpenter in for the injured Alexis Nicolas and Adam El-Abd for Paul Reid, who was out with a foot injury. The Match Leeds kicked off as torrential rain lashed down on the Withdean pitch, with a small band of 500 travelling supporters packed into one of the open stands. They were quite literally singing in the rain. Richardson had the game's first shot on target when he tried to curl one home from outside the area on six minutes but was unable to get any power behind the shot. The wet conditions w...

BEATEN BLACKWELL 'BAFFLED': Sporting Life - Football | Live scores, Champions League, Premiership, SPL, Championship, UEFA Cup, European News, Fixtures, Results, Tables BEATEN BLACKWELL 'BAFFLED' Kevin Blackwell was left "baffled" by the decisions of referee Richard Beeby after Leeds had two men sent off in the 1-0 loss at Brighton. Tempers frayed as United headed for defeat on the south coast following a 58th-minute own goal by Clarke Carlisle, and Matthew Kilgallon and Paul Butler were sent off in the dying minutes. Kilgallon saw red for two fouls and skipper Butler was dismissed for foul, abusive and insulting language. "Some of the referee's decisions left everyone baffled," said Leeds manager Blackwell. "One tries not to get involved with referees, the talk should be about Brighton winning the game. "Take nothing away from Brighton - they chased us around the park. Butler now faces a three-match suspension, yet he...

Yorkshire Post Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More Healy delay sees striker search widenRichard Sutcliffe KEVIN BLACKWELL does not intend increasing Leeds United's bid for David Healy but has stressed the offer remains on the table for the Preston North End striker. United have offered an initial £300,000 that could eventually double, depending on appearances, goals and Leeds achieving success. Preston turned down the bid but with Healy's contract due to run out next summer his value is dropping on a daily basis and North End will soon have to decide whether they can risk the Northern Ireland international leaving for nothing in the summer. Leeds have been caught in a similar situation to the one facing Preston, Lee Bowyer being offloaded for a paltry £100,000 in January 2003 just five months after Liverpool had bid £9m for the midfielder. Blackwell believes the offer represents a fair valuation for the 25-year-old and said: "At th...

Leeds Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More TOUGH GUYS Blackwell: Fighting spirit was key factor By PAUL DEWS BOSS Kevin Blackwell today warned Leeds United's Championship rivals that his side are toughening up by the game. Gallant Leeds turned in a solid away-day performance to earn a hard-fought point in front of a sell-out crowd at second-placed Reading last night, and Blackwell felt his side sent a message out to their rivals. "Given Reading's record we knew it would be difficult there and they put us under a lot of pressure at times," he said. "But I thought the team showed admirable spirit and in the last 10 minutes we looked the more threatening side. "People had us written off at the start of the season as a side who would be blown away; well we aren't going to be blown away. The lads I've got here showed some balls when a lot of teams would have folded." United surrendered an early lead, ear...

Leeds United Football Club - Blackwell Proud After Passing Reading Test Blackwell Proud After Passing Reading Test Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell said he felt very proud after watching his injury hit United side come away from a tough game against Reading with a point. The Royals forced Leeds to battle hard for the draw but in the end it was Leeds who finished the game on top and but for a magnificent save from the Reading keeper from Brian Deane's header, Leeds would have returned to West Yorkshire with three points. Simon Walton got Leeds off to the perfect start after just 75 seconds when he headed them in front. It was a lead they were to hold until the final minute of the first half when Lloyd Owusu bundled home an equaliser. A point against Reading was a good start for a week that sees United facing three tough games far away from home. "It's a very difficult place to come to and there's no doubt they put us under a lot of pressure," said B...

Leeds United Football Club - Matchreport Reading vs Leeds United A first senior goal by 17-year-old home-town hero Simon Walton helped United to a valuable point against Reading at the Madejski Stadium on Tuesday evening. Walton may have been the man to pop up with the goal but there were plenty of heroes in white shirts on the night, showing both solid resistance and a refreshing determination to get the win. Why settle for a point when three are on offer? That's exactly what Leeds were all about in the last 15 minutes of this game and with more luck another three point haul would have led to the all to predicatable.talk of play-offs and automatic promotion again. Kevin Blackwell was satisfied that he saw more evidence of improvement in this game. The road back may be long, but the rewards are worth it. Pre-match United boss Kevin Blackwell was able to keep an unchanged side for the visit to the Madejski Stadium following the 1-0 win over Preston North End at th...

