Mighty Leeds Weblog

Scratching Shed 30/6/13 Leeds United have bid “seven figures” for Crewe Alexandra midfielder Luke Murphy, according to BBC Radio Leeds reporter, Adam Pope. The news follows unrest amongst Whites fans after days of speculation about the lack of funds Brian McDermott has available to him. While no deal has been agreed yet, and the Whites face competition from at least two other clubs, Pope’s claim seems to suggest that GFH Capital, the owners of Leeds United, have found some funds for McDermott to strengthen his squad. Leeds face competition from Blackburn Rovers, who have also had a seven figure bid accepted, and Wolverhampton Wanderers, though their local press expects Murphy to go elsewhere. 24 year-old Murphy has made 186 appearances for Crewe since his début in 2008, scoring 25 times. He was an integral part of Crewe’s 2012 League Two play-off and 2013 Football League Trophy winning sides.

YEP 28/6/13 by Leon Wobschall Leeds United striker Steve Morison sealed a return to former club Millwall on a season-long loan – in a move that will enable Elland Road manager Brian McDermott complete the signing of Noel Hunt. The Lions’ interest in the 29-year-old was confirmed in the YEP earlier this week and despite the 29-year-old being happy at Elland Road, the lack of transfer funds available to McDermott has prompted his decision to let the striker head back to the New Den. The incoming transfer of former Reading forward Hunt to Leeds has been waiting to be rubber-stamped for several weeks, with the 30-year-old’s wage demands reportedly around £12,000 a week. By getting the wages of Morison – who is believed to be on a weekly wage in the region of £17,000 – off the club’s books, it effectively allows Hunt to come in. McDermott said: “I am looking to re-shape my squad and there was an offer on the table for Steve to go to a club that he has already played at it. “He’s ther...

YEP 28/6/13 by Leon Wobschall Brian McDermott may have suffered his fair share of frustrations of late, but his commitment to the cause of Leeds United remains undiminished. That determined message is the one crumb of comfort towards the end of another difficult week in a largely tortuous last couple of years that United’s legions of supporters can at least take and hold onto. In plain-speaking terms, McDermott is dealing with things in the best way he can and getting on with it, with his commitment to Leeds and his desire to sate the footballing appetites of its malnourished supporters already a strong driving force. The quietly-spoken southerner, a long way from home up north, may have only been manager of the Whites since early April – and only moved up to Yorkshire permanently last week – but Leeds United is clearly already in his soul. And while the lack of transfer action he thought would happen thus far has represented an obvious disappointment, he is steadfastly keeping p...

YEP 28/6/13 Leeds United boss Brian McDermott insists his summer signing targets remain the same – despite the realisation he must now sell existing players to bring in who he wants. It’s now clear there are little or no transfer funds available at his disposal from owners GFH Capital, so McDermott will aim to free up his hand in the market by moving on some contracted players – in the hope of kick-starting business after a frustrating close-season so far. It’s effectively the only option available to McDermott, who has confirmed he has already received enquiries for one or two players as he essentially follows a sell-to-buy policy. He said: “My targets haven’t changed and I am still talking to the agents and working behind the scenes to do whatever we can try and do. Hopefully, we can do the deals. “No-one is giving me any impression that they are looking to go anywhere else. But obviously going into July, we want to do these deals and I am still focusing on that. “Time will tel...

YEP 28/6/13 Brian McDermott will assess the fitness of prize asset Sam Byram over the coming week before deciding whether he will accompany the Leeds United squad on their pre-season tour of Slovenia. Earlier this month, Byram was forced to withdraw from the England Under-20 squad currently on World Cup duty in Turkey due to a niggling hip injury which forced him to miss United’s final two games of the 2012-13 Championship campaign. Byram was at Thorp Arch as United’s players reconvened for the start of pre-season training. But he will be monitored before the club flies out to Slovenia on July 8. Manager McDermott who confirmed he is not looking at any trialists at Thorp Arch, said: “Sam still has this slight hip problem, so we will have to look after him for a week or so to see how he is to get him to Slovenia.” Virtually all of the first-team squad are being put through their paces at Thorp Arch, although defender Tom Lees has another week left of his break following his exerti...

