Mighty Leeds Weblog

Times Online - Newspaper Edition Leeds 6 QPR 1: Big Deane rips QPR apart RICHARD RAE AT ELLAND ROAD THE orange-coated steward groaned as he perused the team sheet a few minutes before kick-off. “I see the donkey’s playing up front again,” he grunted, and no doubt his opinion was shared by the majority of the crowd streaming into Elland Road. It is fair to say that up to 3.13pm yesterday, big Brian Deane’s second spell leading the line for his hometown club had not been going well. One League goal in 13 starts cannot have been the return he had hoped for, but it is a fact that at Championship level, every donkey — oh alright, big, awkward old-fashioned British centre-forward — can still have his day, and yesterday was Deane’s. The crowd was still settling when QPR went ahead. Receiving the ball from Kevin Gallen, Gareth Ainsworth skipped past Danny Pugh and from just outside the Leeds penalty area hit a fine right-footed drive into the top left-hand corner of Neil Sullivan’s go...

Sport Deane steps to the four-front for Leeds Leeds United 6 Queen's Park Rangers 1 By Dan Murphy 21 November 2004 The Championship's fourth-least potent attack put nearly half a season's worth of squandered chances behind them as Queens Park Rangers succumbed, rather pathetically at times, to a resounding defeat at Elland Road. It was Leeds' most emphatic victory since beating Charlton by the same score at The Valley in April 2003. For Brian Deane in particular, this was a day to remember. The 36-year-old had never previously scored a hat-trick for Leeds United in two spells at the club spanning 12 years. Yesterday he needed less than half the game to complete the feat and even added a fourth for good measure later on. As if that were not enough, Deane laid on the other two goals for David Healy and Jermaine Wright respectively. Not bad for a man who had hitherto managed one League goal all season. "Deano for England," bellowed the Leeds faithful, bef...

Leeds United Football Club - Matchreport Leeds United vs Queens Park Rangers Leeds 6 QPR 1 Leeds went goal crazy at Elland Road, completely blowing QPR away in spectacular style and hopefully getting the season back on track. Brian Deane was the man who handed out most of the punishment, scoring four - including a first half hat-trick - to defy his critics who had written him off at the tender age of 36! It was the first time United had won by the same scoreline since that famous away win over Charlton Athletic in April 2003, when another big Leeds striker scored a hat-trick, Mark Viduka. At Elland Road, it was the first six goal haul at Elland Road since the 6-1 thrashing of Bradford City in the penultimate game of the 2000/2001 season in which Robbie Keane also hit a hat-trick. Team News Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell named an unchanged side for the third game running, which means he continues to play with three men forward and three in midfield. The visitors ma...

Leeds Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More SETH BOOST FOR UNITED By PAUL DEWS SETH JOHNSON is set to hand Leeds United boss Kevin Blackwell an early Christmas present. The 25-year-old is in the final throes of recovering from a cruciate injury and, barring any slip-ups, will begin full training with Kevin Blackwell's squad next month. Johnson has made rapid progress, despite suffering two setbacks, and the former Derby midfielder's return will be a major boost for Blackwell. Eirik Bakke is also making good progress after suffering a knee injury during pre-season and the Norwegian should also be ready to step up training in the New Year with a view to a February return. United boss Blackwell said: "Both players have made good progress and it'll be great to have them back. "I thought our best spell last season was when Eirik and Seth were together in the middle of the park – we looked like getting out of trouble – but we l...

Leeds United Football Club - Better News On Midfield Duo Better News On Midfield Duo United's injury problems look set to ease with the news that midfield duo Seth Johnson and Eirik Bakke are well on course to return to action early in the new year. The latest update on the pair is welcome news to boss Kevin Blackwell as he waits to hear if defender Stephen Crainey requires an operation that will effectively end his season. Former England under-21 international Johnson ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in April and also suffered cartilige damage which was set to put him out for the calendar year, and that prediction by United's medical staff appears to be spot on. Norwegian Bakke had only just returned from a bout of tendonitis when he too suffered cruciate ligament damage during United's pre-season tour of Sweden. It was at first feared Bakke would miss the entire season, but as United head physio Dave Hancock explained, both players are making great prog...

