Leeds United boss issues gloomy transfers update
YEP 26/7/13
by Phil Hay
Brian McDermott is facing up to the prospect of starting the new season with his existing squad after admitting he has “no idea” if Leeds United will pull off any more signings before August 3.
The United manager was unable to offer encouragement about new arrivals at Elland Road with his transfer targets still dependent on players leaving the club first.
McDermott has been asked to reduce the wage bill at Leeds before adding to the three signings completed this summer. Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s friendly against Nuremberg, United’s last pre-season friendly, the Leeds boss said: “We’ve nothing to report.”
United are a week away from the first day of the Championship season and their opening match at home to Brighton next Saturday.
Luke Murphy, Noel Hunt and Matt Smith are the club’s only deals to date and a projected fourth signing – identified by McDermott as a “key player” many weeks ago – has been delayed by the financial situation at Elland Road.
McDermott’s senior squad numbers more than 25 and he has an excess of central midfielders, many of whom were signed by his predecessor Neil Warnock.
He admitted after last weekend’s loss at Walsall that United “need a player to go out the door before we can bring one in” but Leeds are yet to receive any firm approaches for members of their squad.
United have enquired about the availability of Matt Mills, the Bolton Wanderers centre-back, but McDermott does not anticipate any movement before tomorrow’s friendly and is unclear about the likelihood of a breakthrough next week.
Asked if new players would be on board before the clash with Brighton, McDermott said: “I’ve got no idea. “There’s nothing to say on that at the moment.
“There’s no point in saying things and saying nothing because that’s all I’m doing. We’ve nothing to report.
“What I think is that we’ve got the players we’ve got.
“I’m happy to work with the players we’ve got because that’s what I’ve got.
“There’s no point talking about players I don’t have. I’ve never done that in the past and I won’t do it here.
“We’ll work with the players we’ve got, do the best we can and see where we end up at the end of August.”
McDermott added: “You can talk about being frustrated but there’s no point in getting frustrated either.
“I’ve just got to get on with my job with the players we’ve got here.”
Despite the uncertainty surrounding his transfer plans, McDermott said: “The players are in good shape, physically fit and ready.”
by Phil Hay
Brian McDermott is facing up to the prospect of starting the new season with his existing squad after admitting he has “no idea” if Leeds United will pull off any more signings before August 3.
The United manager was unable to offer encouragement about new arrivals at Elland Road with his transfer targets still dependent on players leaving the club first.
McDermott has been asked to reduce the wage bill at Leeds before adding to the three signings completed this summer. Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s friendly against Nuremberg, United’s last pre-season friendly, the Leeds boss said: “We’ve nothing to report.”
United are a week away from the first day of the Championship season and their opening match at home to Brighton next Saturday.
Luke Murphy, Noel Hunt and Matt Smith are the club’s only deals to date and a projected fourth signing – identified by McDermott as a “key player” many weeks ago – has been delayed by the financial situation at Elland Road.
McDermott’s senior squad numbers more than 25 and he has an excess of central midfielders, many of whom were signed by his predecessor Neil Warnock.
He admitted after last weekend’s loss at Walsall that United “need a player to go out the door before we can bring one in” but Leeds are yet to receive any firm approaches for members of their squad.
United have enquired about the availability of Matt Mills, the Bolton Wanderers centre-back, but McDermott does not anticipate any movement before tomorrow’s friendly and is unclear about the likelihood of a breakthrough next week.
Asked if new players would be on board before the clash with Brighton, McDermott said: “I’ve got no idea. “There’s nothing to say on that at the moment.
“There’s no point in saying things and saying nothing because that’s all I’m doing. We’ve nothing to report.
“What I think is that we’ve got the players we’ve got.
“I’m happy to work with the players we’ve got because that’s what I’ve got.
“There’s no point talking about players I don’t have. I’ve never done that in the past and I won’t do it here.
“We’ll work with the players we’ve got, do the best we can and see where we end up at the end of August.”
McDermott added: “You can talk about being frustrated but there’s no point in getting frustrated either.
“I’ve just got to get on with my job with the players we’ve got here.”
Despite the uncertainty surrounding his transfer plans, McDermott said: “The players are in good shape, physically fit and ready.”