Leeds United boss Brian McDermott says he understands the fans expectations and he likes the challenge that lies ahead. McDermott arrived at Elland Road in April and helped lift the side away from the fear of relegation, winning three of his five games in charge. Fans have been growing more frustrated by the lack of activity in the transfer market and McDermott says he understands their expectations and he can feel the commitment around the place and he is looking to build a side they can enjoy coming to watch at Elland Road. Speaking on LUTV, McDermott said, "Expectations are what they are. The fans want expectations because this is Leeds United. "I like the challenge and I like the people at Leeds and I really feel their commitment. "I haven`t been here very long but I really feel the commitment of the people. They really want the club to grow and get better because potentially we have an amazing club." McDermott is also looking to make Elland Road a fortres...

leedsunited.com 27/6/13 Verbal agreement in place for player... Brian McDermott is expecting to further strengthen his squad next week after striking a "verbal agreement" with one of his targets. The boss wouldn't be drawn on the identity of the player, but he confirmed: "I've got a verbal agreement with one player which will happen next week. "As far as I'm concerned that agreement is a deal so that will be done." The United boss is also hoping he can add further to his squad as the countdown continues towards the new season. "AlI I can do is work day to day to the best of my ability," said the manager. "We're trying to build as strong a football club as we can. Time will tell as to who we bring in. "The transfer window is miles from closing and we have to work to bring in what we need to get. My targets haven't changed. "We're working to do what we can try and do, and hopefully we can do deals. Going in...

leedsunited.com 26/6/13 Questions and answers with Salah Nooruddin... With the players about to return to Elland Road from their summer breaks and the new season now just over five weeks away, Leeds United's Vice Chairman Salah Nooruddin answers questions from fans for leedsunited.com What is the club's ambition for the coming season? Obviously we want to finish as high in the Championship as we can and, if possible, to be in a position to be challenging for promotion. However, everyone needs to be aware that building for the Premier League involves a long term strategy and getting things right both on and off the pitch. We have great faith in our new manager Brian McDermott. But if it's not possible to achieve our major aim as fast as everyone would like then the owners will continue to support Brian and the club. We are all - shareholders, board and management - working to the common aim of building a successful and sustainable future for the club on and off the pitch...

YEP 26/6/13 Peterborough United director of football Barry Fry says the League One outfit are stilll waiting to hear from Leeds United regarding a firm offer for their wantaway skipper Tommy Rowe. The 24-year-old is keen to join United, with manager Brian McDermott having spoken to Posh to confirm his interest in the Wythenshawe-born player. But United have yet to make a concrete offer for Rowe, one of several targets that McDermott wants to bring in to boost his squad in good time ahead of the start of the season. Reading and Millwall are also interested in Rowe, but the player wants to return to the north to be nearer to his family home – with Leeds seen as an ideal destination. Fry, right, told the YEP: “Initially, Brian spoke to me and Darren Ferguson, while I have also talked to Shaun Harvey and Ken Bates at a chairmen’s conference. But I have had no bid from Leeds United for Tommy. It’s been left up to Leeds to make a bid and discuss it, but it hasn’t got over first base, to...

YEP 25/6/13 by Leon Wobschall Leeds United striker Steve Morison remains fully focused on proving himself a success story at Elland Road – in the wake of speculation linking him with a return to Millwall. National reports have suggested that the Lions are keen on bringing the 29-year-old – who only moved to United from Norwich City at the end of January – back to The Den, where he started his professional career in May 2009. But according to sources close to Morison, he remains very happy at Leeds. Morison, who has endured a low-key start to his Whites career, will move into a new home in Yorkshire this week ahead of the start of pre-season training on Thursday – and remains determined to hit the ground running at Leeds in 2013-14, having only signed a three-and-a-half year deal at the end of January. Lions chief Steve Lomas – also being linked with Peterborough’s Tyrone Barnett and Norwich City’s Simeon Jackson, is remaining tight-lipped regarding speculation surrounding a possi...