Leeds United Football Club - Op Fear For Crainey Op Fear For Crainey United are keeping their fingers crossed that Stephen Crainey will avoid having to undergo an operation that will end his season. The defender's groin injury is causing big concern as it has so far failed to respond to both treatment and a prolonged period of rest. As things stand Leeds are unable to give the Scot an indication as to when he could return, but fear they may be forced to bite the bullet and send him away for surgery. "If things don't work out he might need an operation which will be a massive blow," said manager Kevin Blackwell. "At the moment I have to play it by ear but it does not look too good for Stephen." The 23-year-old, who has been out of action since early October, is suffering from a condition called Osteitis Pubis, a painful overuse condition that affects the pelvis, causing pain during and after exercise, and commonly occurs through kicking activitie...

Mirror.co.uk - LEEDS AXE RICKETTS LEEDS AXE RICKETTS By James Reynolds LEEDS are set to sell misfiring striker Michael Ricketts to the highest bidder and end his Elland Road nightmare. Ricketts vowed to rediscover the form that made him an England international when he joined Leeds on a free transfer from Middlesbrough in the summer. He even hired a personal trainer and has spent extra hours on the training ground in a bid to find his scoring touch. But the former Bolton and Boro star has failed to shine, scoring just one goal this season. He has been dropped by boss Kevin Blackwell - and Leeds are keen to get him off the wage bill. The arrival of David Healy from Preston last month has shoved Ricketts closer to the exit door. He could even be farmed out on-loan if no-one shows an interest in buying him.

Sport Leeds in despair as Bent twists the knife Ipswich Town 1 - Leeds United 0 By Henry Brown 14 November 2004 Ipswich refused to allow life to get any better for Leeds following another torrid week at Elland Road, as Darren Bent's goal propelled the Suffolk club level on points with Wigan at the top of the Championship table. Leeds twice came close to taking a first-half lead through the on-loan John Oster before Bent's scrambled goal in the 52nd minute broke the deadlock and Ipswich cruised to their fourth straight win. Off-field shenanigans, last-minute business deals, ground sales and cunning plans to save Leeds have been the stories of the week in Yorkshire. But the fact remains, perhaps unreasonably, that whatever the final resolution to Leeds's problems, their manager, Kevin Blackwell, is expected to forge his inexpensively assembled squad into promotion challengers. Continuity, at least, is on Blackwell's side, and he was able to name a sta...

Yorkshire Post Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More United takeover fails – Elland Road is soldRichard Sutcliffe LEEDS UNITED chairman Gerald Krasner last night closed the door on Sebastien Sainsbury's planned £25m takeover as Elland Road was sold for the second time in less than 20 years. United have agreed a 25-year sale and leaseback deal for their stadium and cleared the way for a possible substantial investment from a second consortium led by Leeds businessman Norman Stubbs. Even to a group of fans who have become used to the unexpected, yesterday was an amazing day. The passing of a 1pm deadline for the British-American consortium to complete a takeover was followed by a press conference in which Krasner confirmed Elland Road was in the process of being sold to clear the debt of £9.2m owed to Jack Petchey. Two hours later and with the sale sealed, Sainsbury and his American-backed consortium insisted their proposed takeover was still on....

