Moore shocked as axe falls
By Ian Appleyard
LEEDS United striker Ian Moore is 'devastated' after being told that he will not be staying at Elland Road next season.
With a battle for control of the club brewing behind the scenes, Leeds are locked in crucial talks with players as manager Dennis Wise attempts to rebuild from the rubble of relegation to League OneMoore is one of 10 out-of-contract players at Elland Road while another six are unlikely to be staying after reaching the end of loan deals.The former Nottingham Forest striker, who joined Leeds from Burnley two years ago, has scored only five goals in 65 appearances."I was devastated when I was told I wouldn't be here next season – I was hoping to play a part in helping the club get back up," he said. "I didn't have a good start when I first came to the club, but I think I've always had a good relationship with the fans"In my first full season I didn't really figure, but we got to the play-offs, which was a great achievement, and were unlucky to miss out. Last season, I got more of a chance, and five goals in 15 starts isn't the worst scoring record."Long-serving defender Gary Kelly has already been told that he will not be offered a new deal, veteran striker Tore Andre Flo is heading back to Norway and veteran goalkeeper Neil Sullivan is still awaiting confirmation of his release and is wanted by Doncaster Rovers.Defenders Robbie Elliott, Hayden Foxe, Matt Heath, Stephen Crainey, Rui Marques and Armando Sa are out of contract and in the process of resolving their futures.Loan players Radostin Kishishev, Michael Gray, Alan Thompson, Jemal Johnson and Casper Ankergen are not expected to return to Leeds and Wise also has to decide whether to offer a permanent deal to Reading goalkeeper Graham Stack.Leeds went into administration with debts of £35m last Friday after a winding-up order was served by the Inland Revenue, who are owed £5m in unpaid taxes.The business, with the administrators' approval, was swiftly bought by a new company, Leeds United Football Club Limited, of which chairman Ken Bates is a listed director.But the sale is still subject to approval by the club's creditors at a meeting later this month and also by the Football League, while other consortia are poised to ambush Bates's plans to resume control of the club.Administrators KPMG are expecting several parties keen on taking control at Elland Road to step up their bids before the weekend.However, joint-administrator Richard Fleming says no one has yet stepped forward with a firm offer showing proof of funds."We've had a number of approaches, but only from intermediaries acting on behalf of other people," he said. "I expect that to change though over the course of the next couple of days."A section of the club's supporters are dismayed that potential new owners do not appear to have had a chance to lodge their interest in buying the club.Leeds property entrepreneur Simon Morris has declared his intention to launch a takeover bid and it has also been reported that former West Ham chairman Terry Brown, a Dubai-based consortium headed by former Leeds manager Don Revie's son Duncan, and two separate Irish consortia are also
in the running.Fleming said: "The deal we have done is subject to the approval of creditors, but we know we already have the backing of a reasonable chunk because we have consulted them informally."If the creditors don't approve the transaction at the meeting, the natural route, of course, will be to talk to other people. In any event, we will be talking to people who have a valid interest."Leeds MP Colin Burgon, who has protested about the veil of secrecy under which he claims Bates has operated at Elland Road, has announced he will be writing to Sports Minister Richard Caborn about the need for transparency in the handling of the club's finances.Fleming said: "Make no mistake, this club was insolvent. The cash-flow showed it needed £10m straight away."It's pretty serious when the Inland Revenue issues a winding-up order –going into administration had to happen."
By Ian Appleyard
LEEDS United striker Ian Moore is 'devastated' after being told that he will not be staying at Elland Road next season.
With a battle for control of the club brewing behind the scenes, Leeds are locked in crucial talks with players as manager Dennis Wise attempts to rebuild from the rubble of relegation to League OneMoore is one of 10 out-of-contract players at Elland Road while another six are unlikely to be staying after reaching the end of loan deals.The former Nottingham Forest striker, who joined Leeds from Burnley two years ago, has scored only five goals in 65 appearances."I was devastated when I was told I wouldn't be here next season – I was hoping to play a part in helping the club get back up," he said. "I didn't have a good start when I first came to the club, but I think I've always had a good relationship with the fans"In my first full season I didn't really figure, but we got to the play-offs, which was a great achievement, and were unlucky to miss out. Last season, I got more of a chance, and five goals in 15 starts isn't the worst scoring record."Long-serving defender Gary Kelly has already been told that he will not be offered a new deal, veteran striker Tore Andre Flo is heading back to Norway and veteran goalkeeper Neil Sullivan is still awaiting confirmation of his release and is wanted by Doncaster Rovers.Defenders Robbie Elliott, Hayden Foxe, Matt Heath, Stephen Crainey, Rui Marques and Armando Sa are out of contract and in the process of resolving their futures.Loan players Radostin Kishishev, Michael Gray, Alan Thompson, Jemal Johnson and Casper Ankergen are not expected to return to Leeds and Wise also has to decide whether to offer a permanent deal to Reading goalkeeper Graham Stack.Leeds went into administration with debts of £35m last Friday after a winding-up order was served by the Inland Revenue, who are owed £5m in unpaid taxes.The business, with the administrators' approval, was swiftly bought by a new company, Leeds United Football Club Limited, of which chairman Ken Bates is a listed director.But the sale is still subject to approval by the club's creditors at a meeting later this month and also by the Football League, while other consortia are poised to ambush Bates's plans to resume control of the club.Administrators KPMG are expecting several parties keen on taking control at Elland Road to step up their bids before the weekend.However, joint-administrator Richard Fleming says no one has yet stepped forward with a firm offer showing proof of funds."We've had a number of approaches, but only from intermediaries acting on behalf of other people," he said. "I expect that to change though over the course of the next couple of days."A section of the club's supporters are dismayed that potential new owners do not appear to have had a chance to lodge their interest in buying the club.Leeds property entrepreneur Simon Morris has declared his intention to launch a takeover bid and it has also been reported that former West Ham chairman Terry Brown, a Dubai-based consortium headed by former Leeds manager Don Revie's son Duncan, and two separate Irish consortia are also
in the running.Fleming said: "The deal we have done is subject to the approval of creditors, but we know we already have the backing of a reasonable chunk because we have consulted them informally."If the creditors don't approve the transaction at the meeting, the natural route, of course, will be to talk to other people. In any event, we will be talking to people who have a valid interest."Leeds MP Colin Burgon, who has protested about the veil of secrecy under which he claims Bates has operated at Elland Road, has announced he will be writing to Sports Minister Richard Caborn about the need for transparency in the handling of the club's finances.Fleming said: "Make no mistake, this club was insolvent. The cash-flow showed it needed £10m straight away."It's pretty serious when the Inland Revenue issues a winding-up order –going into administration had to happen."