BLACKWELL AGREES NEW DEAL
Sporting Life
Kevin Blackwell will start making longer-term plans for Leeds now his own future is assured after signing a new three-year contract.
The former Sheffield United coach, who arrived at Elland Road as number two to Peter Reid in June 2003 before taking sole charge 12 months later, put pen to paper on the deal at a meeting with chairman Ken Bates in Monaco.
Former Plymouth goalkeeper Blackwell has steered the West Yorkshire side into the Coca-Cola Championship play-offs and following a run of four wins and two draws has seen his side close the gap on second-placed Sheffield United to six points with a game in hand.
Bates announced ex-goalkeepers did not make good managers shortly after taking control at Elland Road in January 2005, but the former Chelsea supremo is now convinced Blackwell is the man to take Leeds forward.
"I'm delighted. I feel the club is only at the start of something good," said Blackwell, whose initial two-year contract expires this summer.
"I'm positive we can go on and achieve good things."
Not only is the new deal a just reward for guiding Leeds to within touching distance of a return to the Premiership two seasons after being relegated with debts of over £100m, it ends speculation over Blackwell's future.
Derby and Leicester were both reported to be interested in recent months, as were former club Sheffield United when boss Neil Warnock was linked with the Portsmouth job.
"The other interest has been flattering, but there is nowhere else I'd rather be than Leeds United.
"I'm happy at this football club. It's a great place to be and it's a great honour to be manager here.
"I can look to the future now and we can make plans - but my immediate focus is on getting Leeds out of the Championship and back where we belong, in the Premiership."
When Blackwell, United's fifth manager in two years, took over from the sacked Reid he oversaw a massive turnaround of players as the club lurched towards administration.
But he succeeded in halting the slide, kept Leeds in the Championship and, as Bates stabilised matters off the field, very quickly assembled a side now challenging for automatic promotion.
Bates is convinced he has retained one of English football's shining lights.
"I'm a big believer that if it ain't broke you don't mend it," Bates told the Yorkshire Evening Post.
"Kevin wasn't going to be allowed to go anywhere else."
Bates' timing in rewarding Blackwell could give Leeds even more impetus as they close the gap on rivals Sheffield United and silences the whispers he was waiting to see how the manager had fared at the end of the season.
"I wouldn't have signed this if it wasn't for Ken Bates," added Blackwell.
"A lot of people were quick to write us off in terms of working together, but I really feel I'm part of the future at Leeds now.
"I never spoke to the chairman about a new contract. He said he would do something when he felt the time was right and I took him at his word."
Leeds effectively ended the automatic promotion hopes of Crystal Palace with a 2-1 win at Selhurst Park on Saturday.Following Sheffield United's goalless draw with bottom club Crewe on Friday, Blackwell's side cut the gap on second spot to six points with a game in hand with a visit to Bramall Lane on April 17 still to come.
Sporting Life
Kevin Blackwell will start making longer-term plans for Leeds now his own future is assured after signing a new three-year contract.
The former Sheffield United coach, who arrived at Elland Road as number two to Peter Reid in June 2003 before taking sole charge 12 months later, put pen to paper on the deal at a meeting with chairman Ken Bates in Monaco.
Former Plymouth goalkeeper Blackwell has steered the West Yorkshire side into the Coca-Cola Championship play-offs and following a run of four wins and two draws has seen his side close the gap on second-placed Sheffield United to six points with a game in hand.
Bates announced ex-goalkeepers did not make good managers shortly after taking control at Elland Road in January 2005, but the former Chelsea supremo is now convinced Blackwell is the man to take Leeds forward.
"I'm delighted. I feel the club is only at the start of something good," said Blackwell, whose initial two-year contract expires this summer.
"I'm positive we can go on and achieve good things."
Not only is the new deal a just reward for guiding Leeds to within touching distance of a return to the Premiership two seasons after being relegated with debts of over £100m, it ends speculation over Blackwell's future.
Derby and Leicester were both reported to be interested in recent months, as were former club Sheffield United when boss Neil Warnock was linked with the Portsmouth job.
"The other interest has been flattering, but there is nowhere else I'd rather be than Leeds United.
"I'm happy at this football club. It's a great place to be and it's a great honour to be manager here.
"I can look to the future now and we can make plans - but my immediate focus is on getting Leeds out of the Championship and back where we belong, in the Premiership."
When Blackwell, United's fifth manager in two years, took over from the sacked Reid he oversaw a massive turnaround of players as the club lurched towards administration.
But he succeeded in halting the slide, kept Leeds in the Championship and, as Bates stabilised matters off the field, very quickly assembled a side now challenging for automatic promotion.
Bates is convinced he has retained one of English football's shining lights.
"I'm a big believer that if it ain't broke you don't mend it," Bates told the Yorkshire Evening Post.
"Kevin wasn't going to be allowed to go anywhere else."
Bates' timing in rewarding Blackwell could give Leeds even more impetus as they close the gap on rivals Sheffield United and silences the whispers he was waiting to see how the manager had fared at the end of the season.
"I wouldn't have signed this if it wasn't for Ken Bates," added Blackwell.
"A lot of people were quick to write us off in terms of working together, but I really feel I'm part of the future at Leeds now.
"I never spoke to the chairman about a new contract. He said he would do something when he felt the time was right and I took him at his word."
Leeds effectively ended the automatic promotion hopes of Crystal Palace with a 2-1 win at Selhurst Park on Saturday.Following Sheffield United's goalless draw with bottom club Crewe on Friday, Blackwell's side cut the gap on second spot to six points with a game in hand with a visit to Bramall Lane on April 17 still to come.
