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ADLER: NO PLANS FOR ELLAND ROAD: Sporting Life - Football | Sheff Utd v Arsenal, Blackburn v Burnley, Brentford v Southampton, Transfer News, Live Scores, Barclays Premiership, SPL, Championship, European News, Fixtures, Results
Jacob Adler, the Manchester-based businessman who bought Leeds United's Elland Road home, has reassured Leeds fans he has "no intention whatsoever" of building on the site.
Adler also insists he would be happy to extend the 25-year lease that Leeds have on the stadium by another 75 years.
Adler bought Elland Road from hard-up Leeds for an estimated £8m last November.
The month before, he had also snapped up part of the Thorp Arch complex for just over £4m.
Both sites were bought on a sale-and-leaseback basis, with Leeds agreeing to rent their ground and training facilities from him for the next 25 years.
The club was also given the option to buy them back, should its financial position improve.
Adler, 35, told the Yorkshire Evening Post:...
Leeds United Football Club - Fifty Is The Magic Number
Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell is delighted to see his side prove the critics wrong by reaching the 50-point mark - and ruling out any chance of being relegated.
'Doing a Sheffield Wednesday' as it's been termed by dropping through the divisions in successive seasons is not going to happen at Elland Road and the focus is on building towards a promotion drive for next season with an outside chance of making the play-offs this term.
"Today was we overcame the first hurdle because 50 points was the margin we had to get to," said Blackwell after the 2-1 win against West Ham United.
"We are not going to get relegated and that is one of the biggest pats on the back I can give the players, the fans and the staff here because everyone had tipped Leeds United to go down.
"They looked at us and said, there's no players there, they're struggling financially and everything that could go wrong is g...
Times Online - Newspaper Edition
Leeds 2 West Ham 1: Leeds thank Derry for win
KEVIN DUNN AT ELLAND ROAD
KEVIN BLACKWELL has given debuts to 26 players at Leeds this season but few have had the immediate impact of his two latest imports, Rob Hulse and Shaun Derry.
Hulse, on loan from West Bromwich Albion, scored his third goal in three games for his adopted team and Derry produced the winner on his home debut after signing from Crystal Palace
Blackwell persisted in his pursuit of Derry after first trying to sign him before Christmas and the versatile midfielder is keen to repay him.
“Now that I have signed, I am relieved and excited about what the future holds for me,” the 27-year-old said. “I am so pleased that Kevin Blackwell kept his interest in me. I want to thank him and repay him for it.”
Nottingham-born Derry was in the Crystal Palace team that ended West Ham’s promotion hopes in last year’s playoff final. Here, his well-taken goal frustrated the Hammers’ attempt...
SundayMirror.co.uk - PLOT TO DRUG SOCCER STAR
CLUB BOSSES 'IN PLOT TO GET RID OF £24K-A-WEEK ENGLAND ACE'
By Paul Smith Chief Football Reporter And Graham Johnson Investigations Editor
A SENSATIONAL plot to spike a soccer star's food with drugs can be revealed today by the Sunday Mirror.
Leeds United's £5million defender Michael Duberry was the intended victim of a plan to deliberately wreck his career.
A former Leeds executive has revealed a plan to dope the 29-year-old with cocaine, ecstasy and banned steroids so he would fail a drugs test.
The aim was to engineer the one-time England international's sacking because the Championship club could no longer afford to pay his £24,000-a-week salary.
Another plan was to end the career of his fellow top wage earner, Gary Kelly, 30, by hiring hitmen to break his legs.
And a bizarre plot was hatched to drug opponents Coventry City and their high-profile manager, former Leeds boss Peter Reid, by lacing a pre-match...
BLACKWELL RELIEF AS LEEDS REACH SAFETY: Sporting Life - Football | Carling Cup Final Chelsea v Liverpool, Transfer News, Live Scores, Barclays Premiership, SPL, Championship, European News, Fixtures, Results, Tables
Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell refuses to plan for a promotion push despite his side's late 2-1 win over West Ham.
