Warnock loses out on striker
Yorkshire Post
Cresswell chooses Leeds over Blades to spark renewed banter between cohorts
Exclusive
THE WAR of words between former
comrades, Kevin Blackwell and Neil Warnock, intensified last night after Richard Cresswell agreed to join Leeds United ahead of Sheffield United.
The 27-year-old striker has agreed a four-year deal at Elland Road, subject to passing a medical at Thorp Arch today, after the fierce Yorkshire rivals both had £1m-plus bids accepted by Preston North End.
Warnock, who did receive some good news yesterday with Portsmouth's David Unsworth agreeing a three-year-deal at Bramall Lane, had been hoping to sign Cresswell as a replacement for Andy Gray, last season's top scorer recently having joined Sunderland for £1m.
However, the Blades manager had clearly become resigned to missing out on his preferred target over the weekend, suggesting after Saturday's 2-1 victory over Preston that the Bridlington-born striker was intent on joining Leeds.
At a press conference yesterday lunchtime to preview Leeds's Carling Cup meeting with Oldham Athletic, Blackwell had seemed keen to avoid becoming embroiled in a spat with his one-time mentor.
However, the United manager last night told the Yorkshire Post: "I would like to thank Neil Warnock for this one. I did not think I had a chance of getting Richard because I felt it was a fait accompli that he was going to Sheffield United.
"The first time we had any encouragement was on Saturday night when Neil said what he did after the Preston game. I started to get phone calls from the media soon after, which was the first time I knew Richard might want to come here.
"I felt it a strange thing for Neil to say and maybe he was trying to use us as a smokescreen to get the deal through. It was very strange because Neil continued to negotiate with Richard on Sunday.
"I had not even spoken to Richard at this point because we all thought the deal (with Blades) was done. I spoke to our chairman and it all went from there."
On his new £1.15m signing, he added: "The pre-season injury to Rob Hulse showed we needed physical cover as there was too much pressure on David Healy and Robbie Blake. Richard will give us that."
The former management duo fell out when Blackwell moved to Leeds in the summer of 2003 to become Peter Reid's assistant, ending a long association that stretched back to their time together at Scarborough in the Eighties. The Blades manager was upset to learn from a journalist that his assistant was leaving and both men revealed on the eve of last April's meeting between their two clubs at Elland Road that they now rarely speak.
Warnock said last night: "I would love to believe everything Kevin says but I take most of it with a pinch of salt. I was aware before the weekend that Leeds had definitely made an enquiry for the player. I am disappointed as I feel it would have been a good career move to come to Bramall Lane, but Leeds have given him a much higher basic salary than we offered. So, it is not a surprise.
"I have to say Ken Bates has done a wonderful job for Leeds United. They have now spent the best part of £4m on their strikers and I would expect that nothing short of automatic promotion will be Leeds's objective now.
"I do know though that spending money is not necessarily a guarantee of being successful. The consolation for me is that when we play Leeds, they can still only play 11 players on the field at any one time. I am trying to be successful without spending vast amounts of money and I am really looking forward to the challenge."
Cresswell started his career at York City before moving to Sheffield Wednesday for £950,000 in 1999. A spell at Leicester City was followed by a switch to Preston where his 21 goals last season helped Billy Davies's side reach the play-off final.
The arrival of Unsworth is a major boost for a Blades side second in the Championship with the 31-year-old able to operate in a number of positions. The Blades will pay a nominal fee to Pompey should the Blades win promotion to the Premiership.
JOY OF SIX
Six strikers who will be competing for places at Elland Road.
Rob Hulse: Must be automatic selection when fit.
Robbie Blake: Slow start, but still has key role to play.
David Healy: Clinical finisher when played up front.
Richard Cresswell: Will compete with Hulse for a starting role.
Ian Moore: Facing tough fight for place in attack.
Michael Ricketts: Exit seems best option for club and player.
Yorkshire Post
Cresswell chooses Leeds over Blades to spark renewed banter between cohorts
Exclusive
THE WAR of words between former
comrades, Kevin Blackwell and Neil Warnock, intensified last night after Richard Cresswell agreed to join Leeds United ahead of Sheffield United.The 27-year-old striker has agreed a four-year deal at Elland Road, subject to passing a medical at Thorp Arch today, after the fierce Yorkshire rivals both had £1m-plus bids accepted by Preston North End.
Warnock, who did receive some good news yesterday with Portsmouth's David Unsworth agreeing a three-year-deal at Bramall Lane, had been hoping to sign Cresswell as a replacement for Andy Gray, last season's top scorer recently having joined Sunderland for £1m.
However, the Blades manager had clearly become resigned to missing out on his preferred target over the weekend, suggesting after Saturday's 2-1 victory over Preston that the Bridlington-born striker was intent on joining Leeds.
At a press conference yesterday lunchtime to preview Leeds's Carling Cup meeting with Oldham Athletic, Blackwell had seemed keen to avoid becoming embroiled in a spat with his one-time mentor.
However, the United manager last night told the Yorkshire Post: "I would like to thank Neil Warnock for this one. I did not think I had a chance of getting Richard because I felt it was a fait accompli that he was going to Sheffield United.
"The first time we had any encouragement was on Saturday night when Neil said what he did after the Preston game. I started to get phone calls from the media soon after, which was the first time I knew Richard might want to come here.
"I felt it a strange thing for Neil to say and maybe he was trying to use us as a smokescreen to get the deal through. It was very strange because Neil continued to negotiate with Richard on Sunday.
"I had not even spoken to Richard at this point because we all thought the deal (with Blades) was done. I spoke to our chairman and it all went from there."
On his new £1.15m signing, he added: "The pre-season injury to Rob Hulse showed we needed physical cover as there was too much pressure on David Healy and Robbie Blake. Richard will give us that."
The former management duo fell out when Blackwell moved to Leeds in the summer of 2003 to become Peter Reid's assistant, ending a long association that stretched back to their time together at Scarborough in the Eighties. The Blades manager was upset to learn from a journalist that his assistant was leaving and both men revealed on the eve of last April's meeting between their two clubs at Elland Road that they now rarely speak.
Warnock said last night: "I would love to believe everything Kevin says but I take most of it with a pinch of salt. I was aware before the weekend that Leeds had definitely made an enquiry for the player. I am disappointed as I feel it would have been a good career move to come to Bramall Lane, but Leeds have given him a much higher basic salary than we offered. So, it is not a surprise.
"I have to say Ken Bates has done a wonderful job for Leeds United. They have now spent the best part of £4m on their strikers and I would expect that nothing short of automatic promotion will be Leeds's objective now.
"I do know though that spending money is not necessarily a guarantee of being successful. The consolation for me is that when we play Leeds, they can still only play 11 players on the field at any one time. I am trying to be successful without spending vast amounts of money and I am really looking forward to the challenge."
Cresswell started his career at York City before moving to Sheffield Wednesday for £950,000 in 1999. A spell at Leicester City was followed by a switch to Preston where his 21 goals last season helped Billy Davies's side reach the play-off final.
The arrival of Unsworth is a major boost for a Blades side second in the Championship with the 31-year-old able to operate in a number of positions. The Blades will pay a nominal fee to Pompey should the Blades win promotion to the Premiership.
JOY OF SIX
Six strikers who will be competing for places at Elland Road.
Rob Hulse: Must be automatic selection when fit.
Robbie Blake: Slow start, but still has key role to play.
David Healy: Clinical finisher when played up front.
Richard Cresswell: Will compete with Hulse for a starting role.
Ian Moore: Facing tough fight for place in attack.
Michael Ricketts: Exit seems best option for club and player.