Leeds United Football Club - Healy Frustration! Healy Frustration! Preston North End have rejected a fourth offer from Leeds United for their Northern Ireland international striker David Healy. The offer, a package totalling up to £600,000, was turned down by North End chairman Derek Shaw late on Sunday evening even though the player is set to become a free agent after 31 January 2005. It means Leeds United are now considering taking their search for a new forward elsewhere, leaving Healy – who has made no secret of his desire to join the Elland Road club – at Deepdale. “We put what we considered to be a very attractive deal on the table, which was rejected even though Preston stand to lose David for nothing in three months time,” said Leeds United spokesman Bryan Morris. “The player wants to come to Elland Road. However, considering our current circumstances, there’s not very much more we can do. “Regrettably, it’s looking increasingly likely that we’ll have to look else...

Proposed Regional Casino Development in Leeds 18/10/2004 Stanley Leisure plc ('Stanley'') is pleased to announce that Stanley CasinosLimited has acquired the entire issued ordinary share capital of Leeds UnitedProperties Limited from Leeds United Retail Limited for a cash consideration of£5 million. The only asset of Leeds United Properties Limited is an option toacquire a seven acre site adjacent to the Leeds United F.C. Elland RoadStadium.Subject to the reform of Britain's gambling laws, Stanley intends to apply forplanning permission to develop a regional casino complex on this site. It isanticipated that the complex will comprise a 150,000 sq. ft. casino, togetherwith other developments including a hotel, restaurants, bars, leisurefacilities and designer shops. The site is ideally located close to the M1, M62and M621 motorways and enjoys a catchment of over five million adults livingwithin one hour's drive. Stanley has started discussions with possible partner...

The Observer | Sport | Championship: Leeds 1 - 0 Preston Pugh takes the plaudits John Wardle at Elland Road Sunday October 17, 2004 The Observer Danny Pugh finally ended Leeds United's lengthy wait for a goal. Their drought had lasted for more than seven hours when the former Manchester United winger struck to extend Preston's dreadful away record. It ensured a victory that this lethargic Leeds team hardly deserved, but nobody could dispute Pugh's right to emerge as the match-winner with his sixth goal of the season. It was an appropriate reward for Pugh's industry and intelligence down United's left flank, adding to the belief that his arrival in the summer on a free transfer was one of the shrewder recent moves by a troubled club. 'He's been a revelation,' said Sam Ellis, the Leeds assistant manager. 'He had scored only one goal before this season and now he's got six by the middle of October. Let's hope he can keep it g...

Sky Sports - The Best Sport Coverage From Around The World Leeds up Healy ante by Alex Livie - Last Updated 17 Oct 2004 Leeds have lodged a third bid for Preston striker David Healy, with reports suggesting a deal could be concluded next week. Healy was at Elland Road on Saturday as his Preston side slipped to a 1-0 defeat and he was given a fine ovation from the Leeds fans when leaving the field with 15 minutes remaining. Leeds chairman Gerald Krasner was tight lipped when asked to comment on the situation, but the Elland Road coffers were boosted by £500,000 on Saturday after Robbie Fowler made an appearance for Manchester City which triggered a clause in the deal which took him over the Pennines. With the extra money at his disposal, it is believed that Whites boss Kevin Blackwell could land his man next week. "Discussions are continuing," was all Krasner would say on the situation. Blackwell's assistant Sam Ellis added: "There is no doubt Healy i...

Sky Sports - The Best Sport Coverage From Around The World Second Healy bid rejected by James Pearson - Last Updated 16 Oct 2004 Leeds United have seen a second bid rejected for Preston North End's Northern Ireland striker David Healy. The Whites offered £100,000 for the former Manchester United ace on Thursday, but that bid was swiftly gunned down. Leeds have now doubled their original offer to £200,000, however once again Preston are not interested. "This is totally unacceptable," said chairman Derek Shaw to the club's official website. "Leeds came back in with an improved offer but again it is nowhere near a figure we would even consider." Leeds may opt to use some of the £500,000 they can expect to receive once Robbie Fowler plays one more game for Manchester City to help fund their Healy bid. Healy is out of contract at the end of the season and would be available on a free transfer after rejecting Preston's offer of a three-year d...

BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Stoke City | Duberry joins Stoke in loan deal Duberry joins Stoke in loan deal Leeds United defender Michael Duberry has joined Stoke City on a three-month loan, reports BBC Radio Leeds. First-choice Leeds duo Clarke Carlisle and Paul Butler have left the 29-year-old short of first-team opportunities. Stoke director of football John Rudge said Duberry's experience would be a great boost for the club. "He has played at the highest level with Leeds and Chelsea and he will add quality and competition to our squad," he told Stoke's official website. "There is no doubt his arrival gives us a boost."