YEP 22/6/13 Brian McDermott has revealed that several Leeds United players have been claiming a head-start ahead of the start of pre-season training next Thursday. A number have already been in at Thorp Arch to work on their fitness before the official start on June 27 – and the Whites boss couldn’t be happier at the level of commitment shown. He said: “A number of players have been in and started quite early and they are really keen to make sure they are ready and up to speed when they come back, which is great.” Several changes will greet the first-team squad – that is those who already haven’t been voluntarily putting in the extra sessions – when they return, with a number of alterations taking place in the run-up to next Thursday. The sight of a main training pitch to the exact same measurements of Elland Road is one, while changes to the lay-out of the main building will see first-teamers and academy players intermingle freely – with McDermott eager to build a ‘one club’ ment...

Sky 21/6/13 Wolves striker Kevin Doyle has ruled out a summer move to Leeds and a reunion with former Reading boss Brian McDermott. The Republic of Ireland international, 29, who left Reading for Wolves in a £6.5million deal in June 2009, has been linked with a move away from Wolves following their relegation to League One, with McDermott's Leeds a reported destination. But Doyle told Irish Radio: "I was with Brian at a wedding at the weekend and we had a bit of fun together. "He signed me at Reading when he was chief scout, but no I won't be signing for Leeds." Doyle scored 10 goals in 44 appearances for Wolves last season, while McDermott has also been linked with another striker he worked with at Reading, fellow Irishman Noel Hunt. Leeds signed 6ft 6in forward Matt Smith from Oldham earlier this month.

YEP 21/6/13 by Leon Wobschall Brian McDermott has laid down some permanent roots in West Yorkshire – and has revealed he will expects all of future signings to do the same during his tenure at Leeds United. The Whites chief, born in Slough and someone who has spent the vast majority of his life in the south of England, has just moved into his new home in the Leeds area and admits he has taken to life ‘up north.’ The friendliness of Yorkshire folk is something that McDermott has warmed to during his brief time spent in the Broad Acres so far since being named as Leeds manager in April. And just as he has shown his own level of personal commitment moving up to the north, so he will be seeking prospective signings to follow suit. While many United players live in the area close to Thorp Arch, several are based on the other side of the Pennines – and are faced with what is at often tortuous daily commute to training across the M62. Footballers travelling considerable distances to th...

YEP 20/6/13 by Leonn Wobschall Leeds United manager Brian McDermott will meet with club bosses today in a bid to kick-start some transfer business – with a number of his summer targets ready and waiting to join. McDermott is seeking the green light from club owners GFH Capital to allow him to nail down several deals and he will attend a key meeting today with club chief executive Shaun Harvey and director David Haigh. McDermott has lined up several deals, with the Whites boss now awaiting clarification from the owners to enable them to be completed. His targets are thought to include former Reading striker Noel Hunt and Bolton Wanderers centre-half Matt Mills – now being tipped to join United on a season-long loan with the Trotters keen to broker a compromise deal with Leeds having reportedly stalled at their £1m asking price. McDermott, now resident full-time in Yorkshire following his summer break and keen to complete some incoming activity before the start of pre-season traini...

YEP 19/6/13 Imposing striker Matt Smith insists he is not intimidated by the challenge in front of him at a footballing giant in Leeds United – and has pledged to fully embrace it. The 6ft 6in ex-Oldham frontman, who officially joins the Whites on a two-year-deal on July 1, admits that while he is no means the finished article after a mere two years in the Football League, neither is he fazed by what lies ahead. Smith, 24, has been catapulted to prominence so far in a breakthrough 2013, which saw him plunder three FA Cup goals against Liverpool and Everton and finish the season strongly – and he is determined to give his all to give himself the best chance of carrying on that momentum with his new club in 2013-14 in the Championship. Smith, who hit 11 goals for Oldham last term, told the YEP: “The first thing that struck me when I joined Leeds was how big the club is. Off the back of the day I signed, you really do get to see the size of the club’s fanbase. “But it’s nothing to fe...