Shaun Derry scored a late winner for Blackwell's side after Gavin Williams had cancelled out Rob Hulse's opener.
The win gives the Yorkshire side a glimmer of hope of reaching the play-offs but Blackwell was just pleased his side had reached 50 points, and with it safety, for the season.
He said: "For 60 minutes we dominated the game, scored a goal and then sat back a bit. To be fair to West Ham they put us under pressure but we showed great tenacity to keep defending. The players have done the club proud, not just because they beat West Ham, but because we got to 50 points which is the first hurdle. We had to make sure we got there because ...
Leeds United Football Club - Matchreport Leeds United vs West Ham United
Leeds 2 West Ham 1
Pre-Match
United boss Kevin Blackwell carried out his threat to make changes after the Wigan defeat by dropping two players.
Clarke Carlisle was the highest profile casualty as Blackwell wielded the axe, with Jermaine Wright the other man to also make way.
Wright's place in midfield was taken by Simon Walton whilst Matthew Kilgallon came in for Carlisle.
The Match
United and West Ham lined up for the biggest game of the day in the Championship and neither team needed reminding that not too long ago this would have been a high profile Premiership fixture.
For the first time this season Blackwell had the luxury of leaving players out through choice rather than necessity due to the recent arrivals of Michael Gray, Rob Hulse and Shaun Derry and it was one of those new arrivals who had the first sight at goal.
On loan Baggies hit man Hulse tried his luck from all of 25 yards but hi...
Yorkshire Post Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More Elland Road director offered cash to delay takeover as third consortium attempted to take control of Leeds United A LAST-DITCH attempt to scupper Ken Bates's takeover of Leeds United saw an Elland Road director offered an "incentive" of £250,000 by a rival consortium to stall the deal. Simon Morris, the leading shareholder at the club before last month's takeover, was offered the money just hours before Bates formally took charge of United. The approach came from charity fundraiser Stuart Levin, who asked Morris to 'put a stop' on the Bates deal and offered to pay the money, claiming a rival consortium's funds were just 24 hours away from being available. The offer was dismissed, however, and Bates duly completed his takeover in the early hours of January 21. Three consortiums were bidding for the club at the time – one led by Bates, another by United season ticket holder No...
Leeds United Football Club - Kevin's Hungry For Success
United new signing Kevin Pressman says he intends to make sure current No.1 Neil Sullivan doesn't have too comfortable a job hanging onto his position.
The former Sheffield Wednesday keeper, who played 15 games for Leicester City earlier this season, has signed on a non-contact basis and will use the rest of the season to try and earn a permanent deal at Elland Road.
Pressman becomes Kevin Blackwell's third signing in as many weeks, following the arrival of Rob Hulse and Shaun Derry, all of them signed on the Friday before a game. Blackwell also had former Charlton keeper Sasa Ilic on trial.
At 37 years of age he might be reaching the "twilight" of his career as some commentators have put it, but Pressman insists he's got not intentions of giving up the game just yet and still has an appetite for success.
"I was ready to jack in the game after Wednesday but Leicester helped whet my ap...
Telegraph | Sport | Wigan embarrass Leeds : "Wigan embarrass Leeds
By Louise Taylor at the JJB Stadium
(Filed: 20/02/2005)
Wigan (1) 3 Leeds (0) 0
Police on duty at the JJB Stadium donned riot gear yesterday but while the generally docile behaviour of the visiting supporters made their helmets and visors look slightly ridiculous, the Leeds players could certainly have done with similar protection.
Wigan's quest for automatic promotion was bolstered as they pulverised their guests from across the Pennines whose own play-off pretensions seemed distinctly fanciful. Goodness knows what Ken Bates, the new Leeds chairman, made of his team's ultra laconic performance on a day when there was reportedly a half-time altercation involving Neil Sullivan and Jermaine Wright in the away dressing room.