Guardian Unlimited Football | News | Leeds close to Elland Road sale Leeds United were yesterday forced to sell off their training ground and moved closer to a similar deal for Elland Road. But even these drastic measures will not end their financial plight. The scale of the challenge was illustrated by documents filed at Companies House which revealed that the chairman Gerald Krasner and his board have taken out eight new mortgages on property and land owned by Leeds to fund their takeover and keep the club afloat in the seven months since saving it from bankruptcy. The Thorp Arch training complex, on valuable land near Wetherby, was sold to an unnamed property investment company and the club will lease it back over 25 years. It also has first option to buy back the land if the financial situation improves. Once mortgages on the land around Thorp Arch are paid off, Krasner said Leeds would be left with "in excess of £4m" to go towards reducing debts, currently arou...

Leeds United Football Club - Thorp Arch Sale - Lease Back Agreed Thorp Arch Sale - Lease Back Agreed Leeds United Football Club can confirm that it has arranged a sale-lease back agreement on its Thorp Arch training facility near Wetherby, aimed at further reducing the club’s debts. The club has negotiated a 25-year sale-lease back deal with a very good buy-back provision for when the club’s finances improve. The current board has already reduced the club’s debts from in excess of £100 million down to £40 million, and this deal is expected to knock over £4 million further off that figure. Shaun Harvey, Chief Operations Officer at Leeds United, says: “In an ideal world it’s not an option we would have taken, but our number one priority is to reduce this club’s debt so it can operate again under normal circumstances. This arrangement will go a long way to helping us do that. “Instead of paying the mortgage on Thorp Arch, we will be renting it instead, with the players co...

Leeds United Football Club - Leeds Bid For Healy Leeds Bid For Healy Leeds United have made a £100,000 bid for Preston North End striker David Healy. The striker impressed Kevin Blackwell enough last night to convince the manager he can do a job for The Whites. Blackwell watched Northern Ireland's 3-3 draw with Austria last night and saw Healy score an impressive 25-yard screamer of a goal. The boss had been linked with a move for the 25-year-old as he seeks to solve United's goal shortage, and could not help but be impressed by the manner in which Healy took his goal, flicking the ball up before hitting a dipping volley that left former Arsenal keeper Alex Manninger with no chance. Blackwell's attempts to get back to Leeds this morning though have been thwarted by heavy fog in both Belfast and Leeds, with a number of flights either delayed or cancelled. Earlier this month he admitted that Healy is a player he would be definitely interested in: ...

RADEBE STATES CASE FOR DEFENCE: Sporting Life - Football | Live scores, Premiership, SPL, Championship, Champions League, UEFA Cup, European News, Fixtures, Results, Tables RADEBE STATES CASE FOR DEFENCE Leeds defender Lucas Radebe is happy with the way manager Kevin Blackwell is rebuilding the club from the back. Radebe, sidelined after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon in August, will end his 10-year love affair with United at the end of the season and he has every confidence in the new generation of defenders who will fill his shoes. Captain Paul Butler, left-back Stephen Crainey and centre-half Clarke Carlisle arrived in the summer and Blackwell kept hold of Michael Duberry, young England Under-21 international Matthew Kilgallon and long-serving Gary Kelly. "He has concentrated on defence and by doing that he has made sure we do not get beat easily," Radebe told the club's official website. "Last season we were conceding too many goals and th...

BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Leeds United | Blackwell's Leeds admission Blackwell's Leeds admission Boss Kevin Blackwell has admitted that an instant return to the Premiership could be counter-productive for Leeds. Blackwell feels the cash-strapped club needs a period of calm stability after the trauma of relegation. The Leeds boss said: "In the long term it could be detrimental if we go up this season. "Many fans have said they don't want to go up this year - we need a year or two to get back to a level footing, next season we'll have a settled squad." But Blackwell added: "There is still pride and we all want to go up. "If it happened this season we would take it." Leeds currently lie 17th in the Championship but are coming to grips wth the demands of the division. However, their sound defence have conceded only eight goals, the same as leaders Wigan. Blackwell said: "I want to build from the back and if we w...

Leeds United Football Club - United Set To Lose Out on Brett United Set To Lose Out on Brett Southampton have indicated that they are unlikely to meet Kevin Blackwell's request to extend Brett Ormerod's loan spell for another month. The striker is midway through his one-month loan at Elland Road which comes to an end after United's trip to Brighton & Hove Albion in 18 days time, but Blackwell is hoping to be able to keep the Saints striker for at least three months. An injury crisis on the South Coast though looks set to see the 27-year-old former Blackpool forward recalled into the Southampton first team line-up again. Key striker James Beattie has been ruled out of action for up to six weeks with a broken toe and Steve Wigley's side already have injury doubts over Kevin Phillips. His side are also without Michael Svensson, Matthew Oakley, Yoann Folley, Marian Pahars, Graeme Le Saux, Neil McCann and Jason Dodd through injury. Wigley told the Sout...

