Johnson ... to rot in the reserves?
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BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Leeds United | Bates warns Johnson over future
Bates warns Johnson over future
Leeds chairman Ken Bates has warned Seth Johnson he will rot in the reserves next season if he does not leave the club this summer.
Bates feels the 26-year-old's £35,000 per week wages are a huge drain on the club's resources.
"He can play for Leeds next season - as captain of the reserves," Bates said.
"And if he's injured for a reserve fixture he will be made to turn up and sit in the stand offering moral support and being a second-team talisman."
Johnson has made just 59 appearances for Leeds since joining for £7m from Derby in 2001.
Bates added: "He's cost us £230,000 a game. Both himself and Derby must have been laughing their socks off at that deal.
"It's not good enough. What sort of value is that for this club and its fans?
"For the supporters it's been now you see him, now you don't - o...
We'll follow Sunderland up - Gray - Yorkshire Post
Leeds United 1 Ipswich Town 1 MICHAEL GRAY is confident Leeds United will next season emulate his former club Sunderland and clinch a return to the Premiership. Richard Sutcliffe at Elland Road The on-loan left-back spent 11 seasons with the Wearside club and was delighted to have played a minor role in Mick McCarthy's men sealing promotion, third-placed Ipswich now unable to catch the Black Cats after being held to a draw at Elland Road. Gray, part of the Sunderland squad relegated from the top flight in 2003, sees many similarities between his former club and Leeds, whom he firmly believes will be celebrating their own return to the Premiership in 12 months' time. The 30-year-old said: "Mick McCarthy had to rebuild the squad by scouring the divisions to bring in his own group of players. It has taken them two years to go back up and that is an example to us because I believe Leeds United will be in the Premiership come this time next season. "The manager here is ver...
people.co.uk - FOOTBALL: SPURS SNAFFLE KID LENNON : "FOOTBALL: SPURS SNAFFLE KID LENNON Apr 24 2005
By Alan Nixon
TALENT-SPOTTING Spurs are ready to sign whiz-kid Aaron Lennon from Leeds United in a shock £1 million deal.
Lennon, 18 last weekend, will become the latest top prospect to go to White Hart Lane if terms are agreed in the next few days.
Ironically the Leeds lad made his debut at 16 and became the youngest Premiership player when he came on AGAINST Tottenham 20 months ago.
Lennon, who has been voted Leeds' Young Player of the Year by the fans, will be sold by the Yorkshire club who will use the cash to sign three or four new players for a promotion push next term.
There is a chance the aggressive young attacking midfielder will go to Tottenham and then be loaned back to Leeds for a year.
Nottingham Forest's Michael Dawson and Coventry's Calum Davenport are among the starlets who have been snapped up by Spurs in the last year."
Leeds United Football Club - Matchreport Leeds United vs Ipswich Town
Pre-Match
United boss Kevin Blackwell made four changes to the side that drew with Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road last week, one of them enforced on him with Seth Johnson left out for contractual reasons to avoid paying Derby County £1/4m at this stage.
His absence gave Matthew Spring the chance to come in for a rare start, his first since Boxing Day and therefore his first of the year. Midfield saw most of the changes with Sean Gregan, at centre-half for the QPR game, returning in the place of the suspended Shaun Derry. Gregan's change of position saw Matthew Kilgallon return to the defence.
Aaron Lennon, crowned Young Player of the Season earlier this week, made way for Frazer Richardson to get a start on the right hand side of that three man forward line. Ian Moore returned on the left hand side of that attack with Marlon King dropping out.
David Healy was still missing with an ankle l...
LeedsUtdMAD - the definitive Leeds United website. Independent news and stats from footymad.net : "Derby Unhappy Over Seth Decision
Story by Kevin Markey23 April 2005
DERBY have complained to the Football League over Leeds' decision not to play Seth Johnson.
If the 26-year-old midfielder makes one more appearance for United they will have to pay Derby the latest instalment of the transfer fee (�250k) agreed between the clubs in October 2001.
Leeds will not select Johnson in their final three Championship fixtures of the season as they are concerned about his injury record and are believed to be assessing the player's long-term future at Elland Road.
Derby are not willing to accept the situation and they have made strong representation to the League asking if Leeds are contravening Rule 21.1 that says a club must field its strongest available team.
The rule states: 'Each club shall play its full strength in all matches played under the auspices o...
Leeds United Football Club - Statement On Seth Johnson : "Statement On Seth Johnson
United will not be selecting Seth Johnson for any further fixtures this season as the club will be liable to make an additional payment of �250,000 to Derby County when he next plays.
The club want to be satisfied that Seth Johnson has a significant contribution to make for the club in the future after his injuries before committing to this payment to Derby County and subsequent payments based on appearances."