Michael Gray, the left back Leeds have borrowed from Blackburn, spent most of his career with Sunderland and remains a fan of his home-town club. Such enduring affection for one ...
BLACKWELL BACKS WARRING PLAYERS: Sporting Life - Football | FA Cup Fifth Round, Newcastle v Chelsea, Transfer News, Live Scores, Barclays Premiership, SPL, Championship, European News, Fixtures, Results, Tables
Leeds manager Kevin Blackwell has urged his players to carry on rowing.
Blackwell watched Gary Kelly and Sean Gregan become embroiled in a bitter war of words early in his side's 3-0 championship defeat at promotion-chasing Wigan.
It is also understood there was an altercation that took place in the Leeds dressing room at half-time, although Blackwell was eager to play down such suggestions.
However, he feels the passion displayed by Kelly and Gregan during their on-pitch bust-up is acceptable as he said: "They want to give everything they can for this football club. I want players to nail other players if they are not doing it. I don't think it should always be left to the manager and coaches to do that kind of thing. You need players to do that sometimes....
Leeds United Football Club - Blackwell Finally Nets Derry
Leeds United have completed the signing of Shaun Derry from Crystal Palace on a permanent transfer in time for the midfielder to be available for tomorrow's trip to Wigan.
Derry had been partway through the second month of a loan spell with Championship strugglers Nottingham Forest when he was recalled yesterday and arrived at Thorp Arch earlier today to finalise his move. He trained with his new team-mates ahead of leaving for the game at the JJB tomorrow.
The 27-year-old had been set to join Leeds back in November but the deal fell apart at the last minute through no fault of the player.
Nottingham-born Derry began his career as a trainee at Notts County, moved on to Sheffield United in 1998 for £700,000 and was snapped up by Portsmouth in 2000 for £300,000 before a £400,000 switch to Selhurst Park in 2002.
United boss Kevin Blackwell has been a long time admirer of Derry, a player he worked with at Sheffield Un...
BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Leeds United | A new beginning for Leeds
Whisper it quietly, but the storm clouds may finally be breaking over Elland Road.
The fall from grace of Leeds United has been spectacular and well-documented.
But with the arrival of Ken Bates as the new chairman and an up-turn of form on the pitch, there has been a unquestionably change of direction at the club.
Instead of continually looking over their shoulders, everyone at the club can finally look forward.
"I think that people are starting to see that the buds are starting to grow again after a barren two or three years," Leeds manager Kevin Blackwell told BBC Sport.
"What happened here - it is something I don't want anybody to go through.
"We have learnt our lesson. I also think we will be used as an example to everybody that if you do not act prudently chasing a dream, the nightmare can be long lasting.
"Please God no one else has to go through it because it...
Leeds United Football Club - It Didn't Happen Overnight
United boss Kevin Blackwell believes he now has one of the best squads in the division - but it's been a long hard haul to get to this stage.
Even before the season had begun, Leeds were being told they faced another relegation scrap, and with over twenty players having left since the start of the previous season, Blackwell would admit that was a fear he too harbored, especially given the fact that he needed to find at least 14 new players at the start of the season.
Eight months on, with survival virtually guaranteed, he has managed to assemble a group of players whose sights are now set much higher. The play-offs are where they're all aiming at now.
Of course not every signing has worked out for the long term. Injury dealt full-back Stephen Crainey an early blow as it did Nathan Blake, just as the striker was getting into his stride, whilst John Oster's personal indiscretions put paid to his chances of ...
Leeds Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More
INCREDIBLE HULSE
Debut delight for Rob
by Paul Dews
NINE months of frustration came pouring out for new Leeds United striker Rob Hulse as he marked his Elland Road debut in style.
The on-loan hitman, starting a game for the first time since May 2004, scored twice in the second half to help Leeds earn a priceless 3-1 success against fourth-placed Reading.
Hulse showed great composure with his goals and he swiftly established himself as a new darling of the Elland Road faithful.
Hulse said: "It's nice to be playing again and things couldn't have gone any better.
