BBC 23/2/07
Taxpayers boost Leeds Utd coffers
Leeds United Football Club is to receive more than £33,000 of taxpayers' money this year to boost its finances.
The club, which is currently bottom of the Championship, has been granted "hardship relief" against its business rates by the city council.
It applied for help as it no longer received "parachute payments" given to clubs relegated from the Premiership.
The city council said it granted rate relief worth £33,625 because of the club's importance to the community.
The Elland Road business will benefit from a total business rate relief of £134,000 in 2006/2007 - the maximum allowed under European Union state aid regulations.
The relief is 75%-funded by central government and 25% by Leeds City Council, which equates to £33,625.
Leeds City Council leader Andrew Carter said: "There is an option to award relief from business rates to organisations which are important to the local community.
"Leeds United fulfilled all the requirements for this relief. It is a very unique and important amenity in this city.
"It attracts visitors and brings employment to the city and does a huge amount of work in promoting sporting activities among people of all ages, particularly with schools and children and young people.
"That is why we will continue to work with Elland Road to ensure it continues to play such an important role in this city's success now and in the future."
Leeds United chief executive Shaun Harvey said: "The club made the application as we no longer benefit from a parachute payment having been outside the Premiership for three seasons while still carrying the financial burden from those days.
"The club still has to make payments to a number of players who have not played for the club since it was relegated.
"Our application was approved on its individual merits based on the same criteria as many other businesses in the city who benefit from this type of relief."
Yorkshire Post 22/2/07
Relegation battle will go down to wire – Wise
By Richard Sutcliffe
DENNIS WISE insists the Championship relegation battle will go down "to the wire" despite his Leeds United missing a golden opportunity to move off the bottom of the table.
A frustrating goalless draw at home to QPR on Tuesday means the Elland Road club go into a tricky double-header away from home in the coming five days at promotion-chasing Wolves and Birmingham City in a perilous position.Two more defeats and the threat of a first ever relegation from the top two division will move ever closer, but Wise remains confident that his side can get out of trouble.The Leeds manager said: "We had our chances (against QPR) and hit the post a couple of times. We deserved to win the game. We made a couple of mistakes at the back when we gave them chances, but overall we dominated the game and should have taken three points."We had enough shots on goal, but unfortunately not enough were on target. A couple of deflections could have gone in, but fell nicely for their goalkeeper."I was disappointed with the result, obviously, because I felt we should have won. They were more pleased than us with the result. But I was pleased with the way the lads performed."Wise revealed after last month's win at Hull City that he had looked through the remaining fixtures and predicted where his side will pick up points. Tuesday's home game with struggling QPR represented a golden opportunity to claim all three points but it was not to be as Leeds were left frustrated by both Robbie Blake and
David Healy hitting the post in a goalless draw.Wise said: "I might have had the (QPR) game down as a three, yes. But we have to keep going. There is not much in it down there and it is going to go to the wire. A lot of different results will happen in the next few weeks. "We have to make sure we are out of it by the end of the season. I am pleased with what the lads gave me, they put the effort in. Unfortunately, it did not fall for us. I thought David Healy's shot was in. "This is not a team that is on the floor. We do not look like a team that is bottom of this league. If we did, I would be worried. But I am not seeing that. "We have to get to a certain amount of points. That is it, there is no point worrying about the other teams. I do not know what they will do over the coming weeks so there is no point trying to guess."Leeds were boosted by a season's best crowd of 29,953 against QPR after the club slashed ticket prices in order to drum up support. After attracting a crowd almost 10,000 up on their average, Leeds have extended the experiment to the Luton Town game on March 10 when adults will once again be able to gain admission for £15 and £25.Wise said: "I think the crowd was fantastic. Full credit to the fans for getting behind the players at the right times. I just hope they carry on coming. "This is a massive club and we need those fans. We need them on our side because it can help the situation. We want everyone mucking in."Everyone knew we would get close to 30,000 and that was a big boost for us. It created a good atmosphere, which is what we want. We need it lively."The fans could make the difference. The chairman is doing the same for Luton. It was lovely to get a good atmosphere."Leeds have a host of injury problems ahead of the trip to Molineux with Alan Thompson and Armando Sa both being forced out against QPR with injury.Wise said: "Thompson has pulled his calf and Sa has pulled his hamstring. We will have to wait and see how they are. "We will also have to be careful with Richard Cresswell and Healy. I am not sure if Cressy will be available for Saturday, we will have to wait and see. "We also have to be careful with David because of his arm. I slung them back in and they did okay. The more they play together, the better they will be."On Neil Sullivan's exit on loan to Doncaster Rovers, Wise said: "I spoke to Neil and told him I would not be renewing his contract (this summer). He had the chance to go to Doncaster and went. I wish him well."
