Leedsunited.com 7/8/07
JOY OF SIX
Six more players have agreed contracts on a busy day for United manager Dennis Wise.
Dave Prutton and Rui Marques became the latest senior players to pen deals with the club on Tuesday.
Rui has signed an initial one-year deal after returning to the club for pre-season training while former Nottingham Forest and Southampton midfielder Dave has also put pen to paper.
The 25-year-old Dave joined the club on a trial basis in July after leaving Southampton and has made over 300 senior appearances.
In addition, four of the young players have agreed to new one-year deals, taking the tally to 10 new signed contracts since Monday evening.
Tomi Ameobi, Scott Gardner, Ben Parker and Gavin Rothery are the young players who have signed.
Scott and Ben have featured regularly in pre-season with the senior squad while both Tomi and Gavin were on duty against Guiseley on Monday night.
Matt Heath, Curtis Weston, Leon Constantine and Casper Ankergren are the other players who have signed since the start of the week.
Yorkshire Evening Post 7/8/07
Leeds United make triple signing
By Phil Hay
Exclusive
LEEDS boss Dennis Wise today completed the signings of Leon Constantine, Curtis Weston and Matt Heath.
The trio have become the first of Wise's trialists to secure permanent contracts with United, agreeing two-year deals at Elland Road.The signings comes less than 24 hours after the club announced the return to Yorkshire of goalkeeper Casper Ankergren.
Ankergren accepted a three-year deal with Leeds yesterday afternoon, arriving from Brondby for an undisclosed fee.
The Dane finished last season on loan at Elland Road and United negotiated an option with Brondby to sign Ankergren permanently as part of the original loan deal.
Leeds were prevented from taking up the option, however, until their transfer embargo was lifted by the Football League last week.
Ankergren remained in Denmark for much of the summer and missed most of United's pre-season schedule, but he made a 45-minute appearance last night as a young Leeds side rounded off the club's warm-up for the new campaign with a 2-0 defeat at Guiseley.
Constantine was missing from Leeds' squad at Nethermoor with an ankle injury and has not played for United since their friendly against Czech side FC Slovan Liberec on July 21, but he finalised a free transfer to Elland Road this morning.
The news was quickly followed by the announcement that former Swindon and Millwall midfielder Weston and ex-Coventry centre-back Heath have also committed themselves to United for the next two seasons.
Weston played under Wise at both of his previous clubs, while Heath accepted a new contract after his short-term deal with Leeds expired in June. The defender is currently nursing a minor injury and missed Saturday's friendly against Wigan Athletic.
Constantine scored 26 times for Port Vale last season but left Vale Park at the end of the term and has been on trial with Leeds throughout the summer. The sale of David Healy, Robbie Blake and Richard Cresswell has left Wise's squad short of experienced strikers.
But Constantine's injury is expected to rule him out of Saturday's clash at Tranmere Rovers, the first fixture of United's 2007-08 League One campaign.
The forward was hurt during the second half of Leeds' friendly in the Czech Republic and could miss the first fortnight of the term. The condition of Norwegian striker Tore Andre Flo, who has been recovering from a fractured foot, is also unclear after he failed to appear in United's squad against Guiseley last night. Wise is still intent on tying Flo to a fresh deal.
The signing of Ankergren yesterday signalled the first arrival of the summer at Elland Road just five days before the start of the new term, an indication of the extreme pressure on Wise.
Today's deals should be quickly followed a stream of further signings, and Alan Thompson, David Prutton and Manuel Rui Marques are all poised to agree terms. Matt Heath also looks likely to be handed a fresh deal, despite missing Saturday's defeat to Wigan through injury.
Wise, meanwhile, has revealed that confirmation of Thompson's contract will see the former Celtic midfielder appointed as United's captain for next season.
Thompson has held the armband during much of the pre-season campaign and will be a key influence in United's midfield.
The 33-year-old suffered hamstring and calf problems last season but has emerged from this summer with no concerns over his fitness.
Yorkshire Evening Post 7/8/07
Leeds United lose at Guiseley
Guiseley 2 - 0 Leeds United
By Phil Hay
NORWEGIAN striker Tore Andre Flo was conspicuous by his absence at Nethermoor last night, leaving another area of Scandinavia to lift the morale of Leeds United.