Times Online - Sport Elland Road to be sold after Leeds takeover deal stalls By Times Online and PA Sport Leeds United had fresh hopes of a deal to save its Elland Road ground late on Friday, with reports on Sky Sports News of a one-week extension for £25 million takeover negotiations with the consortium headed by Sebastien Sainsbury. In a statement, Mr Sainsbury and Nova Financial Partners said: "First and foremost, can I please confirm to all of the fans of Leeds United Football Club that we are proceeding with our proposed takeover of the football club. "What happened today should be received as part of the story and not the end of the story. "Having gone through the due diligence that we have in the last few weeks, we totally understand the need - if indeed it has been done - of the current board to sell the stadium and protect the immediate future of the football club. "We have the necessary resources to achieve the buy back of the Elland Road Stadium...

Guardian Unlimited Football | News | Leeds to sell Elland Road Leeds to sell Elland Road Negotiations between Leeds United and Sebastian Sainsbury halted as club admits Elland Road will be sold Press Association Friday November 12, 2004 Leeds today confirmed negotiations for the takeover of the American-backed consortium led by Sebastian Sainsbury have ended - and that Elland Road is to be sold under a sale and lease back deal. Leeds chairman Gerald Krasner also revealed that the club's board was in "advanced discussions" with a local consortium. Leeds called a press conference at Elland Road this afternoon to clarify the latest developments in the Sainsbury takeover saga. The current Leeds board had set 1pm today as the deadline for the £25m takeover deal to go through, after a joint announcement by the club and American company Nova Financial Partners earlier in the week that proof of funding had been established. Leeds' urgency for completi...

Yorkshire Post Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More Elland Road board hope to complete £25m takeover of Leeds to consortium before weekendA DEADLINE of Friday afternoon has been set for the completion of a £25m takeover of Leeds United. The British-American consortium bidding to take charge at Elland Road spent yesterday locked in talks with the current board. As revealed in yesterday's Yorkshire Post, Nova Financial Partners president Michael Lucas has presented proof of funds from HSBC Bank. Another day of intrigue saw rumour and counter-rumour emerging with suggestions the deal had collapsed and David Richmond was part of a consortium trying to hijack proceedings, something the former director vehemently denies. But a joint statement from United and Nova confirmed last night: "The Leeds United board of directors met yesterday with the president of Nova Financial Partners, Michael Lucas. "Nova has agreed to transfer £25m into t...

Telegraph | Sport | Sainsbury ready to seal �25m Leeds takeover Sainsbury ready to seal £25m Leeds takeover By Mark Ogden (Filed: 10/11/2004) The financial nightmare that has taken Leeds United from a Champions League semi-final to the brink of extinction in just three years may, finally, be about to end with the latest in a long line of takeover bids set to be completed at Elland Road by the end of this week. Leeds supporters have heard the phrase, 'it will happen by the end of this week', more often than they have seen `Leeds star sold' on the news stands. An Arab Sheikh, a Ugandan businessman, a Yorkshire-based tycoon and a mysterious Chinese group have all attempted to acquire the fallen giants. However, the Anglo-American consortium led by Sebastien Sainsbury is now within days of wresting control of the Championship club from the current board having succeeded in persuading chairman Gerald Krasner that his Nova Financial Partners group have the funds to s...

Guardian Unlimited Football | News | Sainsbury moves closer to Leeds deal Sainsbury moves closer to Leeds deal Owen Gibson Wednesday November 10, 2004 The Guardian The Leeds United takeover saga moved closer to resolution yesterday as the US consortium fronted by Sebastian Sainsbury proved to the club's board that they had the money to complete the £25m deal. After two weeks of claim and counter-claim, proof of funding was delivered to the board late on Monday night via HSBC, raising the possibility of a deal before the end of the week. Leeds's chairman Gerald Krasner said yesterday: "Sufficient documentation has been received that we can now progress forward." Michael Lucas, chairman of the Nova Financial Partners group hoping to buy the club, has spent the past fortnight in Leeds trying to close the deal. His partners Burl Sheppard and Bradley Ray are expected in the city tomorrow in the hope of tying it up by Friday. A joint statement released...

