Leedsunited.com 27/1/07 BRENDAN'S BACKING Former United skipper Brendan Ormsby has sounded the rallying call as we enter the final lap of the Championship season. Dennis Wise's men travel to Hull City on Tuesday night for a crunch showdown before facing a clashes with Norwich, Crystal Palace, Cardiff City and Queens Park Rangers. United are currently six points adrift of Championship safety with 18 games remaining, but Brendan, who made 56 appearances during a four-year spell with the club, firmly believes that gap will close in the coming weeks. "I think we will get out of where we are," said the former skipper, who is still a regular at Elland Road. "I didn't believe we would get relegated from the Premiership until it actually happened at Bolton, but I'm more confident we will get out of where we are this time. "Dennis and Gus will turn things around. The players seem to enjoy working for them and training, and they'll do what it takes. "...
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Yorkshire Today 20/1/07 Leeds's past blunders to cost £20m But Bates reveals Wise is chasing three more signings Exclusive KEN BATES has revealed for the first time the price Leeds United have had to pay during his two-year tenure for mistakes by previous regimes – a staggering £15.8m. The 75-year-old will tomorrow celebrate his second anniversary of taking charge at Elland Road and admits it has been a "bigger job than I thought". Bates's major problem has been contending with the legacy of the Peter Ridsdale era when expensive signings were placed on lucrative long-term contracts, which United were subsequently unable to sustain once relegated from the Premiership in 2004. A fire-sale of star names then took place with many on such good contracts that they had to be offered inducements to leave, the likes of Robbie Fowler, Danny Mills, Seth Johnson and Nick Barmby all eventually being paid to play for other clubs.Speaking exclusively to the Yorkshire Post ahead of h...
Yorkshire Evening Post 18/1/07 Forward move or backward step? by Phil Hay At some stage on Sunday, Ken Bates might treat himself to a glass of Pouilly Fume, the favourite tipple of Leeds United's chairman if his programme notes are anything to go by. The toast will hopefully be a valuable win over West Bromwich Albion, but Bates may also make time to raise a goblet to the second anniversary of his stewardship at Elland Road. With the remainder of this season carrying so much significance for the future strength and stature of the club he owns, there is no better time for measured reflection.The 24 months since Bates and his consortium, the Forward Sports Fund, completed their takeover of Leeds in the early hours of January 21, 2005, have sailed by in an eventful flash. Three managers, one off-field battle with Chelsea, a play-off final and now a concerted flirt with relegation. If Bates ever decides to compile a diary of his reign, his publishers will not be short of content. To Un...
Healy linked with Sheff Utd move Northern Ireland striker David Healy has emerged as a possible transfer target for Sheffield United. The Premiership side could turn their sights to Healy after an unsuccessful attempt to sign Preston's David Nugent. Sheffield boss Neil Warnock has signed three players from Leeds since the Blades won promotion last year. It is believed Warnock could approach the Elland Road club again with a bid for 27-year-old Healy, who joined Leeds from Preston in October 2004. Sky 9/1/07 Simpson denies Dichio links By Simon Fudge Preston North End boss Paul Simpson has dismissed reports linking striker Danny Dichio with moves to either Leeds United or Stoke City. The 32-year-old has been a regular part of Simpson's plans this season, as The Lilywhites go in search of promotion to the Premiership. Despite suggestions that Leeds and Stoke have come in for the much-travelled goalscorer this month, former Rochdale and Carlisle United player-manager Simpson denie...
BBC 8/1/07 Blades sign Kilgallon from Leeds Sheffield United have bought 23-year-old defender Matthew Kilgallon from Leeds United for £1.75m. The England Under-21 international has signed a three-and-half year contract in a deal which could increase to £2m. "Playing in the Premiership is what I've always wanted to do." Kilgallon told BBC Radio Sheffield. While Blades boss Neil Warnock said: "We offered more in the summer, so it's a good piece of business. Sometimes you are rewarded for patience." Kilgallon was a product of the Leeds United Academy and played 95 times for the Elland Road outfit and also had a loan spell at West Ham. And the defender added: "This is a big opportunity for me in the Premiership. I'm here now and I'm really excited about it. "I've played well in the Championship, but now this is a step up, so I have got to prove myself. "I played a few games in the Premiership when I was younger and I did OK, but now I ...
Leedsunited.com 5/1/07 GREGAN GOES United announced today that the contract of defender Sean Gregan has been cancelled by mutual consent. The 32-year-old defender, who recently completed a loan spell with Oldham Athletic, had been told by manager Dennis Wise that he did not figure in his future plans for the Elland Road club. Gregan, who joined United from West Bromwich Albion two years ago, made only two first team appearances for United this season before going out on loan but was a regular in Kevin Blackwell's United side last season. A club spokesman said: "We would like to express our thanks to him for the contribution he has made since joining us from West Bromwich Albion when he helped to stabilise the position after our relegation from the Premier League. "We wish him every success in the future," he added. Guardian 5/1/07 Leeds poised to buy back Elland Road for £12m in the summer Matt Scott Friday January 5, 2007 The Guardian Leeds United are to take up the...
Sky 3/1/07 Wise pounces for Sa By James Pearson Leeds United's rebuilding plans are set to continue with the impending arrival of Portuguese international defender Armando Sa. Dennis Wise has been a busy manager since the opening of the transfer window after bringing in Robbie Elliott and securing Matt Heath for the remainder of the season. As revealed by skysports.com last month, Sa will now join Leeds from Liga outfit Espanyol subject to international clearance. The 32-year-old stopper, who has been capped 16 times by his country, has a wealth of experience to his name after playing for the likes of Benfica and Villarreal. In addition, Wise has moved to inform Portuguese defender Rui Marques that he still has a future at the club. The Angola international has spent over a year in the wilderness but made a surprise comeback against Coventry on New Year's Day and impressed Wise. He told the club's official website: "I was pleased with Rui because we had a long chat ab...
Times 2/1/07 Leeds still in trouble despite welcome win MATT DICKINSON Our columnist on Ken Bates’s battle to stop Yorkshire club sinking to a new low “Big win, that,” one man said to his friend as they hurried away from Elland Road yesterday, and a big win it was. They all are when you are in Leeds United’s dire straits. All you need to know about their predicament was summed up as Dennis Wise and Gustavo Poyet, manager and assistant, threatened to squeeze the life out of each other, so tight was their embrace at the final whistle. The cause of this delight was a 2-1 win over Coventry City, one achieved with no little anxiety and that still left Leeds second from bottom in the Coca-Cola Championship. It was a first victory in eight league matches. The outpouring of joy must be set against a grim context. Sensibly, Wise resisted any temptation to hail this win as a turning point in Leeds’s fortunes. Ken Bates, his boss, has been peddling hope to the Yorkshire public ever since he took ...