YEP 19/6/13 by Leon Wobschall Leeds United are in the running to sign highly-rated young Heart of Midlothian defender Kevin McHattie. The crisis-ridden Edinburgh outfit, saddled by crippling debts of £25m, served notice of their intention to appoint an administrator on Monday – three days after their entire playing squad was put up for sale. A quartet of players, including left-back McHattie, who turns 20 next month, have reportedly attracted interest from English clubs, as Hearts desperately seek funds to keep them running over the summer – with the vultures circling. Leeds are believed to have enquired about Glenrothes-born McHattie, who has been capped four times by Scotland Under-21s and also represented his country at under-17 level – and he is expected to be available for a cut-price fee. McHattie, rated as one of the most promising young talents at Tynecastle – if not the best, enjoyed a breakthrough 2012-13 season for the Jambos, forced to reduce costs and blood youngster...

Mail 19/6/13 By Simon Jones Leeds United are in talks with Bolton over a season-long loan for defender Matt Mills. Bolton wanted £1m for Mills but are prepared to compromise so they can move defender’s salary off their wage bill. The Elland Road club are also keen on Wolves striker Kevin Doyle. The Irish hitman scored nine goals for Wolves last season but could not stop the Black Country side being relegated to League One.

leedsunited.com 18/6/13 Richard Naylor signs new deal to keep him at the Academy… Leeds United Under-18's manager Richard Naylor has agreed a new deal that will see him remain an important fixture at Thorp Arch. Richard has spoken of his delight at securing a new deal with the Academy and is now looking forward to getting started again. "I'm really pleased," said Richard. "It's something that I wanted to get sorted as soon as possible and now I'm just looking forward to get cracking again next season. "I wasn't sure if it was something I'd take to or enjoy having being a player since I'd left school at 16, it's a change of career for me. "But I'm happy to say I really enjoyed it and working with the Under-18s went well and the club were happy with me so it was just a case of sorting it out. "Obviously there was a lot of hard work but most of it was done by the lads, I was just a facilitator and tried to help them ...

leedsunited.com 17/6/13 Brian McDermott's thoughts on Capital One Cup tie… Early on Monday morning the draw for the Capital One Cup was made with United being handed a home tie against Chesterfield. United haven't played a competitive match against Chesterfield for over 50 years now and the boss says it will be a great occasion at Elland Road. "I'm pleased for a number of reasons," said Brian. "I've just been told that we haven't played them since 1960 so it will be great to play them. "It's a local game for us and any time you are in a cup draw you want to be drawn at home so we're pleased about that. "My priority is the next game, that's how I see things. "If the next game is a cup game we'll try and win it and if it's a league game we'll try and win that one, it's very simple as far as I'm concerned." The manager's summer break away from Thorp Arch is coming to an end and the announcem...

Whilst the Peterborough Telegraph report Barry Fry has saying that Leeds United cannot afford Tommy Rowe, Fry has told BBC Radio Leeds that Rowe is keen to join the whites. Fry told BBC Radio Leeds that the player and his agent have been in contact with Leeds boss Brian McDermott and he is keen to return north but until there is an acceptable deal on the table he will not be leaving London Road. Speaking on BBC Radio Leeds , Fry said, "The player and his agent have expressed an interest and they have spoken to Brian (McDermott), so there is willingness for the player to definitely join Leeds but until a transfer fee and a package can be sorted out, it will not happen. "The player is aware of that. There are other clubs in for him, even though they are down south and not up north but the decision is up to him at the end of the day." Rowe is originally from Manchester and he started his career at Stockport County before making the move to Peterborough in 2009. He is o...

