Mighty Leeds Weblog

YEP 25/9/13 by Phil Hay Hisham Alrayes has resigned from the board of Leeds United, according to Companies House. Alrayes stepped down as a director last week in a move which appears to have ended his short association with the Elland Road club. Gulf Finance House’s acting chief executive was an influential figure behind the takeover of Leeds by GFH Capital in December and he joined United’s board the following month. But notice of his exit from Leeds has been published on Companies House’s website along with confirmation that Alrayes is also stepping down as a director of United’s holding company, Leeds City Holdings Limited. Former club chief executive Shaun Harvey, meanwhile, has also formally resigned as a director ahead of the start of his reign as Football League chief executive next Tuesday. The departure of Alrayes and Harvey leaves only three members on the United board - chairman Salah Nooruddin, managing director David Haigh and GFH Capital employee Salem Patel. A sp...

Square Ball 23/9/13 Amitai Winehouse (@awinehouse1) I’m not declaring anything a write-off, far from it, but a combination of the economic situation in the Football League and our squad’s contracts means this season was always going to be far more difficult than you’d have hoped. Brian McDermott has the unenviable position of having to deal with a squad bloated by a Warnockian short-termist policy. It’s interesting that we find ourselves in the position of having to count down several contracts signed last summer, given the fact that the situation was already noticeably strained then.¹ Danny Pugh has been on the fringes of the team since Neil Warnock’s arrival, but is guaranteed wages until the end of the season, and has no impetus to move for less than he’s being paid here. Ditto for David Norris, who will be being paid first team wages (given the fact Warnock saw him as a key player) until the end of the 2014/15 season – with other Championship clubs tightening their belts, we’re ...

Fear and Loathing in LS11 22/9/13 ‘Shy, giving, thoughtful, bald 52 year old man seeks young, enthusiastic, creative types for good times. Those not interested in meaningful, long term relationships need not apply. Box no. 4132‘ After looking a little bit short of personnel for most of the season, yesterday marked the first time where frankly, Leeds just looked a little bit awful; in cohorts with a disciplined Burnley outfit, the diamond formation, designed to maximise what we have, served to strangle the life out of any meaningful threat Leeds could muster. In the middle of the pitch, players stepped on each others toes, but in contrast the flanks remained an abandoned wasteland; tumbleweed danced in the autumn sunshine where once ball players bounded, shimmied and seduced. When the ball did find players in advanced positions out wide, it was typically Varney or Diouf who’d then survey the expanse of the 18 yard box, more often than not to find a dearth of white shirts obligingl...

Leeds United boss Brian McDermott admitted after the home defeat to Burnley that they were beaten up in the first half. Leeds trailed 2-0 at the break and McDermott was unhappy with the defending for both goals as Burnley went at Leeds from the off. Speaking on LUTV, McDermott said, "We were beaten up in the first half and we conceded two soft goals. "We had to change things around in the second half and launch the ball and it is not how we want to play but we were trying to get a result. "We created chances but we didn`t take them. "I cannot complain about the result, they were the better side." Scott Arfield and Sam Vokes had already had great chances before Arfield opened the scoring for the visitors. It was a repeat of the midweek defeat at Reading with Luke Varney this time missing a great chance to put Leeds ahead only for the visitors to go straight down the other end and go ahead. Varney again, Sam Byram, Ross McCormack and Rodolph Austin all ha...

YEP 21/9/13 by Phil Hay Sean Dyche wants his Burnley players to keep giving their all after they reached the lofty heights of second in the Sky Bet Championship with a 2-1 win at Leeds. The Clarets continue to defy those who said they would achieve nothing without Charlie Austin, with this success further evidence of the product Dyche has created. The former Chesterfield defender is as no-nonsense a talker as he was a player, but his side are certainly not just one-dimensional, as they displayed at Elland Road. They were outstanding in the first half and got goals through Scott Arfield and Sam Vokes, before they muscled up in the second to restrict Leeds to a deserved Matt Smith consolation. As someone who tells it like it is, Dyche can be believed when he says he is not looking at the league table, but he added: “I consider us a team that is growing and improving and I want a team who can look down the tunnel and know they’re going to go hard, no matter who’s got the shirt on. ...

BBC 21/9/13 Burnley sent Leeds to their second Championship defeat of the week with a narrow win at Elland Road. The Clarets took a two-goal advantage into the break after Scott Arfield beat Paddy Kenny at his near post and Sam Vokes followed up his own header to score a second. Substitute Matt Smith headed in an El-Hadji Diouf free-kick to give Leeds hope but the visitors held out. Victory for Sean Dyche's side moves them second in the table. Burnley were good value for their win and could have taken the lead earlier than they did as Arfield and Dean Marney both went close before Vokes forced a superb save from Kenny. Wales international Vokes has now scored four goals in 12 games this season. Last season he struck five times in 53 appearances. The former Republic of Ireland keeper could do nothing to stop Arfield opening the scoring when he reacted quickest to Sam Byram blocking his initial attempt. Luke Varney had a great chance for Leeds but he hit his shot from six yar...

YEP 21/9/13 by Phil Hay Leeds United are part of England’s manic depressive core. Inflated one week, flat the next and never able to settle down. Some would call that the mark of ambition but it makes life hard inside the bubble. You walked away from Saturday’s win at Bolton thinking all was well in the world; or if not well then satisfactory. But Wednesday brings a defeat to Reading and you flick onto Twitter to find Ross McCormack fielding criticism and responding in kind. No wonder the season feels long when appreciation has a four-day lifespan. Brian Clough did better than that. A man with his finger on the pulse said to me recently that a consequence of 10 years in the Football League – and in his view, eight-and-a-half in bed with Ken Bates – was the death of the middle ground at Leeds. “There’s no such thing anymore,” he said. “It’s heaven or hell with nowt in between.” There must have been times when grey areas existed but in seven seasons of following Leeds I’ve never see...