Leeds Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More STRIKER LIGHT Now Blackwell turns to trialists for firepower By PAUL DEWS LEEDS UNITED boss Kevin Blackwell today assessed his side's barren run in front of goal and insisted: "I know what the team needs." United's 0-0 stalemate at Cardiff on Saturday was their third successive blank in front of goal and it's now nearly six hours since they last hit the target. Blackwell admits the lack of firepower is a major concern – his strikers have netted just one league goal between them this term – but the United boss is keen to deflect the pressure on his marksmen. "It's the pint glass half-empty, half-full syndrome," groaned Blackwell. "We've kept eight clean sheets and have lost one in seven, but we haven't been scoring and that's what people want to talk about. Pressure "I am aware what the team needs, but if I hadn't built from the back we...

Leeds United Football Club - Blackwell: We Earned Our Luck Blackwell: We Earned Our Luck United boss Kevin Blackwell admits Leeds were dealt a big slice of luck on Saturday but believes it was hard work and not good fortune that earned a point at Ninian Park. Cardiff were left the most frustrated of the two sides after the 0-0 draw having hit the crossbar on three occassions and seen Neil Sullivan pull off a penalty save. Blackwell was happy to finally get the rub of the green and enjoy some lady luck that has so far been missing this campaign. He said: "We were fortuitous with them hitting the bar a few times but we've not had much luck ourselves so far this season and thankfully we had some this time. "I am a firm believer that you make your own luck and I accept they may have hit the bar three times but so what? "We've now got eight clean sheets out of 14 and that's the basis on which I am rebuilding this football club." ...

Telegraph | Sport | Gabbidon defies Leeds Gabbidon defies Leeds Trevor Haylett at Ninian Park (Filed: 03/10/2004) Cardiff City (0) 0 Leeds (0) 0 The way things are going Danny Gabbidon could almost be holding the Welsh defence together on his own next week. Wayne Rooney might well bring an interesting dimension to his afternoon's work, not to mention Michael Owen. Throw Jermain Defoe into the mix as well and you could forgive Gabbidon for suddenly discovering what has become known in international weeks as a 'Sir Alex Ferguson muscle strain'. As preparation for the World Cup qualifier at Old Trafford next week Gabbidon faced up to Brian Deane and Brett Ormerod yesterday. Not quite the same examination that the Manchester United wunderkind and his England partners will pose but at least the atmosphere at Ninian Park will have provided a taste of the kind of intense atmosphere that awaits Gabbidon and the rest of the Welsh team in six days' time. The ...

Leeds United Football Club - Matchreport Cardiff City vs Leeds United Cardiff 0 Leeds 0 As expected, Kevin Blackwell named an unchanged side for the third game running with the recently formed front pairing of Brian Deane and Brett Ormerod looking to break their goalscoring duck. United's mean defence has only conceded one goal in the past four games and the main threat to that record will be Cardiff's Peter Thorne who has scored three goals in the past four games. The Match The game kicked-off with both sets of supporters barracking each other to create an atmosphere that was certainly more hostile than Leeds have experienced anywhere else on their travels this season. The opening few minutes on the pitch were without incident, a few free-kicks against Leeds but neither keeper had been called into action. On 11 minutes a Chris Barker cross was deflected behind by Clarke Carlisle, but there were deafening calls for handball against the defender who had...

Leeds United Football Club - Boss On Striker Rumour Boss On Striker Rumour Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell has played down reports he is chasing Preston striker David Healy - but did admit he would sign him if given the chance. The Northern Ireland international is out of contract at the end of the season at Deepdale, and has reportedly turned down Preston's latest contract offer and is looking at options elsewhere. A former Manchester United youngster, the 25-year-old has scored 43 goals in 117 starts for Preston, but Blackwell said he had not looked at the player as Leeds immediate solution to their goalscoring problems. "David is a player I admire but there are many other players I admire," said Blackwell. "He is a proven international player, a proven goalscorer and a player that if I had the chance to sign, I would be interested in doing so. However, at the moment that is not the case. "I have not made a specific target of David Healey bu...

BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Sheff Utd | Cadamarteri to join Blades Danny Cadamarteri is set to leave Leeds to join Sheffield United. The Blades are expected to snap up the 24-year-old former Bradford City striker for £50,000. Cadamarteri has made just one substitute appearance for Leeds since arriving at Elland Road in the summer from Bradford. The striker burst onto the scene as a teenager at Everton but fell out of favour at Goodison Park and then suffered a series of injuries.