Sky 14/6/13 Peterborough director of football Barry Fry has told Leeds they cannot afford to sign Posh skipper Tommy Rowe. The 24-year-old looks almost certain to leave London Road this summer after rejecting the offer of a new three-year contract with the League One club. Leeds boss Brian McDermott has expressed an interest in the midfielder but Fry insists the Championship side to not have sufficient funds. He told the Peterborough Telegraph: "I've had Brian McDermott (Leeds manager) on the phone about Tommy and I've also spoken to their chairman Ken Bates and their chief executive Shaun Harvey, but Leeds just don't have enough money. "We're sorry to be losing Tommy, but he's made it clear to us that we could offer him £20,000 per week and he still wouldn't sign a new deal. "That's not to say he won't be here next season because we won't give him away. And if Tommy is here we know we will continue to get 100 per cent from him a...

YEP 14/6/13 by Phil Hay England international Matthew Upson is the latest defender to be linked with Leeds United as Brian McDermott’s focus begins to shift away from his forward line at Elland Road. Upson, 34, is available on a free transfer following his release by Stoke City and looks likely to move into the Championship permanently after finishing last season on loan at play-off semi-finalists Brighton. Albion are yet to make a move for Upson with the club’s manager, Gus Poyet, suspended from The Amex Stadium and likely to part company with the club after a recent fall-out with Brighton’s board of directors. Leeds boss McDermott plans to recruit another centre-back and has already been credited with an interest in Bolton Wanderers’ Matt Mills and Reading’s out-of-contract defender Alex Pearce. Pearce is on the radar of Liverpool, Newcastle United and Cardiff City, however, and Mills would cost Leeds a fee of at least £750,000. The former Reading captain is out of favour at t...

YEP 13/6/13 by Peter Lorimer Neil Warnock’s a manager who likes to speak his mind so I suppose it’s no surprise that his new book is making waves. Leeds United were always going to feature heavily in it and his views on his reign at Elland Road were unlikely to be anything other than mixed. It was a tough time for everyone, not least him. To see Neil’s tenure in context you need to think back to the time when he was first appointed as manager. He fitted the bill in most respects and from the club’s point of view he was a calculated gamble. Given how uncertain things were, he seemed tailor-made in a lot of respects. Firstly he had a track record which suggested that he would do well with Leeds in the Championship. Secondly he had a dead-certain idea of what he wanted to do – a fixed goal if you like. He’d won seven promotions and he wanted an eighth. But on top of all of that he was the type of manager who you expected to cope in a period of transition. I honestly don’t remember...

YEP 13/6/13 Phil Hay Millwall have pulled out of the race to sign Noel Hunt with the Reading striker on the verge of sealing a free transfer to Leeds United. New Millwall manager Steve Lomas abandoned plans to make an offer to Hunt after being informed that the 30-year-old had all but resolved to take up the opportunity available to him at Elland Road. The development came as Leeds boss Brian McDermott revealed that a deal with an unnamed player was likely to be verbally agreed “in the next couple of days”, following on from United’s capture of Oldham Athletic striker Matt Smith. Smith – a 6’6” tall centre-forward – finalised the terms of a two-year contract on Monday morning, giving McDermott his first signing as manager. Hunt will also be available on a free transfer from July 1, when his contract at Reading expires, and Lomas’ failure to tempt Hunt into talks appeared to confirm that the Republic of Ireland international will join McDermott at Elland Road instead. McDermott a...

YEP 13/6/13 Leeds United are crossing their fingers that Sam Byram will be ready for the early stages of pre-season, with the youngster fighting to overcome a persistent hip injury. Byram is in the hands of United’s physiotherapy staff after worries over his fitness led him to withdraw from England’s squad for the Under-20 World Cup in Turkey. The 19-year-old was due to fly to the continent with the rest of England’s players yesterday morning but he dropped out of Peter Taylor’s 21-man pool amid doubts about him recovering in time to feature heavily in the group stages of the tournament. The Football Association refused to comment on the injury suffered by Byram but United manager Brian McDermott confirmed to the YEP that the right-back is struggling with the same problem that forced him to miss the last two games of the recent Championship season. Byram sat out United’s meetings against Brighton and Watford with an injury sustained in training on April 26. It flared up less than ...