Anticipation of Flo's return from a fractured foot during the final friendly of United's pre-season campaign proved unfounded, but the sight of Casper Ankergren for the first time since May provided suitable compensation for boss Dennis Wise.
The Danish goalkeeper has been a principle transfer target of Wise's throughout the summer but Ankergren, like so many other players, sat beyond the reach of Leeds while the club's Football League transfer embargo remained in place.
His loan deal at Elland Road from Brondby last season was signed with an agreement giving United first option to land the 27-year-old permanently, but the clause was rendered virtually meaningless by the League's restriction. Yesterday, however, Ankergren became Wise's first summer arrival, agreeing a three-year deal with Leeds for an undisclosed fee.
The keeper was the most senior member of United's youthful line-up against Guiseley, and his presence in Wise's squad was a timely lift. Leeds are still expected to sign Scott Loach on loan from Watford, but the 19-year-old is an emerging prospect at Vicarage Road. Ankergren will immediately provide the required experience behind Leeds' defence.But the Dane, who completed the opening 45 minutes of last night's friendly, was unable to prevent United from suffering a 2-0 defeat to a robust and well-organised Guiseley side.
In front of a crowd of 2,180 – a gate which threatened the ground's record attendance, delayed kick-off by 15 minutes and led Nethermoor to resemble the scene of an FA Cup first-round tie – Terry Dolan's players secured their win with goals in either half from captain Richard Dunning and Robert Pell.
United's line-up was dominated by reserve team members, and only one of their outfield players – last night's captain Robert Bayly – had a league start to his name. Wise's youngsters fought gamely throughout, but Guiseley were worth their victory and dealt comfortably with Leeds' forward threat.
The hosts produced the clearer chances during the opening half-hour, and both Mark Bett and James Hanson wasted early opportunities.
Tomi Ameobi and Nathan Cartman threatened at the other end, the latter forcing Guiseley keeper Steve Dickinson to tip his fierce shot over the crossbar, and Bayly, who stood out with a busy display in midfield, also went close with a scuffed shot which drifted wide.But Guiseley opened the scoring in the 41st minute following a foul on the edge of United's box. Dunning lined up the free-kick and hooked his strike over a four-man wall and into the corner of Ankergren's net.
Leeds worked hard to puncture Dolan's defence after the break, and Cartman brought an alert save from Dickinson with a long-range shot in the 51st minute.
Striker Tom Elliott also went close with a downward header which Dickinson smothered, but the match was settled by Pell's opportunist strike in the 57th minute.
The midfielder ran to the near post to meet a corner from Nathan Hay, and his glancing header flicked across goal and beyond substitute keeper Damion Ross. United introduced a number of trialists but were unable to recover their two-goal deficit.
Leeds were watched from the stands by Wise and director of football Gwyn Williams, while assistant manager Gustavo Poyet was present in United's dug-out.
The defeat was the sixth of Leeds' summer schedule, and their final act before the League One campaign begins at Tranmere on Saturday. Flo's involvement remains in doubt, but the capture of Ankergren has finally resolved one of Wise's more urgent priorities.
Guiseley: Dickinson, Hay, Wilford, Ellis, Ryan, Sturdy, Dunning, Krief, Hanson, Mumbley, Bett. Subs: Rickers, Denton, Pell, Knight, Hall.
Leeds United: Ankergren, Madden, Grace, Wilkinson, Fisher, Cartman, Bayly, Rothery, Delph, Ameobi, Elliott. Subs: Hotchkiss, Ross, Ovington, Connor.
Attendance: 2,180.
Leedsunited.com 7/8/07
SIGNING NUMBER THREE
Midfielder Curtis Weston became summer signing number three on Tuesday morning.
The former Millwall and Swindon youngster has agreed a two-year contract with the club.
Curtis follows fellow trialist Leon Constantine in signing a permanent contract with the club after originally joining on a trial basis at the start of pre-season training.
The 20-year-old becomes the third player to put pen to paper in the last 24 hours, goalkeeper Casper Ankergren being the first on Monday evening.
Curtis previously worked with United boss Dennis Wise at Millwall and Swindon and is relishing the prospect of working with him for a third time.
"I'm pleased to get things signed," said the London-born midfielder.
"I left Swindon in the summer and I've enjoyed pre-season here. It's been hard work, but it's been good and we'll all feel the benefit.
"There's a good set of lads here and I'm looking forward to the start of the season now."
