Leedsunited.com 15/12/07 JUST REWARDS WALSALL 1 (Mooney 75), LEEDS UNITED 1 (Westlake 90) United boss Dennis Wise was forced into making one change from the side which thrashed Huddersfield last weekend, with Leon Constantine making his first league start in place of the suspended Tresor Kandol. Walsall included former United striker Michael Ricketts in their starting line-up. Once again Wise's men trotted out in front of a full-house, and it was the home fans who were almost celebrating after just eight minutes. Mark Bradley's attempted long-distance chip of Casper Ankergren came back off the bar, but former Birmingham marksman Tommy Mooney was in an offside position when he rifled home the rebound. United's early opportunities came courtesy of David Prutton and Jonathan Douglas, with both firing over the top from distance. Douglas also had a free-kick blocked after Ian Westlake was fouled on the edge of the area. But the home side were also a threat going forward and Fraz...
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Yorkshire Post 10/12/07 Ken Bates plans two hotels at Elland Road LEEDS United chairman Ken Bates plans to transform the club's Elland Road ground with an ambitious scheme that includes two hotels, a shopping centre and a health club. The hotels, a budget proposition and a four-star offering, would be built in an L shape on the site currently occupied by a souvenir shop. The development would also include food outlets and a Leeds United museum. Details of the plan were announced by Mr Bates in the match programme for United's derby game against Huddersfield Town on Saturday. He said the hotels would strengthen the club's conference and banqueting (C&B) business, and added: "I believe that the income from an enlarged C&B market would enable us to buy a quality player every year!" So far no start date for the development has been announced.Mr Bates says his plans complement those of Leeds City Council, which owns much of the land surrounding the ground. In ...
Yorkshire Evening Post 8/12/07 Leeds United reign on Billy's day By Phil Hay Leeds United 4 Huddersfield Town 0 IT was Billy Bremner's day at Elland Road yesterday, and it therefore stood to reason that it should be Leeds United's as well. On the weekend of the 10th anniversary of Bremner's passing, a capacity crowd acknowledged the legend born in Scotland but bred in the heart of Leeds in the way that modern day football knows best, with a simple and heartfelt round of applause. The tribute honoured a man of unique talent and personality, and one who is virtually peerless around Elland Road. The city of Leeds vowed never to forget, and has held rigidly to that promise. It was, however, with an impeccable sense of occasion that yesterday's West Yorkshire derby against Huddersfield Town was settled in United's favour with the help of a midfielder carrying Bremner's iconic number four on his back. A first-half goal from Jonathan Douglas – the modern-day holder...
Yorkshire Post 30/11/07 Shepherd eyes investment in Leeds United By Richard Sutcliffe EXCLUSIVE: Freddy Shepherd wants to buy a one-third share in Leeds United, the Yorkshire Post can reveal. The former Newcastle United chairman is understood to have been in talks with the Elland Road hierarchy for a couple of months over acquiring a minority shareholding. It is by no means a done deal, however, with several other would-be investors believed to have been in touch with chairman Ken Bates since the club exited administration during the summer. Under the proposal by Shepherd, Bates would remain in control with the deal taking the form of an investment as opposed to an outright takeover. This would fit in with the 75-year-old's intention to remain as chairman. Bates has made no secret of his desire to attract investors to the club and is known to have had lunch with Shepherd in September. He has been at pains to point out that the club is not for sale and used his programme notes for t...
Leeds United: Let High Court rule on points penalty By Phil Hay LEEDS United have challenged the Football Association to allow the High Court to decide on the club's challenge against their 15-point deduction. United dispatched a letter to Soho Square yesterday requesting a legal review of their case after expressing fresh concerns about the independence of senior officials at the FA.The demand was in the wake of the FA's promise of a "root and branch" review of the workings of the governing body after the sacking of England coach Steve McClaren on Thursday. United chairman Ken Bates has made two previous applications to the FA, one directly to chairman Geoff Thompson, pleading for an assessment of the process which saw Leeds deducted 15 points by the Football League in August. An independent commission rejected United's original grievance, and Bates claims his second approach to Thompson – highlighting perceived inconsistencies in the FA's first decision – wa...
Daily Mail 9/11/07 Casper to the rescue for Leeds By RAY MATTS The clock was turned back 35 years at Hereford's Edgar Street ground last night. The compact stadium next to the cattle market was full to the rafters for an FA Cup tie, a big name club from the North were in town and local legends Ronnie Radford and Ricky George were on the tips of tongues. The talk was of giant-killing. That may now have to wait until the replay at Elland Road on Tuesday week. The opposition were more fallen giants than the mighty Newcastle outfit in 1972, but Leeds had a big enough reputation to send a shiver of expectancy down the spines of fans of the League Two minnows. The fact that the Yorkshire club are now just one rung above them in the league gave Graham Turner's in-form side the belief that they could cause an upset and Hereford tried manfully enough in the first half to deliver the goal which they suspected would put Leeds on tenterhooks. The likes of seven-goal Trevor Benjamin and six...