Scratching Shed 12/6/13 Two and a half months since he parted company with Leeds United, Neil Warnock’s excuses continue. This time the former Whites boss has been talking to Sports Direct News, telling them how the sale of Robert Snodgrass cost him his eighth promotion. “We lost too many points in injury time and we lost Snodgrass when we shouldn’t have lost him. “We got £3m for him and didn’t spend it. A lot of it was down to Snodgrass wanting to go so late in the window – I had to take him off the training ground so he could speak to Norwich. If he hadn’t have gone, I think we would have walked it. It’s as little a thing as that.” Most Leeds fans agree that Snodgrass’ exit left a huge hole in the team. The Whites had no recognisable winger for much of the season, played with no width whatsoever and adopted a scrappy, hoofball strategy that soon became predictable. While Warnock’s excuse has some validity to it, Leeds needed to strengthen on the wing before Snodgrass’ departure...

Leeds United boss Brian McDermott says he is close to completing his second signing. McDermott announced his first signing today since arriving at the club when Matt Smith agreed to join from Oldham Athletic and he says he is close to completing a second. Speaking on Radio Leeds, McDermott said, "We are close to agreeing one. We have nearly agreed a deal verbally and to me, once a deal is agreed verbally that means it is done as far as I am concerned. We are very close on that one." The Leeds boss told Radio Leeds last week that he was in talks with four players and talking to them again this evening, he says he is now in talks with two more, as he looks to build his squad ready for the new season. "We have a couple of others that I have already spoken about and we have another two that we are now in talks with. "Whether they will be completed in the next week or so, I am not sure. I am not that worried, it is more important to complete the deals," McDermot...

leedsunited.com 10/6/13 New signing speaks of his delight at joining Leeds… New United striker Matt Smith says he is 'over the moon' at joining Leeds United and admits he can't wait to start his career with the club. Oldham Athletic striker Matt will officially join the club on July 1 when his current contract expires. "I'm absolutely delighted," he said. "Once I heard of the interest from Leeds United I was over the moon. "It's a massive club with a massive history and I'm looking forward to being a part of it." United, along with a host of Championship clubs, were vying for the striker's signature, but once Matt knew of interest from Elland Road he was only going to end up in one place. "I was taking my summer holidays and I heard of some bits of interest but once Leeds came in it was a no-brainer," said United's new signing. "Everything about the club is fantastic and hopefully I can do well here. ...

leedsunited.com 10/6/13 United manager delighted with his first signing... United boss Brian McDermott was delighted to capture the signature of striker Matt Smith. The 24-year-old joins from Oldham Athletic on July 1 after finalising a deal on Monday morning to become the manager's first signing. "I'm really pleased," said the boss. "I've known him for a little while. He's come on to the scene in a short space of time, and I like his background, the way he's been brought up, he's done his studying, he went to Oldham, he's played against some big sides and done very, very well. "He got Player of the Month in April and he's a good acquisition for our squad." The boss has an impressive success rate with developing talent from lower divisions, Dave Kitson and Adam Le Fondre being two strikers to take their careers on to the next level following his recruitment. "Matt's from a league below and we're looking for s...

Sky 10/6/13 Leeds United boss Brian McDermott has made his first signing of the summer after agreeing a deal with Oldham striker Matt Smith. Smith, 24, is out of contract at the League One club and will move to Elland Road on July 1 after signing a two-year deal. Smith shot to prominance last season when he scored against both Everton and Liverpool in Oldham's run to the FA Cup fifth round and he finished the campaign with 11 goals in 40 appearances. He began his career as a trainee at Cheltenham after impressing at non-league Solihull, he earned a move to Oldham in 2011. "I'm really pleased," McDermott told the club website. "I've known him for a little while. "He's come on to the scene in a short space of time, and I like his background, the way he's been brought up, he's done his studying, he went to Oldham, he's played against some big sides and done very, very well. "Matt's from a league below and we're looking fo...