JOY OF SIX
Six more players have agreed contracts on a busy day for United manager Dennis Wise.
Dave Prutton and Rui Marques became the latest senior players to pen deals with the club on Tuesday.
Rui has signed an initial one-year deal after returning to the club for pre-season training while former Nottingham Forest and Southampton midfielder Dave has also put pen to paper.
The 25-year-old Dave joined the club on a trial basis in July after leaving Southampton and has made over 300 senior appearances.
In addition, four of the young players have agreed to new one-year deals, taking the tally to 10 new signed contracts since Monday evening.
Tomi Ameobi, Scott Gardner, Ben Parker and Gavin Rothery are the young players who have signed.
Scott and Ben have featured regularly in pre-season with the senior squad while both Tomi and Gavin were on duty against Guiseley on Monday night.
Matt Heath, Curtis Weston, Leon Constantine and Casper Ankergren are the other players who have signed since the start of the week.
Yorkshire Evening Post 7/8/07
Leeds United make triple signing
By Phil Hay
Exclusive
LEEDS boss Dennis Wise today completed the signings of Leon Constantine, Curtis Weston and Matt Heath.
The trio have become the first of Wise's trialists to secure permanent contracts with United, agreeing two-year deals at Elland Road.The signings comes less than 24 hours after the club announced the return to Yorkshire of goalkeeper Casper Ankergren.
Ankergren accepted a three-year deal with Leeds yesterday afternoon, arriving from Brondby for an undisclosed fee.
The Dane finished last season on loan at Elland Road and United negotiated an option with Brondby to sign Ankergren permanently as part of the original loan deal.
Leeds were prevented from taking up the option, however, until their transfer embargo was lifted by the Football League last week.
Ankergren remained in Denmark for much of the summer and missed most of United's pre-season schedule, but he made a 45-minute appearance last night as a young Leeds side rounded off the club's warm-up for the new campaign with a 2-0 defeat at Guiseley.
Constantine was missing from Leeds' squad at Nethermoor with an ankle injury and has not played for United since their friendly against Czech side FC Slovan Liberec on July 21, but he finalised a free transfer to Elland Road this morning.
The news was quickly followed by the announcement that former Swindon and Millwall midfielder Weston and ex-Coventry centre-back Heath have also committed themselves to United for the next two seasons.
Weston played under Wise at both of his previous clubs, while Heath accepted a new contract after his short-term deal with Leeds expired in June. The defender is currently nursing a minor injury and missed Saturday's friendly against Wigan Athletic.
Constantine scored 26 times for Port Vale last season but left Vale Park at the end of the term and has been on trial with Leeds throughout the summer. The sale of David Healy, Robbie Blake and Richard Cresswell has left Wise's squad short of experienced strikers.
But Constantine's injury is expected to rule him out of Saturday's clash at Tranmere Rovers, the first fixture of United's 2007-08 League One campaign.
The forward was hurt during the second half of Leeds' friendly in the Czech Republic and could miss the first fortnight of the term. The condition of Norwegian striker Tore Andre Flo, who has been recovering from a fractured foot, is also unclear after he failed to appear in United's squad against Guiseley last night. Wise is still intent on tying Flo to a fresh deal.
The signing of Ankergren yesterday signalled the first arrival of the summer at Elland Road just five days before the start of the new term, an indication of the extreme pressure on Wise.
Today's deals should be quickly followed a stream of further signings, and Alan Thompson, David Prutton and Manuel Rui Marques are all poised to agree terms. Matt Heath also looks likely to be handed a fresh deal, despite missing Saturday's defeat to Wigan through injury.
Wise, meanwhile, has revealed that confirmation of Thompson's contract will see the former Celtic midfielder appointed as United's captain for next season.
Thompson has held the armband during much of the pre-season campaign and will be a key influence in United's midfield.
The 33-year-old suffered hamstring and calf problems last season but has emerged from this summer with no concerns over his fitness.
Yorkshire Evening Post 7/8/07
Leeds United lose at Guiseley
Guiseley 2 - 0 Leeds United
By Phil Hay
NORWEGIAN striker Tore Andre Flo was conspicuous by his absence at Nethermoor last night, leaving another area of Scandinavia to lift the morale of Leeds United.
