Gerrard ... the truth?
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WACCOE -> For What It's Worth
Bill Gerrard
It's difficult to work ot where our club is financially with so limited information in the public domain. But here goes my best estimate.
When Ken Bates took over, he mainly talked about the balance sheet. He said that the liabilities (what we owe creditors such as the taxman, ex-players, etc.) was down to around £13.5m (including £4.4m of loans owed to the previous directors). However over the last few weeks, as he has got his feet under the table and his advisors have got to grips with the financial details, Mr Bates has put more and more emphasis on the operating position (cash flow in and out). His programme notes have indicated that we are currently losing around £120k per week which is annual loss of £6.25m. There has been some pruning of the playing squad with a few young players leaving but the only major wage reduction has been Duberry. According to Bates, Duberry's transfer has saved £700k over the next 17 mo...
Leeds Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More
GUILTY
EXCLUSIVE
by Phil Hay
Leeds United are facing financial punishment from the Football Association after pleading guilty to a charge of misconduct.
United were accused of failing to control their players after a mass brawl broke out during the 1-1 draw with Gillingham earlier this month, and the Elland Road club have accepted blame for the incident which saw Michael Gray and Darius Henderson sent off.
Leeds will attempt to minimise their penalty, however, during a personal hearing, which is yet to be arranged by the FA but is not expected to be held before the end of the Championship season, and the Professional Footballers' Association have agreed to support United's mitigation.
The club already have a suspended £60,000 fine hanging over them, imposed by the FA for their poor
disciplinary record last season, but the suspension will not be affected by United's latest charge.
Chief...
Leeds United Football Club - Blackwell Is A Man With A Plan
United boss Kevin Blackwell says Leeds will be strong challengers for promotion next season as he reflected on the progress of the last few months.
The manager has stuck to his first aim of making sure Leeds stabilise themselves in the Championship, and with that mission accomplished, everything between now and the end of the season is with the next campaign in mind.
Last week saw the arrival of striker Ian Moore from Burnley, the Whites making their move ahead of Sunderland and Sheffield United, and he looks like being just one of 'the building blocks' in Blackwell's blueprint for 2005/06.
"Signing Ian Moore is a signal of our intent," said Blackwell. "He is just one of four or five that I hope to bring to the club in the summer and they will show people that Leeds will be seriously going for it next season.
"I have drawn up a short-list of players who I believe will add to the quality ...
Leeds United Football Club - Deano Joins Black Cats
Leeds have allowed striker Brian Deane to join Sunderland on a free transfer.
The 36-year-old has not started a game for United since the start of February after a shoulder injury forced him onto the treatment table.
The Black Cats were beaten to the signature of Ian Moore by Leeds and have turned to Deane as cover."
Leeds United Football Club - Moore Out To Stake A Claim
Striker Ian Moore is looking forward to making his mark with Leeds and insists he hasn't come just to warm the bench at Elland Road.
The 28-year-old finalised his move from Burnley on Thursday afternoon on completion of a successful medical, just before the 5pm transfer deadline.
He joins a list of strikers at the club that already includes David Healy, Marlon King and potentially Rob Hulse with United keen to make the West Bromwich Albion forward's move permanent at the end of the season, but is confident he will be a regular next season.
"Over the last two weeks I heard there was an interest from Leeds and obviously my contract with Burnley was coming to an end," explained Ian.
"Sunderland offered money for me but they would only offer me a contract until the end of the season and there were no guarantees after that. Sheffield United were also in for me but Leeds was the only place I wanted to co...
Leeds United Football Club - Leeds agree terms for Moore
Leeds United have agreed terms with Burnley for their forward Ian Moore.
Kevin Blackwell had stated that any more signings before the transfer deadline tomorrow were unlikely but he has surprised everyone by going after Moore.
Moore will undergo a medical at Thorp Arch tomorrow but no problems are expected to arise and Moore will then be clear to complete his permanent transfer.
No official fee has been released but reports are suggesting that it is in the region of £50,000.
Moore started his career at Tranmere before moving on to Notts Forest, Stockport and then Turf Moor. He has also had loan spells at West Ham and Bradford earlier in his career.