Daily Mail 20/2/07
Camp holds strong
By PETER FERGUSON
Leeds 0 QPR 0
Leeds' bid to haul themselves off the foot of the Championship table fell as flat as a pancake despite the return of their stay away fans to Elland Road in Dennis Wise’s hour of need.
On a night for nostalgia rather than a carnival atmosphere, frustrated Leeds had little to celebrate as John Gregory’s fellow strugglers — especially goalkeeper Lee Camp — did their utmost to spoil the party.
Leeds pulled in easily their biggest crowd of the season by dropping their prices to tempt 29,593 to Elland Road having doubtless set their videos for Life on Mars, the BBC drama in which the hero wakes up in 1973.
Plenty of them would settle for joining time warp detective Sam Tyler, for, in the wake of an FA Cup Final defeat, Leeds launched a League title campaign that year which steamrollered their rivals aside.
Instead, the fans were offered a graphic reminder of just how far their heroes had fallen in the last few years.
The giant screen marked today’s sixth anniversary of Leeds’ 4-1 win over Anderlecht during the remarkable Champions League campaign that took David O’Leary’s side to the semi-finals.
And the sight of departed strikers Alan Smith and Mark Viduka dismantling the best home record on continental Europe — 17 straight wins — seemed to lift the fans who have suffered such recent upheaval.
Rangers, in almost as much trouble as Leeds near the foot of the table, needed the points just as badly with Joe Kinnear said to be the manager in waiting should chairman Gianni Paladini lose his nerve.
Leeds, with three up front, had Alan Thompson back from injury and a simple directive from manager Wise: win the remaining seven home games and Leeds will be in the Coca-Cola Championship next season.
The home side almost fell behind 13 minutes into their quest for safety when centre half Matt Heath’s mistake let in Dexter Blackstock, but Casper Ankergren saved. Barely a minute later the crowd were on their feet as David Healy, playing in his favoured central role, connected with Eddie Lewis’s powerful cross but his volley flew wide.
The Leeds cause was not helped when the experienced Thompson, who has struggled with a calf injury, was helped off after half an hour to be replaced by 18-year-old attacking midfielder Jonny Howson.
Rangers looked more composed once they had survived Leeds’ early flurry. But Healy lifted their mood once more after 38 minutes with a superb glancing header from Robbie Blake’s free kick that drew a magnificent onehanded save from Lee Camp.
Blake came close again just before half time and Healy had another chance to put Leeds ahead straight after the break, only for Camp to save his angled drive with an outstretched leg.
Taxpayers boost Leeds Utd coffers
Leeds United Football Club is to receive more than £33,000 of taxpayers' money this year to boost its finances.
The club, which is currently bottom of the Championship, has been granted "hardship relief" against its business rates by the city council.
It applied for help as it no longer received "parachute payments" given to clubs relegated from the Premiership.
The city council said it granted rate relief worth £33,625 because of the club's importance to the community.
The Elland Road business will benefit from a total business rate relief of £134,000 in 2006/2007 - the maximum allowed under European Union state aid regulations.
The relief is 75%-funded by central government and 25% by Leeds City Council, which equates to £33,625.
Leeds City Council leader Andrew Carter said: "There is an option to award relief from business rates to organisations which are important to the local community.
"Leeds United fulfilled all the requirements for this relief. It is a very unique and important amenity in this city.
"It attracts visitors and brings employment to the city and does a huge amount of work in promoting sporting activities among people of all ages, particularly with schools and children and young people.
"That is why we will continue to work with Elland Road to ensure it continues to play such an important role in this city's success now and in the future."
Leeds United chief executive Shaun Harvey said: "The club made the application as we no longer benefit from a parachute payment having been outside the Premiership for three seasons while still carrying the financial burden from those days.
"The club still has to make payments to a number of players who have not played for the club since it was relegated.
"Our application was approved on its individual merits based on the same criteria as many other businesses in the city who benefit from this type of relief."
Yorkshire Post 22/2/07
Relegation battle will go down to wire – Wise
By Richard Sutcliffe
DENNIS WISE insists the Championship relegation battle will go down "to the wire" despite his Leeds United missing a golden opportunity to move off the bottom of the table.