"I was just so pleased to be out there and even if I hadn't scored and we'd won I'd have been delighted, but for two to go in like that was really pleasing. "
Hulse last started a senior game for West Brom nine months ago, but the striker showed supreme confidence and didn't look like a player who has be...
Times Online - Newspaper Edition
Sunday Times 13/2/05
Leeds Utd 3 Reading 1: Hulse raises Leeds spirits
RICHARD RAE AT ELLAND ROAD
WINS are no longer celebrated with champagne in the Elland Road boardroom, after Ken Bates wisely decided that the money might be better used by the groundsman, but no doubt a pint or two of something less effete was raised to Rob Hulse last night. Two cracking second-half strikes on his debut by the young striker, signed on loan from West Brom, gave Leeds a win that suggested the chances of the club’s new chairman overseeing a return to the Premiership are better than even he might have anticipated.
It took both sides time to adjust to a strong and swirling wind, but once it sunk in that crisp passes played on the ground had a good chance of reaching their intended recipient, the football became open and attractive. Much of it was played by Reading, whose speed on the break enabled them to regularly out-flank Leeds’s three-man midfield, and Andy ...
Leeds United Football Club - Matchreport Leeds United vs Reading
Leeds United 3 Reading 1
Pre- Match
Kevin Blackwell made just the one change to the side which won against Burnley the previous week with striker Rob Hulse coming in for his Leeds United debut.
Brian Deane was the man who dropped out, finally able to rest his injured shoulder which he is able to play on with only thanks to some heavy strapping.
Despite revealing he now has the right personnel with which to play it, Blackwell has resisted the temptation to switch to a 4-4-2 formation from the 4-3-3 formation which has served him well in the last few months.
The Match
United won an early corner after Aaron Lennon's cross was cut out and from it Leeds missed their first chance of the game as Clarke Carlisle headed Jermaine Wright's cross over from six yards out.
With less than five minutes on the clock Reading squandered their own golden opportunity when Nicky Forster broke clear of the defence after r...
Leeds United Football Club - Healy's Ready For Change
David Healy hopes to profit from Rob Hulse's arrival at the club as he hopes it will see him move back into the middle as a central striker.
The Northern Ireland international has been operating down the left flank for most of the games since his arrival from Preston in October as boss Kevin Blackwell has formulated a system that has made Leeds hard to beat.
Now with striker Hulse having arrived from West Brom, and experienced left-back Michael Gray from Blackburn last week, Blackwell is confident he has the personnel to change formations as and when he feels necessary, which is encouraging to Healy.
Whilst Healy is eager to play upfront again, he appreciates that the current system has its merits.
"As everyone knows I am a striker and I want to play as a striker," he said.
"But in the first game we played against Preston we ended up winning 4-2 and from there on we've picked up an average of ...
Leeds United Football Club - Rob Raring To Go
Rob Hulse's three-month loan move to Elland Road has finally been sealed, and the big striker cannot wait to regain the kind of form that brought him 13 goals for West Brom last season.
The forward has signed on loan until the end of the season and is set to make his debut on Saturday against Reading at Elland Road.
The deal was first mooted in the middle of last week, and at one point it looked like he might have gone straight into the squad for last Saturday's match against Burnley. However complications in the paper-work have delayed the arrival of the Crewe-born 25-year-old until now, but he first knew of Kevin Blackwell's interest in him last week
"I was off to a reserve game on Wednesday night," Hulse told Leedsunited.com, "When I got a call from my agent, saying to come up to Leeds and have a look round.
"I'd been told that quite a few clubs had come in for me and wanted to take me out o...
BLACKWELL DEMANDS KILLER INSTINCT: Sporting Life - Football | Transfer News, Live Scores, Barclays Premiership, SPL, Championship, European News, Fixtures, Results, Tables
Leeds manager Kevin Blackwell felt his side had made it unnecessarily hard for themselves towards the end of their 1-0 win over Burnley at Turf Moor.
