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 very ambitious, we have a great chairman and if we can bring in four or five players this summer we will have a fantastic chance of going up. We showed against Ipswich what a good side we are becoming. "The manager will admit it wasn't our first XI but we matched the side who are in third place and if anyone was going to win, it was Leeds United." Gray, who has tasted defeat just once in nine games for Leeds, is on loan until the end of the season and Kevin Blackwell is keen to make the deal permanent. However, any possible move is dependant on Blackburn agreeing to pay a large proportion of Gray's wages. The defender is hoping a deal can be struck, even though it would mean stepping down a division. He said: "If I can come back here next season, it will be a tremendous move for me but it is not in my hands. I have a year's contract left at Blackburn and if the two clubs can come to an agreement, it will be fantastic for me because I am really enjoying it here. Everything about this club is Premiership, apart, obviously, from where we are." Mirroring Sunderland's achievement in winning promotion at the second attempt is key to United's future with the £6m per year parachute payment for relegated clubs ending after two seasons. To a club still heavily in debt and paying around £1.7m per year in rent alone, still being in the Championship come the start of the 2006-07 season would lead to a serious shortfall in revenue. Blackwell's achievement in stabilising a club which was in such a perilous position that slipping out of the top two divisions for the first time in history was a distinct possibility cannot be overstated. In doing so, he has built a decent squad, the depth of which was severely tested against Ipswich with a host of first-choice players unavailable. Despite that, Leeds more than matched the promotion-chasing visitors and were full value for a point. United's defence, a momentary lapse apart in the 12th minute when Shefki Kuqi was allowed to open the scoring with a scuffed shot, were superb with Gray a towering influence on the left. Matthew Kilgallon, an undoubted talent who has lacked consistency since breaking into the first team, also impressed and if the York-born defender can maintain the form shown against Ipswich then he will have a bright future. Leeds were level within 60 seconds of Kuqi's opener when Frazer Richardson's inviting cross was flicked into the net by Matthew Spring. After that, chances were few and far between in a game that lacked urgency, a major surprise considering Ipswich needed to win. Blackwell's side wasted a golden chance in the second half when Rob Hulse failed to pull the ball back to an unmarked Jermaine Wright and, for the visitors, Darren Currie somehow side-footed wide from 10 yards out deep into stoppage time. Those apart, however, neither side looked like breaking the deadlock and Blackwell was pleased with the efforts of his players. He said: "I think some people thought we might have had our towels on the beach by now but this is Elland Road and I was not having anyone coming here to have a party." richard.sutcliffe@ypn.co.uk Leeds United: Sullivan; Kelly, Carlisle, Kilgallon, Gray; Spring, Gregan, Einarsson (Walton 67, Wright 69); Richardson (King 88), Hulse, Moore. Ipswich Town: Price; Wilnis, De Vos, Naylor, Unsworth (Diallo 63); Miller, Horlock (Westlake 55), Magilton; Bent, Counago (Currie 70), Kuqi. Referee: C Webster (Tyne & Wear). Leeds man of the match: Gray.

Popular posts from this blog

The huge initial fee Leeds are set to receive for Crysencio Summerville’s move to West Ham — Leeds United News 31/7/24

-
Will Butcher West Ham United are closing in on a deal to sign Crysencio Summerville from Leeds United, and Ben Jacobs has shared how much Leeds will receive for the Dutchman. The 22-year-old has been strongly linked with the Elland Road exit door all summer and was targeted as the one big sale Leeds needed to make before the Profit & Sustainability Rules deadline this month. But instead, Leeds sold Archie Gray for £40m to Tottenham. Leeds have since sold five more players in the form of Diego Llorente, Marc Roca, Kris Klaesson and Charlie Cresswell – raking in around £60m in total. But more exits were always likely and Fabrizio Romano reported on Wednesday afternoon that West Ham had agreed personal terms with Summerville, and talks for a fee were ongoing with the Yorkshire side. Now, the story has moved on with multiple sources claiming a deal is done between Leeds and Angus Kinnear’s old club. The Dutchman is expected to sign a five-year at the London Stadium, until Jun...
Read more

Leeds United board break silence after transfer window with statement on upcoming Elland Road development — YEP 2/9/24

-
By Joe Donnohue Leeds United have confirmed supporters' commemorative stones at Elland Road's Centenary Square will be replaced free of charge in a bid to improve their longevity. Beginning next month, Leeds supporters' personalised stones will be replaced with exact replicas, courtesy of a new company, to ensure of a 'much better quality' installation. The work is expected to take around two months to complete. An official club statement confirmed 'three larger stones dedicated to former managers Don Revie, Howard Wilkinson and Marcelo Bielsa' will also be installed, 'similar to those located in Bremner Square', while additional space for supporters to purchase new stones has also been factored into the project. “The club have taken on board recent feedback from supporters on the stones at Centenary Square, and we are really happy that we can now announce that all of the stones will be replaced," chief executive Angus Kinnear confirmed,...
Read more

Leeds United transfer state of play as Whites knock back low bid and assert wing pair stance — YEP 3/7/24

-
By Graham Smyth Leeds United are not actively looking to cash in on Crysencio Summerville and Willy Gnonto and believe any further outgoing transfer business will be done on their terms. The Whites, who sold Archie Gray to Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday for £40m, expect that there will be continued interest in wing pair Summerville and Gnonto as the summer transfer window progresses. Summerville has been a target for Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion but their interest has not yet materialised into a bid. The Albion did, however, send a £30m proposal for Georginio Rutter, which Elland Road chiefs rejected. Rutter is not expected to try and force an exit this summer and appears settled at Leeds after a far more positive second season in English football. The sale of Gray has helped put Leeds into a position where they do not need to sell star players and can dictate any moves that do happen. Club sources say they are not actively looking to sell the likes of Summerville o...
Read more