Leeds United Football Club - LEEDS UNITED MEETS WITH NOVA FINANCIAL PARTNERS LEEDS UNITED MEETS WITH NOVA FINANCIAL PARTNERS Leeds United Board of Directors met today with the president of Nova Financial Partners, Michael Lucas. Nova has agreed to transfer £25million into their solicitors’ bank account by the end of Thursday (11th November) and this transaction will be verified at such time by Leeds United’s solicitors. Provided the funds are verified, Nova confirmed it would complete a deal with the Club on or before 1pm on Friday 12th November. Gerald Krasner said: “The intention of the Board is to secure the best possible future for the Club and we look forward to completing a successful deal on Friday.” Michael Lucas said: “We are looking forward to completing the contract and working towards premiership status.” No further comment will be made by either party or anyone representing either party until either completion or the deadline for completion has passed.

FRIDAY TARGET FOR LEEDS TAKEOVER: Sporting Life - Football | Live scores, Carling Cup, Premiership, SPL, Championship, Champions League, UEFA Cup, European News, Fixtures, Results, Tables FRIDAY TARGET FOR LEEDS TAKEOVER The consortium led by Sebastian Sainsbury should complete a £25m takeover for Leeds on Friday. After weeks of negotiation, a joint statement read: "Nova have agreed to transfer £25m into their solicitors' bank account by the end of Thursday and this transaction will be verified at such time by Leeds United's solicitors. "Provided the funds are verified, Nova confirmed it would complete a deal with the club on or before 1pm on Friday." Leeds chairman Gerald Krasner said: "The intention of the board is to secure the best possible future for the club and we look forward to completing a successful deal on Friday." One of Sainsbury's American colleagues, Michael Lucas added: "We are looking forward to completing the contra...

Yorkshire Post Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More Parkin back in takeover deal at UnitedExclusive Richard Sutcliffe Haulier set for place on Elland Road board STEVE PARKIN, the Brighouse-based haulier who failed in a bid to buy Leeds United in the summer, will join the club's board if a planned £25m takeover by a British-American consortium gets the go-ahead, the Yorkshire Post can reveal. Nova Financial Partners president Michael Lucas last night met the current United directors to finally deliver proof of funds from a London bank and it is understood Parkin, who was seen deep in discussion with the American yesterday, will have a major role to play in the future. Parkin, who led two attempts to buy the club at the tail end of last season, will become an executive member of a new United board to be headed by Sebastien Sainsbury. The club's solicitors are now examining the documentation from HSBC Bank, which says the money is availabl...

Sports Network 8/11/04 Leeds Finance Director clashes with Sainsbury By Rich Baggott - November 8 2004Leeds Club Direcotor clashed live on Radio Aire with Sebastion Sainsbury, frontman for the Nova Financial Consortium that are currently in the process of trying the buy the club Shortly before kick off, Radio Aire held an exclusive chat with Sebastian Sainsbury, the front man of the Nova Financial Group consortium that are said to be offering a 25M takeover deal. Sainsbury refuted claims that proof of funds had not been seen and elaborated further; claiming a deal had been completed by Directors of Leeds United and Michael Lucas from Nova in which a contract would be signed on Monday and the deal completed by the transfer of funds on Thursday when he would become the new Chairman of the club. Sainsbury claimed this agreement was reached at 2pm on Saturday in the Boardroom at Preston North End. Following the match, Leeds Finance Director, Melvyn Helme joined the commentators for ...