Gylfi Einarsson scored the decisive goal for Leeds, who had been dominant, after 65 minutes.
Despite Burnley's Frank Sinclair being sent off eight minutes later, the visitors almost threw the three points away.
Ian Moore had an 80th-minute penalty saved by Neil Sullivan after the striker had been fouled by Clarke Carlisle, while the hosts were aggrieved that a Paul Butler handball and a push on John McGreal - both in the area - went unpunished.
It all added up to an uneasy finish for Blackwell, who said: "It was three deserved points. I'm just slightly annoyed that we didn't finish the game off and, my word, we had some chances to finish the gam...
Times Online - Newspaper Edition
Burnley 0 Leeds 1: Leeds stay in playoff hunt
RON CLARKE AT TURF MOOR
TALK about the War of the Roses. This was more like a tame knock-about in no man’s land. All the ingredients were there for something a little more explosive.
This was Leeds’s first visit to Turf Moor for more than 20 years, a bumper crowd and Burnley’s opportunity for a double over their rivals from across the Pennines. In the end the early kick-off soon faded into the memory, with only a solitary bullet header from Iceland international Gylfi Einarsson separating the sides.
The Lancashire side had the opportunity to salvage something from their own desperate performance with a penalty in the last five minutes. Unbelievably, this was their first real strike on target and ended with goalkeeper Neil Sullivan diving to his left to easily parry away Ian Moore’s spot-kick.
Of course, Burnley are not quite focused on the Coca-Cola Championship. There is a little matter of an F...
Leeds United Football Club - Blackwell Captures Gray
United have completed the signing of Blackburn Rovers left-back Michael Gray on a three month loan deal today.
The three times capped former England international will arrive at Thorp Arch later whilst Blackwell is also working on bringing in an attacking player to bolster the squad, but as yet no agreement has been reached.
Gray has made 23 appearances since joining Rovers last January, nine this season, and is vastly experienced with over 400 appearances for former club Sunderland, where he experienced the high of helping the Black Cats to promotion as well as the low of missing the vital penalty that saw them miss out on promotion to the Premiership in the play-off finals against Charlton.
United boss Kevin Blackwell is delighted to have captured the 30-year-old.
He said:"We have had a shortage at left-back since Stephen Crainey's been out, but it's not been that much of a problem because we've had Frazer ...
Telegraph | Sport | How Bates took over at Leeds
By Mihir Bose
(Filed: 03/02/2005)
The first thing Ken Bates did as he opened the door to his lavish seventh-floor apartment in Monte Carlo was take me to his balcony and show me the view of the Princess Grace Garden and the crystal clear blue sea beyond. He was not just asking me to admire the view, which was breathtaking, but making a point about how he ensured his private life remained private.
"This is one of only seven flats which is a freehold and I have chosen this building because it overlooks the garden, they cannot build to block our view," Bates said.
"In Monte Carlo everybody has binoculars but, look around, there is no way anybody can peer into our apartment. We could be in the noddy on my sunbed and nobody would know."
Then, as his wife Suzannah returned from her daily shopping trip to collect croissants and the English papers, Bates opened a bottle of pink champagne and raised a toast to the br...
Leeds Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More
Hulse: United my kind of club
by Phil Hay
West Brom striker Rob Hulse will push for a move to Elland Road after being linked with Leeds United.
The 25-year-old forward is on the fringes of Bryan Robson's plans and looks ready to step down from the Premiership after failing to find a new club during the transfer window.
Hulse turned down an approach from Stoke City last week after the Staffordshire club agreed a £1.2m fee with Albion.
He was also linked with Burnley as part of the deal which took former Leeds target Richard Chaplow to the Hawthorns on Monday.
But a transfer to Yorkshire appears to match the ambition of a player who finished as West Brom's leading scorer last season – and he is in a reasonable bargaining position, as Sean Gregan and David Healy were, with 18 months left on his contract.
Hulse cost £750,000 when he left Crewe in 2003 and West Brom would be keen to recoup their ...