Mighty Leeds Weblog

Yorkshire Post 29/5/09 David Healy set for Leeds United return By Richard Sutcliffe SIMON GRAYSON wants former Leeds United hero David Healy to replace transfer-listed striker Jermaine Beckford, the Yorkshire Post can reveal. The Elland Road chief is resigned to losing last season''s top scorer after the striker turned down a new three-year deal earlier this week. Middlesbrough and Coventry City are likely to offer an escape route to the Championship for Beckford, who netted 34 goals for Leeds in their failed bid to win promotion. Grayson is determined to bring in a top-class replacement if Beckford does depart and the Yorkshire Post understands Healy is at the top of his wanted list. Other strikers that the United manager has cast his eye over include former Barnsley striker Michael Mifsud and Sheffield United's Billy Sharp but it is Northern Ireland's record goal-scorer who Grayson wants to spearhead next season's promotion assault. No-one at Elland Road would com...

Leedsunited.com 26/5/09 JERMAINE BECKFORD TRANSFER LISTED BY LEEDS Leeds United have placed Jermaine Beckford on the transfer list following the 25-year-old's decision to reject the club's offer of a new three-year contract. Beckford, who has 12 months of his current contract remaining, has scored 54 goals in 98 appearances for the club since joining from non-league Wealdstone in March 2006. Leeds United chief executive Shaun Harvey said: "As a policy we will always look to retain our most effective players, however we will only do so within the financial parameters that we believe are appropriate. The offer we have made to Jermaine is what we believe to be a very good offer, but he has exercised his right to turn it down. "On the basis that he has 12 months remaining on his current contract and could leave on a free transfer next summer, we feel we must consider any offers that are forthcoming for him. "In the event that no offers are forthcoming or the offers ...

Yorkshire Evening Post 19/5/09 Whites wait for Reading's Sodje verdict Reading are poised to decide the future of Sam Sodje as Leeds United weigh up a possible move for the out-of-contract defender. The Championship club have confirmed that they will meet with Sodje later this week to clarify their plans for the 29-year-old, who finished this season on loan at Elland Road. His name was missing from the list of released and retained players issued by the Royals last Friday, but he should learn in the coming days whether he will be offered a new deal at the Madejski Stadium or freed to find new employers. Leeds will watch his situation with interest after a spell at Elland Road in which the Nigerian centre-back made a major impression. His seven appearances coincided with the consistent run of form which carried United into the League One play-offs, and he stood out as one of the most impressive players during their semi-final defeat to Millwall. Sodje's short-term loan at United...

Sky 14/5/09 Grayson proud of Leeds Players and fans should be proud, says manager Leeds manager Simon Grayson believes that his players should be proud of themselves despite missing out on a spot in the League One play-off final. Grayson's side could only manage a 1-1 draw with Millwall in front of a partisan crowd at Elland Road, meaning the Lions progress 2-1 on aggregate. But Grayson refused to criticise his team, saying that they did everything possible to turn around the one-goal deficit from the first-leg. "You couldn't ask any more of the players tonight, they've put in a real performance," Grayson told Sky Sports post-match. Credit "We limited Millwall to very few chances, even probably just one chance all night. The players just kept going and we just couldn't get that second goal when we were certainly on top for the majority of the game. "Full credit to Millwall, they've worked ever so hard against us and they've gone through but m...