YEP 10/6/13 Neil Warnock took Thorp Arch to task last week, picking holes in a facility which has long been seen as the jewel in Leeds United’s fallen crown. Warnock’s opinion of the training ground, or more specifically the atmosphere within it, was that it represented a “cancer in the club”. If Brian McDermott has his way, many aspects of Thorp Arch will change before Leeds begin another season. McDermott had plans for the property long before Warnock, the manager he replaced at United, spoke out so forcefully in a new autobiography. But his blueprint might ensure that the conflict of personalities which seemed to irk Warnock is not a problem for him. The former Reading boss remarked in the earliest weeks of his tenure that concentrating solely on managing the first team was akin to “building on sand”. “We’re trying to build something with foundations,” he said, “not just putting 15 or 20 players together and forgetting about everything else.” By his own admission, the alteratio...

leedsunited.com 7/6/13 Boss lays down his criteria for incomings... The playing staff may be enjoying a summer break from football but Brian McDermott is still hard at work. The boss is in the process of trying to strengthen his squad for the next campaign and is leaving no stone unturned when it comes to player recruitment. "I'm looking at players that are out of contract and I'm looking at players that would be available on compensation that have contracts that are up and are under 24," said McDermott. "And I'm looking at players that we could possibly look to buy. "They are the players that I have submitted to the board. "You always have plans but you'll get a phone call regarding a certain player that becomes available and it's a do-able deal so you do that deal. "So you have to be flexible in what you are trying to do. You give a list of players but it doesn't mean that you get that list of players and that doesn't...

YEP 7/6/13 by Phil Hay Leeds United manager Brian McDermott expects Davide Somma to continue his career with another club next season, despite Leeds offering to see through the striker’s latest bout of rehabilitation. McDermott admitted that the renewal of Somma’s contract at Elland Road was “realistically not going to happen” with the injury-prone South African recovering from a third knee operation. Somma underwent surgery on damaged cartilage two weeks before the end of the Championship season, consigning him to a further spell of treatment at a delicate stage of his career with Leeds. The 28-year-old is rapidly approaching the end of his three-year deal at Elland Road and was told in May that Leeds would not be immediately extending his contract. The club did invite him to continue training at Thorp Arch, however, and McDermott is likely to give him the chance to feature in Leeds’ pre-season programme in an attempt to resolve the fitness problems which have sidelined Somma fo...

YEP 7/6/13 by Phil Hay Neil Warnock has painted a grim picture of his 13 months as Leeds United manager, bemoaning a “cancer in the club” and describing his spell in charge as a “lonely job”. Writing in his latest autobiography, The Gaffer: The Trials and Tribulations of a Football Manager, Warnock accused members of United’s staff, individual players and the local media of undermining and complicating his reign as boss. The 64-year-old was sacked by Leeds in April, a little over a year after replacing Simon Grayson as manager. His tenure – supposed to bring him a record eighth promotion in the Football League – became a story of frustration as the protracted takeover by GFH Capital, a restricted transfer budget and mediocre results left Leeds at risk of relegation by the time he and the club parted company. Warnock, who faced chants of “Time to go” from sections of United’s supporters in the lead-up to his dismissal, was scathing in his assessment of the atmosphere around Elland...

Yorkshire Post 7/6/13 by Leon Wobschall FORMER Leeds United manager Neil Warnock has taken a swipe at the attitude of the Whites’ academy staff during his spell there – describing it as being ‘like a cancer in the club’. The controversial comments are included in Warnock’s recently released book entitled The Gaffer: The Trials and Tribulations of a Football Manager, with the 64-year-old scathing of what he perceived as a prevailing mood of negativity at United’s training ground. Warnock, who left United in early April, was also severely critical of the attitude of former striker Luciano Becchio in his book and described his time at the club as a ‘lonely job’. Also included are details of his deep-seated frustrations at a lack of transfer cash from owners GFH Capital to enable him to do more last-minute business, particularly at the end of January. On what he saw as a downbeat training-ground atmosphere in comparison to previous club QPR, Warnock stated: “There’s no humour at the ...

