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-out, United are again a club in turmoil.
But ahead of tomorrow's league clash at Preston, Blackwell is adamant he can cope with the flak, providing his detractors take a reality check.
"Criticism is part of the territory for this club because the expectations are massive," said Blackwell.
"I didn't jump into management. I decided to go along a route that would give me a lot of experience to deal with situations like this.
"There are times when we've struggled at other clubs and I've seen how to handle things and moved on, and this is no different.
"I just have to hope people look at the situation and understand it. People with any commonsense will realise to build this club up again will take time.
"They have to be aware when you turn up to do a job of work, to do that job effectively you need some tools and up to June 27 at this club there weren't any, and I had to get the right tools in.
"But if people want to voice their discontent there's nothing I can do about it because the problem at this club is that no matter what we do, it won't be good enough.
"Whoever does this job faces a mighty task. You have to be something of a magician at the moment to be able to bring in players of the quality we need for nothing. It just doesn't happen."
Following the defeat to the Clarets, Blackwell appeared to be a man on the edge as he slammed his players for what was an inept performance, and then turned on the board as he demanded they finally show some leadership.
The takeover distraction is clearly undermining the club, and although Blackwell does not want to make it an excuse, it is affecting the performance of his players.
But despite the unhappy experiences he endured last season when Leeds stood on the brink of administration, he concedes there is little he can do to protect the players.
"You try your best, but it's out in the media and in this day and age you can't shield players," added Blackwell.
"I know Eddie Gray felt last season players should just concentrate on football, but we had many experienced internationals who were affected.
"You have to hope the players cope with the speculation in the right way, but Leeds is a massive club and everyone wants to know about it.
"You can't hide from it, it's there and we just have to deal with it."
Wales international right-winger John Oster looks set to make his debut for Leeds on Saturday after joining the club on a one-month loan deal from Sunderland.
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-out, United are again a club in turmoil.
But ahead of tomorrow's league clash at Preston, Blackwell is adamant he can cope with the flak, providing his detractors take a reality check.
"Criticism is part of the territory for this club because the expectations are massive," said Blackwell.
"I didn't jump into management. I decided to go along a route that would give me a lot of experience to deal with situations like this.
"There are times when we've struggled at other clubs and I've seen how to handle things and moved on, and this is no different.
"I just have to hope people look at the situation and understand it. People with any commonsense will realise to build this club up again will take time.
"They have to be aware when you turn up to do a job of work, to do that job effectively you need some tools and up to June 27 at this club there weren't any, and I had to get the right tools in.
"But if people want to voice their discontent there's nothing I can do about it because the problem at this club is that no matter what we do, it won't be good enough.
"Whoever does this job faces a mighty task. You have to be something of a magician at the moment to be able to bring in players of the quality we need for nothing. It just doesn't happen."
Following the defeat to the Clarets, Blackwell appeared to be a man on the edge as he slammed his players for what was an inept performance, and then turned on the board as he demanded they finally show some leadership.
The takeover distraction is clearly undermining the club, and although Blackwell does not want to make it an excuse, it is affecting the performance of his players.
But despite the unhappy experiences he endured last season when Leeds stood on the brink of administration, he concedes there is little he can do to protect the players.
"You try your best, but it's out in the media and in this day and age you can't shield players," added Blackwell.
"I know Eddie Gray felt last season players should just concentrate on football, but we had many experienced internationals who were affected.
"You have to hope the players cope with the speculation in the right way, but Leeds is a massive club and everyone wants to know about it.
"You can't hide from it, it's there and we just have to deal with it."
Wales international right-winger John Oster looks set to make his debut for Leeds on Saturday after joining the club on a one-month loan deal from Sunderland.