He has scored 70 goals in 303 league appearances and Blackwell will be hoping that he links up with David Healy and Rob Hulse in an attempt to bring more goals to the side.
Leeds Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More
United want Rob for keeps
by Phil Hay
Leeds United boss Kevin Blackwell will make the permanent signing of Rob Hulse an urgent priority when the Championship campaign ends in May.
Hulse was signed on loan from West Brom until the end of the season last month, but Blackwell today insisted he had no intention of losing the prolific striker without a fight.
The 25-year-old, pictured left, has another year remaining on his contract at the Hawthorns but there is no prospect of him featuring in Bryan Robson's first team, and the forward is understood to favour a long-term move to Elland Road.
Hulse has already proved his ability to thrive in the Championship, scoring twice against Reading on his United debut and claiming five goals in six appearances so far, and the former Crewe forward would provide Leeds with a reliable outlet next season.
Blackwell said: "I took Rob Hulse aside recently and told ...
Leeds Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More
Skipper: Also-rans could cost us dear
Butler bemoans failures
By PAUL DEWS
PAUL BUTLER today admitted Leeds United's poor performances against the Championship's lesser lights will be to blame if the men from Elland Road fail to secure a top-six finish.
United's diabolical record against the division's strugglers continued on Wednesday night when they were held to a goalless draw at Nottingham Forest.
It extended their winless run
against the bottom eight sides in the Championship and Coventry remain United's only scalp from the lower reaches of the table.
"We've been talking about this in the dressing room," said the skipper. "I can't put my finger why our record is so bad against the lower sides.
"I don't know whether it's a mental thing or whether it's that we go out and think we are going to turn these teams over then they up the te...
Leeds United Football Club - Matchreport Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United
Nottm F 0 Leeds 0
Leeds came up against a ragged Forest team that had been hit by massive injury and suspension problems but in the end a game that looked set to yield yet more away points for the Whites was a damp squib.
Leeds never really got themselves going and had it not been for Neil Sullivan's fourth penalty save of the season, they wouldn't have got anything at all out of plucky Forest.
Pre-match
United boss Kevin Blackwell had two changes forced upon him with Sean Gregan and Michael Gray serving part of their suspensions.
In came Frazer Richardson at left-back and Danny Pugh took up position on the wide left in a four man midfield.
The changes meant that Leeds also changed the formation from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2, a formation they hadn't played since the home game against Burnley in early November.
The fit again midfield pair of Gylfi Einarsson and Seth Johnson were on the bench.
Fo...
Leeds 1 Gillingham 1: Leeds fans turn on ref - Newspaper Edition - Times Online
Leeds 1 Gillingham 1: Leeds fans turn on ref
RICHARD RAE AT ELLAND ROAD
THE alacrity with which the stewards moved to escort referee Mark Cowburn from the pitch, after a result which has seriously damaged Leeds United’s playoff hopes, indicated who the baying crowd thought was to blame. But they would have done better to give credit to a gutsy Gillingham team who should have made the game safe well before Leeds’ late equaliser.
It took Leeds 20 minutes to find any rhythm and when they did click into gear — even if it was only second — they pressed the visitors back. But Gillingham arrived with a record of having lost once in their past five matches, and they restricted United to just two chances in a subdued first half. Both fell to Rob Hulse in the form of headers, the first from an Aaron Lennon cross which he looped over the bar, the second from a Michael Gray free kick which hung in the air so lo...
Leeds United Football Club - Matchreport Leeds United vs Gillingham
Leeds 1 Gillingham 1
Pre-Match
United boss Kevin Blackwell has been forced into making one change to the side that drew with Millwall last Sunday. Shaun Derry has had to undergo an operation on his knee which is likely to keep him out for the next fortnight at least. That meant a recall for Jermaine Wright who came back into the side after a two game absence.
The Match
The game was preceded with a minute's silence following last week's sad news of the death of midfielder Matthew Spring's baby and physio Bruce Craven. It was impeccably observed by both sets of fans.
The opening ten minutes produced very little action to get excited about, Gary Kelly fired a shot over and Gillingham came close was a Jonathan Douglas header that fell onto the roof of the net after Leeds failed to clear the ball properly.
As usual Aaron Lennon was providing the occasional spark to get Leeds going and his good ru...