Leeds United Football Club - Matchreport Preston North End vs Leeds United Leeds had this game sown up by half-time after a blistering first half in which Brian Deane opened the scoring and then two goals by David Healy against his former club helped settle the nerves. Pre-Match United boss Kevin Blackwell went for a change of formation against Preston, with John Oster making his debut for the Whites. The loan signing from Sunderland was thrown straight in after proving his fitness in a training session on Friday. Blackwell went for a 4-3-3 formation with a forward line of Oster on the right hand side of the three man attack that also included former Preston striker David Healy on the left and Brian Deane in the centre. The midfield three were Wright, Gregan and Walton, whilst the back four featured the one change with Danny Pugh dropping to left-back and Matthew Kilgallon having been dropped to the bench. The Match Leeds took an early lead at Deepdale after Brian Deane s...

people.co.uk - FOOTBALL: END ARE BROUGHT TO HEAL FOOTBALL: END ARE BROUGHT TO HEAL Preston 2 Leeds 4 Steve Bott DAVID HEALY grabbed the goal glory on a spectacular return to Deepdale, but Leeds United had plenty more heroes in a much-needed victory. With the Championship relegation zone far too close for comfort at kick-off, the troubled Elland Road side came up with a vital, nay sparkling win, going 3-0 up by half time and surviving a mini-revival by Preston in the second half to run out impressive and deserved victors. Healy grabbed the spoils Ð and a late booking for time-wasting Ð with two goals but this game was always going to be about his, and, to a lesser extent, Sean GreganÕs return to their former stamping ground. Gregan stole Irish striker HealyÕs thunder briefly when the former Preston skipper featured in an early incident. North End hitman Richard Cresswell left Gregan writhing in agony on the deck after a challenge. Good, honest fodder for the tap room afte...

Guardian Unlimited Football | News | Leeds board split over Stubbs bid Leeds board split over Stubbs bid Matt Scott Saturday November 6, 2004 The Guardian The bid to take over Leeds being prepared by Norman Stubbs's consortium may fail because it does not include a financial incentive for the current board. Stubbs is understood to have raised £10m and the proposed sale and leaseback of the Elland Road stadium is expected to bring in a further £15m. However, his backers insist all monies must be directed towards the continued survival of the ailing club rather than rewarding those directors under whose stewardship debts have been reduced from £104m to slightly more than £30m. The current Leeds chairman Gerald Krasner is understood to be content with Stubbs's offer but his view is not shared by two of his fellow directors, who are pushing exclusively for Sebastian Sainsbury's Anglo-American consortium. Sainsbury initially offered two board seats to the incum...

Leeds United Football Club - Hello Again! Hello Again! Barely three weeks since they last met at Elland Road, United face Preston at Deepdale tomorrow with Kevin Blackwell looking for a marked improvement on Wednesday night's fiasco. The fixture computer threw up an oddity when it paired the Whites and the Lilywhites together twice in less than a month, but it's not memories of the 1-0 win over Lancashire side that Leeds take with them across the Pennines, but nightmares of their midweek capitulation at the hands of Burnley. Blackwell was furious with his team's performance and made it clear they had let him and the fans down. The fans in turn let the players know their feelings as a section booed them off at the end of the game. "We will find out on Saturday how they reacted to my words," said Blackwell, who had ripped into his team in the dressing room after the Burnley game. "From day one they have been an honest bunch of players and that has ...

REVIVAL WILL TAKE TIME - BLACKWELL: Sporting Life - Football | Live scores, Champions League, UEFA Cup, Premiership, SPL, Championship, UEFA Cup, European News, Fixtures, Results, Tables REVIVAL WILL TAKE TIME - BLACKWELL Leeds manager Kevin Blackwell is hoping commonsense prevails after coming under fire for the first time this week since taking charge at Elland Road in the summer. Blackwell has only been in the job for just over four months, but after four straight defeats - including three in the Coca-Cola Championship to leave Leeds four points off the relegation zone - the knives are slowly coming out. Such is the pressure, expectation and demands at Leeds, it has not taken long for the critics to round on Blackwell, with the fans voicing their disapproval after Wednesday's 2-1 home defeat to Burnley. With a takeover battle currently raging behind the scenes, with the Anglo-American group fronted by Sebastian Sainsbury seemingly edging closer to a £25million buy...