Leeds United Football Club - Sullivan Scoops The Double!
Neil Sullivan took the honours at the 2004/5 Player of The Year Awards after a superb first season for the 35-year-old.
The Scottish international scooped the main award as he was named Player Of the Year, as voted for by supporters, and the Players' Player of the Year Award, in which he was the unanimous choice of his colleagues.
Sullivan arrived on a free transfer from Chelsea late last summer after agreeing to take a massive pay-cut to get regular first team football again and his form this season has been outstanding, with no less than four penalty saves.
Sullivan was honoured to receive both awards.
"I've enjoyed every single game of the season," said Neil.
"To be player of the year at a club like Leeds is just fantastic and to be the player choice as well is just as good because they are a great bunch of lads.
"It's tremendous to win both of them because they mean a lot to me....
40 YEARS AGO TODAY The Times Monday 19/4/65 Collins elected R Collins, the Scottish international inside-forward who has led Leeds United to the brink of the Cup and League double, has been voted Footballer of the Year. He received almost 50 per cent of the total votes case in the annual poll by members of the Football Writers’ Association. One sharp, snap goal sees Manchester home League race more than ever on knife edge Leeds United 0 Manchester United 1 Manchester United shot an arrow into the turbulent air at Elland Road on Saturday and pierced Leeds United in the heart. For the first time this season – and at the fourth time of asking – they struck the Yorkshiremen at their most sensitive spot and at the most sensitive moment. This was Leeds’ first loss in 25 matches and it has left the League championship title more than ever on a knife-edge. Having seen their previous defeat at West Ham on November 21, viewed much of the colourful spectrum in the intervening five months and now ...
DERRY RED CARD COSTS LEEDS: Sporting Life - Football | FA Cup Semi-finals, Man Utd v Newcastle, Transfer News, Live Scores, Barclays Premiership, SPL, Championship, Champions League, European News, Fixtures, Results, Tables
DERRY RED CARD COSTS LEEDS
Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell rued the sending-off of Shaun Derry after his side were denied a victory at QPR by Kevin Gallen's late equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Loftus Road.
United were leading through Seth Johnson's first half drive when Derry was given his marching orders with 20 minutes remaining after appearing to lash out at Gallen.
But Blackwell insisted the midfielder did nothing wrong.
QPR themselves ended the match with 10 men after Adam Miller was dismissed for a second bookable offence in injury time.
"The decision to send Derry off changed the game" said Blackwell.
"We put the ball out so one of their players could get treatment and then it all kicked off. I don't know what the QPR pl...
Leeds United Football Club - Matchreport Queens Park Rangers vs Leeds United
QPR 1 Leeds 1
Kick Off delayed until 3.15pm
Team News
United boss Kevin Blackwell was forced into making one change to the side that won away at Watford last week, and made a further change in defence as he carried through with his promise to experiment.
David Healy suffered ankle ligament damage at Vicarage Road and could have played his last game this season, with Blackwell unwilling to risk him.
On loan striker Marlon King was the man who came in for the Northern Ireland striker, whilst Ian Moore was also missing as his wife was expected to go into labour during the weekend.
The surprise was that Matthew Kilgallon was dropped from centre-half and Sean Gregan played at centre-half in his place. Gregan's midfield position was taken by Gylfi Einarsson.
The Match
Just about every week of the season a Leeds player has come up against one of his former teams, this time it was Clarke Carl...
Leeds Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More
United boss eyes long-term Gray deal
By PAUL DEWS
LEEDS UNITED manager Kevin Blackwell today confirmed his interest in securing the services of Micky Gray on a permanent basis.
The Blackburn defender has just three games remaining as a Leeds player after tomorrow's trip to QPR, but Blackwell admits he is keen to keep the former Sunderland star for the longer term.
Blackwell said: "We'll be having a chat with Micky over the next few weeks.
"He knows we'd like to take him but we'll have to talk to him and Blackburn to see if we can come to any arrangement.
"This club is being run prudently now and we would have to come to an agreement with both Micky and Blackburn over wages.
"Any deal would have to be within our wage structure."
Gray, who returned to the United starting line-up at Watford last weekend, admits he is in limbo but says he would take the chance to...
100 YEARS AGO TODAY Yorkshire Post – Tuesday, 11 April 1905 Leeds City FC At a meeting of the directors of the Leeds City Association FC (Ltd), held at the Griffin Hotel, Leeds, last night, Mr N R Hepworth was elected chairman of the board, and Mr A W Pullin deputy chairman. Mr F Jarvis was elected hon. secretary, and Mr J Furness hon. treasurer. Finance and Management Committees were also appointed. The two vacancies on the directorate were filled by the co-option of Mr J Olliver and Mr R M Dow.