BBC SPORT | Football | Championship | Millwall 1-1 Leeds
Millwall 1-1 Leeds
Millwall and Leeds are now three points off the play-off places after a hard-fought draw at the New Den.
Millwall defender Paul Robinson scored his first League goal for the club after 17 minutes, bundling the ball home from close range.
But Rob Hulse secured a point for Leeds with a neat turn and shot into the bottom corner 12 minutes from time.
Both sides could have had penalties in the second half, while Millwall's Josh Simpson somehow missed from a yard out.
· Millwall boss Dennis Wise:
"I'm proud of them, they showed a lot of enthusiasm and did extremely well.
"They don't know the game properly yet and need a bit of help but you can expect them to always work hard and they showed what they can do.
"I thought we were hard done by and did enough to win the game but we're still in with a shout."
· Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell:
"This period of the se...
Leeds United Football Club - Matchreport Millwall vs Leeds United
Millwall 1 Leeds United 1
Kevin Blackwell stuck with the same 11 players who started last week's match with West Ham United.
There were, however, changes on the bench. New signings Marlon King and Kevin Pressman took their place alongside Seth Johnson, Jermaine Wright and Clarke Carlisle.
It meant that Blackwell had the opportunity to hand out yet two more debuts for The Whites. Aaron Lennon will be looking to continue his impressive recent form on the right-hand side and along with David Healy on the left, they would be looking to provide for lethal on loan hitman Rob Hulse.
Jody Morris was in the starting line-up for The Lions and after his histrionics after scoring a last minute penalty when the sides met at Elland Road he might be preparing for a few stern challenges early on!
THE MATCH
An eagerly anticipated clash got off to nervous start as Leeds could have been behind within 90 seconds! Millwall...
BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Leeds United | King completes loan move to Leeds
Nottingham Forest striker Marlon King has completed a loan move to Leeds.
The 24-year-old Jamaica international has fallen out of favour at the City Ground following the arrival of new Forest manager Gary Megson.
And he is Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell's fifth signing in a month, providing cover for the injured Brian Deane and Julian Joachim.
King will go straight into the squad for Sunday's trip to Millwall should the switch be finalised in time.
"When I learnt Kevin Blackwell wanted me at Leeds I did not hesitate," King told the club website.
"It's a massive club and one which should be in the Premiership. When I get my chance I hope to make the most of it and get some goals."
Times Online - Sport
Duberry cuts all ties with unhappy era at Leeds
BY RICK BROADBENT
FOUR seasons ago, Michael Duberry’s career peaked when he played a pivotal role in Leeds United’s 1-0 win over AC Milan in the European Cup on a saturnine night at Elland Road. Yesterday, he departed for Stoke City, leaving Gary Kelly and Eirik Bakke as the only survivors from a team that was systematically broken up by the club’s penchant for chasing dreams and renting goldfish.
Duberry cost £4.5 million from Chelsea in 1999 but has gone to the Potteries on a free transfer. For many at Elland Road, his will be one of the least lamented exits because the more one-eyed Leeds supporters have not forgiven him for giving evidence against Jonathan Woodgate, his team-mate at the time, when the defender, who is now at Real Madrid, was tried for GBH and affray in 2001. “It wasn ’t a difficult decision to come back to Stoke because I was happy here and always play better when there is a smile on my fa...
Leeds United Football Club - Duberry Agrees To Stoke Move
Michael Duberry has agreed a move to Championship rivals Stoke City this Wednesday morning.
The 29-year-old defender has been for talks at the Britannia Stadium and rejoins the Potters after spending three months of the season on loan there previously. His move to Stoke is dependent on passing a medical this afternoon but he is expected to be included in their squad to face Brighton this Saturday.
He has agreed a two-and-a-half year contract with Tony Pulis's team.
The former England under-21 arrived at arrived at Elland Road from Chelsea in the summer of 1999 for £4.5m but has endured a frustrating last few seasons at the club.
Injury proved to be his biggest set-back as within months of signing he picked up a thigh problem that put him out for months and cost him his first team place. He started to show the form that earned him his move to Leeds in the first place in September 2000 but a ruptured Achilles put ...