Yorkshire Evening Post 31/10/07 Dave Bassett bound for Leeds United By Phil Hay DAVE BASSETT was today on the brink of becoming Leeds United's new assistant manager. The 63-year-old has been identified as Leeds' first-choice replacement for Gustavo Poyet, and United were working today to reach a deal which would bring Bassett to Elland Road for the rest of this season. Dennis Wise had other alternatives available to him - notably Ray Wilkins, his managerial colleague at Millwall - but he has turned instead to the man who launched his playing career at Wimbledon back in 1985. Ex-Wimbledon boss Bassett signed Wise from Southampton when the midfielder was 18 years of age, and a five-year stint at Plough Lane was the making of Wise, who went on to join Chelsea for £1.6million in 1990. Bassett also worked with Wise at Leicester six years ago, and the pair were reunited briefly as joint-caretakers of Southampton in 2005 following Harry Redknapp's exit from St Mary's. They are...
Sunday Times 28/10/07 Leeds take it easy Leeds 4 Millwall 2 Richard Rae at Elland Road Gus Poyet may be leaving - the Uruguyan is expected to accept the post of assistant to Juande Ramos at Spurs tomorrow - but Leeds march on. Dennis Wise cut an isolated figure without his long-standing side-kick, but the United boss celebrated a year in charge by overseeing his team’s 11th win in 13 games; incredibly, given the 15-point handicap under which they began the season, it took them into a playoff position. Yet Millwall almost punctured the bubble of anniversary good-will within five minutes of the start. Will Hoskins and Gary Alexander exchanged passes in the penalty area before Hoskins lifted the ball over Casper Ankergren and into the United net, only to see the linesman flagging for offside. Jamie O’Hara headed Ahmet Brkovic’s cross over the bar, and Brkovic himself saw a deflected shot spin wide of the post as the visitors, initially, looked the more dangerous team. As the half drew on,...
Leedsunited.com 27/10/07 TOP SIX! United boss Dennis Wise was dealt an injury blow ahead of the game when loan signing Radostin Kishishev suffered a muscle strain during the final moments of Friday's training session, and was ruled out. Ian Westlake joined Jonathan Douglas at the centre of the midfield. Wise was also joined by skipper Alan Thompson in the dug-out with assistant boss Gus Poyet not attending the game, following media speculation linking him with Tottenham Hotspur. It was the visitors who actually had the ball in the net, though, with a disallowed effort in the third minute. Will Hoskins finished off a neat passing move, but the former Rotherham striker had strayed into an offside position. Hoskins also skied a header over the top after Ahmet Brkovic delivered a cross from the right. But the United response was immediate and Jermaine Beckford sent a shot inches wide after escaping the clutches of a Millwall defender. Beckford also did well to win a corner after a Tres...
Yorkshire Evening Post 26/10/07 Poyet: 'I haven't spoken to anyone' By Phil Hay Gus Poyet has spoken out as Tottenham Hotspur were today preparing to move for the Leeds United assistant manager. The Uruguayan is Spurs' first choice to fill the role of assistant manager at White Hart Lane following the sacking of boss Martin Jol and first-team coach Chris Hughton. The former Uruguay international, who played for Tottenham between 2001 and 2004, is quoted on BBC Sport saying: "Everybody is calling me and sending me texts about it but I don't know anything. I haven't spoken to anyone. "I don't know if something has gone on between the clubs. I don't have a clue." Jol and Hughton were dismissed last night and Tottenham were today working to secure Sevilla coach Juande Ramos and United's Poyet as their replacement management team. United were still waiting for an official approach this morning but club chief executive Shaun Harvey said: ...
Yorkshire Post 24/10/07 Kishishev returns for second loan spell at Leeds By Richard Sutcliffe RADOSTIN KISHISHEV has returned to Leeds United on loan. The 33-year-old Leicester City midfielder has joined Leeds on an initial one-month loan deal after falling out of favour at the Walkers Stadium. Kishishev's return is a huge coup for Leeds manager Dennis Wise, who today celebrates one year in charge at Elland Road, with injuries troubling several of his midfielders. Alan Thompson and Andrew Hughes are among those who are doubtful for Saturday's meeting with Millwall and Kishishev could go straight into the side. The Bulgarian international spent the final two months on loan at Elland Road from Charlton Athletic last season and made a huge impression despite United being relegated. United wanted to sign the midfielder in the summer, but the lure of Championship football proved too great. Martin Allen's replacement by Gary Megson has, however, left Kishishev out of favour at th...