Anticipation of Flo's return from a fractured foot during the final friendly of United's pre-season campaign proved unfounded, but the sight of Casper Ankergren for the first time since May provided suitable compensation for boss Dennis Wise.
The Danish goalkeeper has been a principle transfer target of Wise's throughout the summer but Ankergren, like so many other players, sat beyond the reach of Leeds while the club's Football League transfer embargo remained in place.
His loan deal at Elland Road from Brondby last season was signed with an agreement giving United first option to land the 27-year-old permanently, but the clause was rendered virtually meaningless by the League's restriction. Yesterday, however, Ankergren became Wise's first summer arrival, agreeing a three-year deal with Leeds for an undisclosed fee.
The keeper was the most senior member of United's youthful line-up against Guiseley, and his presence in Wise's squad was a timely lift. Leeds are still expected to sign Scott Loach on loan from Watford, but the 19-year-old is an emerging prospect at Vicarage Road. Ankergren will immediately provide the required experience behind Leeds' defence.But the Dane, who completed the opening 45 minutes of last night's friendly, was unable to prevent United from suffering a 2-0 defeat to a robust and well-organised Guiseley side.
In front of a crowd of 2,180 – a gate which threatened the ground's record attendance, delayed kick-off by 15 minutes and led Nethermoor to resemble the scene of an FA Cup first-round tie – Terry Dolan's players secured their win with goals in either half from captain Richard Dunning and Robert Pell.
United's line-up was dominated by reserve team members, and only one of their outfield players – last night's captain Robert Bayly – had a league start to his name. Wise's youngsters fought gamely throughout, but Guiseley were worth their victory and dealt comfortably with Leeds' forward threat.
The hosts produced the clearer chances during the opening half-hour, and both Mark Bett and James Hanson wasted early opportunities.
Tomi Ameobi and Nathan Cartman threatened at the other end, the latter forcing Guiseley keeper Steve Dickinson to tip his fierce shot over the crossbar, and Bayly, who stood out with a busy display in midfield, also went close with a scuffed shot which drifted wide.But Guiseley opened the scoring in the 41st minute following a foul on the edge of United's box. Dunning lined up the free-kick and hooked his strike over a four-man wall and into the corner of Ankergren's net.
Leeds worked hard to puncture Dolan's defence after the break, and Cartman brought an alert save from Dickinson with a long-range shot in the 51st minute.
Striker Tom Elliott also went close with a downward header which Dickinson smothered, but the match was settled by Pell's opportunist strike in the 57th minute.
The midfielder ran to the near post to meet a corner from Nathan Hay, and his glancing header flicked across goal and beyond substitute keeper Damion Ross. United introduced a number of trialists but were unable to recover their two-goal deficit.
Leeds were watched from the stands by Wise and director of football Gwyn Williams, while assistant manager Gustavo Poyet was present in United's dug-out.
The defeat was the sixth of Leeds' summer schedule, and their final act before the League One campaign begins at Tranmere on Saturday. Flo's involvement remains in doubt, but the capture of Ankergren has finally resolved one of Wise's more urgent priorities.
Guiseley: Dickinson, Hay, Wilford, Ellis, Ryan, Sturdy, Dunning, Krief, Hanson, Mumbley, Bett. Subs: Rickers, Denton, Pell, Knight, Hall.
Leeds United: Ankergren, Madden, Grace, Wilkinson, Fisher, Cartman, Bayly, Rothery, Delph, Ameobi, Elliott. Subs: Hotchkiss, Ross, Ovington, Connor.
Attendance: 2,180.
Leedsunited.com 7/8/07
SIGNING NUMBER THREE
Midfielder Curtis Weston became summer signing number three on Tuesday morning.
The former Millwall and Swindon youngster has agreed a two-year contract with the club.
Curtis follows fellow trialist Leon Constantine in signing a permanent contract with the club after originally joining on a trial basis at the start of pre-season training.
The 20-year-old becomes the third player to put pen to paper in the last 24 hours, goalkeeper Casper Ankergren being the first on Monday evening.
Curtis previously worked with United boss Dennis Wise at Millwall and Swindon and is relishing the prospect of working with him for a third time.
"I'm pleased to get things signed," said the London-born midfielder.
"I left Swindon in the summer and I've enjoyed pre-season here. It's been hard work, but it's been good and we'll all feel the benefit.
"There's a good set of lads here and I'm looking forward to the start of the season now."