YEP 7/6/13 by Phil Hay Neil Warnock has again laid the blame for Luciano Becchio’s move to Norwich City at the striker’s door, saying Becchio put “a gun to my head” by making clear his intention to leave Leeds United. Warnock sold Becchio to Norwich on the last day of January, with United securing Steve Morison and £200,000. Becchio’s future came under scrutiny in the build-up to the transfer window and a deal was hatched with Norwich after clubs in Turkey and China moved to sign United’s top scorer. Writing in his newly-released autobiography, The Gaffer: The Trials and Tribulations of a Football Manager, Warnock said: “It was clear by early December that he wanted to go – before the Chelsea (League Cup) game when he scored and kissed the badge. “At that stage he wanted to go to either Turkey or China. The Turks were offering to nearly treble his wages so inevitably I get a player coming to see me telling me he’s 29 and this is his big chance to make himself secure for life. “I...

by Phil Hay Leeds United are competing with Scottish double-winners Celtic for the signature of Wolves striker Kevin Doyle. Celtic have signalled their intention to make an offer for Kevin Doyle with Leeds United looking to beat Neil Lennon to the forward’s signature. Lennon hinted strongly at a renewed effort to take Doyle to Glasgow last night as it emerged that Leeds are vying with the Scottish champions for the 29-year-old striker. Neither club are thought to have made a formal bid to Doyle’s existing side, Wolverhampton Wanderers, but the Republic or Ireland international is aware of interest in him and will leave Molineux before the start of next season. His contract with Wolves runs until June 2015 but back-to-back relegations have dragged the West Midlands club into League One and made Doyle’s summer departure inevitable. Celtic tried and failed to sign him on loan in January but are now looking to negotiate a permanent transfer. Leeds manager Brian McDermott is also an ...

Yorkshire Post 5/6/13 GFH Capital’s ownership of Leeds United is the focus of fresh attention after the company was forced to intervene in an unseemly dispute between the club’s new vice-chairman and their Thorp Arch academy. Representatives of Leeds’ owner found themselves at odds with director and shareholder Salah Nooruddin following an attempt by Nooruddin to secure an academy place for the son of one of his business contacts. United offered a trial to Idris Tahar last month in response to a request from Nooruddin but they rejected the 18-year-old outright on the basis of his ability. Nooruddin is alleged to have put pressure on Leeds’ academy staff - led by development squad coach Neil Redfearn - to sign Tahar, despite the initial refusal. Nooruddin, a 49-year-old businessman from Bahrain, joined United’s board at the end of April and was named as the club’s vice-chairman last month. He holds a 3.33 per cent stake in Leeds having bought his share directly from GFH Capital. Th...

YEP 5/6/13 by Phil Hay Leeds United have submitted offers for four players and are poised to approach further targets, manager Brian McDermott confirmed last night. McDermott said an initial round of bids would be followed by another spate of enquiries by Leeds, admitting he had “gone for four so far” but wanted to “bring in others on top of that”. United’s manager refused to comment on rumours of interest in specific players, saying only that former Leeds defender Ian Harte was not on his radar, but he described those approached so far as “receptive” to the prospect of a transfer to Elland Road. Leeds have been strongly linked with several players, among them striker Noel Hunt, who played for McDermott at Reading but will leave the Madejski Stadium when his contract ends on June 30. McDermott is due to attend Hunt’s wedding in Ireland later this month and is widely expected to secure the forward on a free transfer in time for the start of the new Championship season. Bolton Wan...

YEP 5/6/13 by Phil Hay Brian McDermott insisted last night that Ian Harte would not be returning to Leeds United, despite claiming the veteran full-back will “give someone great service” next season. McDermott dismissed claims that out-of-contract Harte was closing in on a move back to Elland Road and said he would put his trust in United’s existing group of left-backs for the new Championship term. Harte, 35, is looking for a new club after three successful years at Reading and McDermott paid tribute to a defender who was believed to be past his best when he unexpectedly moved to the Madejski Stadium from Carlisle United in 2010. The ex-Leeds trainee’s time at Reading earned him one play-off final appearance, one Championship winners’ medal and a season in the Premier League. McDermott, the manager who took Harte to the Madejski Stadium, said: “Ian’s one of the most hungry players I’ve ever worked with. “He was 33 when I signed him and at the time he was winding down apparently...