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Hornets stung by Leeds
by Alex Livie - created on 9 Apr 2005
Leeds United heaped more misery on Watford with a 2-1 win at Vicarage Road.
The Hornets are in real trouble just above the relegation spots and they succumbed to a second-half goal from Clarke Carlisle.
Watford started well and Heidar Helguson was stunned to see Neil Sullivan make a fine save to deny the home side the head.
Leeds rode their luck and took the lead on 28 minutes when Rob Hulse stole in front of his marker to head home from Gary Kelly's cross.
Watford rallied and Sullivan made a fine save from a Chris Eagles shot, but the keeper could do nothing to deny Helguson who pounced to level the scores with a fine header on 41 minutes.
Watford saw Jay DeMerit sent off just into the second half and they were made to pay the price when Carlisle headed home a Matthew Kilgallon cross on 67 minutes.
The home side could have snatched a point, but He...
EIGHT YEARS AGO TODAY... leedsunited.com THURSDAY April 10 1997 Graham Off On His Travels Again George Graham is again packing his suitcases and preparing to tour in search of potential new players to add to his ever-increasing squad. The United Manager said; "My objective over the next two years is to turn Leeds United into one of the top five or six clubs in the country and I need to sign some quality players if that goal is to be achieved. I am stil after quite a few players because the squad I have at Leeds at the moment is weak in numbers." "We have maybe five or six clubs in this country who you could say were big clubs and then there are the rest - and at present we are among the rest. My job is to change all that. Only when people think you have a realistic chance of winning the Championship can you regard yourself as being in the top half dozen clubs in the country." "I only want top quality players, but in addition to ability they must have the desire...
BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Leeds United | Blackwell warning for Leeds squad
Blackwell warning for Leeds squad
Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell has warned his Elland Road squad that they are playing for their futures during the rest of the season.
Blackwell is already preparing for next season and a hopeful promotion push.
"I want to end the season with 17 to 18 players who I think are going to be valuable for Leeds United next season," Blackwell said.
"These last few games will determine the players I want out and who will not be at this club any more."
Leeds were relegated from the Premiership last term and are currently 12th after a season of upheaval which striker David Healy believes has contributed to their stuttering campaign.
"We have good players but we are still trying to gel as a team," Healy said.
"I am not putting it all down to new signings and comings and goings, but it is hard when the gaffer is trying to pick his best ...
Leeds United Football Club - Matchreport Leeds United vs Sheffield United Leeds 0 Sheffield United 4 Losing a derby is never easy, but when you get thrashed by one of your most bitter rivals then it's even harder to take. For the fourth straight time Sheffield United got one over Leeds and made a huge dent in West Yorkshire pride...
FORTY YEARS AGO TODAY... The Times Tuesday 6 April 1965 Replacements refreshing to Leeds Leeds United 3 Stoke City 1 Leeds United gave further convincing proof that their chance of joining the select few to have achieved the League and Cup double is a real one. This win puts them back on top of the First Division and the fact that they are already at employ did not consciously affect their play. Leeds, in the first half particularly, were barely recognisable as the tired looking side who had struggled to beat West Ham 48 hours earlier. They were without Hunter, feeling the effects of a knock in that game, and they rested Storrie and Cooper, but their replacements brought a refreshing lease of life to the Leeds play which was full of exciting, attacking moves. Weston has not had the best of luck this season, being out of action for a long period with a stomach injury and not being able to command a regular place when fit again because of the consistency of Storrie. In this occasion, eve...
people.co.uk - FOOTBALL: LIGHTWEIGHTS LACK FIGHT IN PLAY-OFF PUSH Leeds 1 Wolves 1 Andrew Collomosse LEEDS boss Kevin Blackwell predicted in advance that this would by a final eliminator for both sides' play-off hopes. So a draw in this winner-takes-all contest was no use to either side and it's hard to see them punching their weight if they scramble into the knockout cauldron next month. In fact for 40 minutes this was a non-event between two lightweight outfits woefully short of a knockout punch...
Leeds United Football Club - Matchreport Leeds United vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Leeds 1 Wolves 1
Pre-Match
United boss Kevin Blackwell has made four changes to the side that drew with Nottingham Forest almost three weeks previously.
The break from fixtures has not been kind to Leeds with a bout of tonsillitis raging through the camp, accounting for Gary Kelly today, and international fixtures calling David Healy and Gylfi Einarsson away from the camp.
Kelly was replaced at right back by Simon Walton, the first time the youngster has played there, although he started his career as a centre-half. Also at the back, Danny Pugh
Ian Moore made his debut and Marlon King also came in for his full debut, whilst in midfield Seth Johnson made his first start of the season following his cruciate ligament problems. Sean Derry also made his return from a knee operation to add much needed bite to midfield.
Upfront Rob Hulse came through a fitness test to start and he was expected to ...