Leeds Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More MYSTERY OF YANKEE BID United takeover is still up in the air BY PAUL DEWS THE takeover saga at Leeds United was today shrouded in mystery and confusion. The American consortium hoping to seize control of the Elland Road club claim they have documents detailing their proof of funding – but the United board insist they still haven't received the papers. To add to the confusion, director Melvyn Levi insists he HAS seen proof of the £25m offer – but his fellow directors were today playing down Levi's comments. A source close to the Elland Road board confirmed that Levi met with Mike Lucas and Sebastien Sainsbury to discuss the deal and that a faxed letter from a lawyer indicates the funding is available. But with chairman Gerald Krasner currently away on business and Levi now clearly supporting the American bid, the Elland Road boardroom appears to be split. The one clear fact is that, as ...

Leeds United Football Club - Oster Set To Join Oster Joins For A Month United boss Kevin Blackwell has managed to complete a deal to take Sunderland midfielder John Oster on a month's loan in time for tomorrow's trip to Deepdale. Blackwell was looking to add a much needed boost to his squad with six league fixtures coming up over the next month and has been looking for a right-sided wide player. Out of favour at the Stadium of Light, the 25-year-old has made eight starting appearances and three substitutes appearances for Mick McCarthy this season, with his last appearance coming in September, but he has also played in Wales' World Cup qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Northern Ireland. Oster's last Coca-Cola Championship start for Sunderland came in their 1-0 defeat at Reading in late August. he has made one apperance since, in the Carling Cup. Official confirmation of the move from the FA came through in time for Oster to go straight into the squa...

The Independent Online Edition > Sport Blackwell attacks takeover dithering at Leeds By Ian Parkes Published : 05 November 2004 The Leeds United manager, Kevin Blackwell, yesterday expressed his fears for the future of a club he feels is being "undermined" by ongoing takeover uncertainty. The patience of the Leeds chairman, Gerald Krasner, and his fellow board members is being tested to the limit by the continued failure of an Anglo-American consortium fronted by Sebastian Sainsbury to provide proof that funds are in place to complete a deal. Self-imposed deadlines from Sainsbury, the 41-year-old great-grandson of the supermarket founder come and go, with the latest now Tuesday, and concern is growing that the deal will fall through. Sainsbury's consortium cohorts are Michael Lucas and Burl Sheppard, of the Nova Financial Partnership, a company based in Tampa, Florida. Lucas claims to be a former American international, yet United States Soccer Federat...

BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Leeds United | Leeds officials meet with suitor Leeds officials meet with suitor Sebastian Sainsbury's proposed takeover of Leeds United moved closer to reality on Thursday night when his consortium met with club officials. Sainsbury said Nova Financial Partners had begun to provide proof of funding for a bid reportedly worth £25m. "The consortium has produced the first of a number of documents showing that we have the funds in place to complete the transaction," he said. Leeds had insisted they were still some way from concluding any takeover deal. But Sainsbury - the great grandson of the founder of the supermarket chain - believes he will have control of the club by the middle of next week. "We appreciate the efforts that the board has gone to in extending the time in which to make available to them our proof of funding," the businessman said in a statement. Current chairman Gerald Krasner continues to exercis...

Leeds United Football Club - Matchreport Leeds United vs Wigan Athletic United boss Kevin Blackwell was able to hand new signing David Healy his debut after the striker shook off a bout of conjunctivitis to declare himself fit. He was paired upfront with Brian Deane, who got his first goal since his return to the club against Portsmouth in midweek. Missing from that Portsmouth game though was Matthew Spring whose hip injury has flared up again. It left United with little choice but to revert Simon Walton back to midfield after he sat in at centre-half for skipper Paul Butler who was suspended and was for this game serving the final game of his two match ban. Matthew Kilgallon, returning from his own ban after his dismissal at Brighton, filled in at centre-half, his preferred position. The Match Leeds got into their stride early on against Wigan, perhaps determined to show the division's top dogs that they would not be about to concede any ground on their home tur...