A frustrating goalless draw at home to QPR on Tuesday means the Elland Road club go into a tricky double-header away from home in the coming five days at promotion-chasing Wolves and Birmingham City in a perilous position.Two more defeats and the threat of a first ever relegation from the top two division will move ever closer, but Wise remains confident that his side can get out of trouble.The Leeds manager said: "We had our chances (against QPR) and hit the post a couple of times. We deserved to win the game. We made a couple of mistakes at the back when we gave them chances, but overall we dominated the game and should have taken three points."We had enough shots on goal, but unfortunately not enough were on target. A couple of deflections could have gone in, but fell nicely for their goalkeeper."I was disappointed with the result, obviously, because I felt we should have won. They were more pleased than us with the result. But I was pleased with the way the lads performed."Wise revealed after last month's win at Hull City that he had looked through the remaining fixtures and predicted where his side will pick up points. Tuesday's home game with struggling QPR represented a golden opportunity to claim all three points but it was not to be as Leeds were left frustrated by both Robbie Blake and
David Healy hitting the post in a goalless draw.Wise said: "I might have had the (QPR) game down as a three, yes. But we have to keep going. There is not much in it down there and it is going to go to the wire. A lot of different results will happen in the next few weeks. "We have to make sure we are out of it by the end of the season. I am pleased with what the lads gave me, they put the effort in. Unfortunately, it did not fall for us. I thought David Healy's shot was in. "This is not a team that is on the floor. We do not look like a team that is bottom of this league. If we did, I would be worried. But I am not seeing that. "We have to get to a certain amount of points. That is it, there is no point worrying about the other teams. I do not know what they will do over the coming weeks so there is no point trying to guess."Leeds were boosted by a season's best crowd of 29,953 against QPR after the club slashed ticket prices in order to drum up support. After attracting a crowd almost 10,000 up on their average, Leeds have extended the experiment to the Luton Town game on March 10 when adults will once again be able to gain admission for £15 and £25.Wise said: "I think the crowd was fantastic. Full credit to the fans for getting behind the players at the right times. I just hope they carry on coming. "This is a massive club and we need those fans. We need them on our side because it can help the situation. We want everyone mucking in."Everyone knew we would get close to 30,000 and that was a big boost for us. It created a good atmosphere, which is what we want. We need it lively."The fans could make the difference. The chairman is doing the same for Luton. It was lovely to get a good atmosphere."Leeds have a host of injury problems ahead of the trip to Molineux with Alan Thompson and Armando Sa both being forced out against QPR with injury.Wise said: "Thompson has pulled his calf and Sa has pulled his hamstring. We will have to wait and see how they are. "We will also have to be careful with Richard Cresswell and Healy. I am not sure if Cressy will be available for Saturday, we will have to wait and see. "We also have to be careful with David because of his arm. I slung them back in and they did okay. The more they play together, the better they will be."On Neil Sullivan's exit on loan to Doncaster Rovers, Wise said: "I spoke to Neil and told him I would not be renewing his contract (this summer). He had the chance to go to Doncaster and went. I wish him well."
Daily Mail 20/2/07
Camp holds strong
By PETER FERGUSON
Leeds 0 QPR 0
Leeds' bid to haul themselves off the foot of the Championship table fell as flat as a pancake despite the return of their stay away fans to Elland Road in Dennis Wise’s hour of need.
On a night for nostalgia rather than a carnival atmosphere, frustrated Leeds had little to celebrate as John Gregory’s fellow strugglers — especially goalkeeper Lee Camp — did their utmost to spoil the party.
Leeds pulled in easily their biggest crowd of the season by dropping their prices to tempt 29,593 to Elland Road having doubtless set their videos for Life on Mars, the BBC drama in which the hero wakes up in 1973.
Plenty of them would settle for joining time warp detective Sam Tyler, for, in the wake of an FA Cup Final defeat, Leeds launched a League title campaign that year which steamrollered their rivals aside.
Instead, the fans were offered a graphic reminder of just how far their heroes had fallen in the last few years.
The giant screen marked today’s sixth anniversary of Leeds’ 4-1 win over Anderlecht during the remarkable Champions League campaign that took David O’Leary’s side to the semi-finals.
And the sight of departed strikers Alan Smith and Mark Viduka dismantling the best home record on continental Europe — 17 straight wins — seemed to lift the fans who have suffered such recent upheaval.
Rangers, in almost as much trouble as Leeds near the foot of the table, needed the points just as badly with Joe Kinnear said to be the manager in waiting should chairman Gianni Paladini lose his nerve.
Leeds, with three up front, had Alan Thompson back from injury and a simple directive from manager Wise: win the remaining seven home games and Leeds will be in the Coca-Cola Championship next season.
The home side almost fell behind 13 minutes into their quest for safety when centre half Matt Heath’s mistake let in Dexter Blackstock, but Casper Ankergren saved. Barely a minute later the crowd were on their feet as David Healy, playing in his favoured central role, connected with Eddie Lewis’s powerful cross but his volley flew wide.
The Leeds cause was not helped when the experienced Thompson, who has struggled with a calf injury, was helped off after half an hour to be replaced by 18-year-old attacking midfielder Jonny Howson.
Rangers looked more composed once they had survived Leeds’ early flurry. But Healy lifted their mood once more after 38 minutes with a superb glancing header from Robbie Blake’s free kick that drew a magnificent onehanded save from Lee Camp.
Blake came close again just before half time and Healy had another chance to put Leeds ahead straight after the break, only for Camp to save his angled drive with an outstretched leg.