YEP 20/9/13 by Danny Mills The downside of moving from club management into international management is the loss of day-to-day involvement with players, supporters and the game itself. If that sounds strange, watch Brian McDermott whipping up 5,000 fans after Leeds United’s win at Bolton Wanderers. He’d get moments like that with the Republic of Ireland but nowhere near as many. When you talk about the next international game, you’re often looking months ahead. It’s impossible to say whether the Republic were ready to try and take McDermott on but I very much doubt that he was ready for it either. I don’t mean that in the sense that he’s too inexperienced – although in fairness, perhaps he is – but in the sense that he’d miss everything club football gives you. When you live and breathe the sport, you need your fix regularly. You need a following of 5,000 on a Saturday afternoon and 3,500 with you at Reading the week after. It’s all day, every day for McDermott and that’s how mo...

leedsunited.com 20/9/13 Winger links up with League One side on month's loan ... United winger Ryan Hall has joined Sheffield United on a month’s loan. The 25-year-old, who hasn’t figured in the first team this season, linked up with the League One strugglers on Thursday morning. Hall has made nine appearances - three starts and six from the bench – since arriving from Southend United last season. United boss Brian McDermott said: “He could go away and do really well and might come back here and do really well, you never know. "For me, he’s someone who plays off the strikers and we have El-Hadji Diouf and Ross McCormack who play there so it’s difficult for him to play here. “Sometimes you have to let players go to get their careers up and running. "He didn’t come back as fit as he could have done, but he’s been working hard and training well. I spoke to David Weir, who wants to take him and I think this is right for his career and is right for us.”

YEP 20/9/13 by Phil Hay Brian McDermott refused to point the finger of blame at Stephen Warnock after Leeds United’s defeat to Reading, despite admitting that the left-back needlessly invited the killer goal and a late red card. Warnock apologised to United’s dressing room for the foul on Adam Le Fondre which led directly to his dismissal and a 1-0 loss in the sixth minute of injury-time on Wednesday night. The defender felled Le Fondre as Reading launched a final attack, incurring his second booking of the game after an earlier caution for a late tackle on Reading right-back Stephen Kelly. Warnock, who will serve a one-match ban during tomorrow’s clash with Burnley, had barely left the field when Le Fondre met a free-kick from Royston Drenthe and beat Paddy Kenny with a glancing header deep into stoppage-time. The dramatic goal inflicted Leeds’ second defeat of the season and soured an otherwise pleasing return to Reading for McDermott, who managed the Berkshire club for three-a...

YEP 19/9/13 by Phil Hay Aidan White could make his first league start in more than five months tomorrow, just three weeks after rejecting the chance to leave Leeds. The 21-year-old is bidding for a rare opportunity after the dismissal of Stephen Warnock at Reading forced Brian McDermott to rethink his defence for United’s clash with Burnley. White is likely to be Leeds’ only recognised and available left-back this weekend with Warnock on a one-match suspension and Adam Drury injured. McDermott named White on the bench for Wednesday’s defeat to Reading, his first appearance in a matchday squad since Barnsley failed to sign him on loan in the transfer window. United’s manager was willing to sanction White’s departure to Oakwell on a temporary basis but McDermott said: “Aidy’s been here since the age of nine. He loves Leeds United and he wants to give himself every chance of cracking it at Leeds United. If that’s the case, I want to make sure he gets every opportunity.” Drury, mean...

Yorkshire Post 20/9/13 by Leon Wobschall BRIAN McDERMOTT has urged his crestfallen Leeds United players to move on quickly following their shattering late defeat at his former club Reading. Former Rotherham United goal-poacher Adam Le Fondre headed home in the sixth minute of stoppage time to secure a 1-0 win for the Royals on Wednesday – McDermott’s first return to the Berkshire club after being sacked six months ago. It inflicted a first seasonal defeat on the road for United, who are still without a win at the Madejski Stadium, but McDermott – despite obvious disappointment on his Royals reunion night – maintained an admirable sense of perspective following the game. The Leeds chief, whose side host surprise packages Burnley tomorrow, said: “Over 40-odd games as the season is, you are going to get knockbacks. I’ve lost a play-off final which was horrendous. That on Wednesday wasn’t horrendous. “We just move on from that quickly. I just said to them, ‘Get on with it’. You can w...

leedsunited.com Brian McDermott reflects on Wednesday's late defeat at Reading... United manager Brian McDermott spoke of his disappointment after Wednesday’s late, late defeat at Reading. Adam Le Fondre scored the only goal of the game – six minutes into stoppage time – after Stephen Warnock had been sent-off for a second yellow card. It was a cruel ending from a game that looked destined to end in a 0-0 draw. “I felt gutted,” said the boss. “It was a draw for definite and maybe a game we could have won. “We had an opportunity ourselves just before their goal and if that goes in, we’ve won the game. Where the extra 2 minutes of stoppage time came from I don’t know, but they did, and this happens. “We shouldn’t have given away the free-kick, Stephen put his hands up straight away and apologised, and we should have defended the free-kick better. “I was gutted for the fans. They were tremendous and didn’t deserve that right at the very end.” It was the manager’s first return...

YEP 19/9/13 by Phil Hay Leeds United manager Brian McDermott faced up to an “awful feeling” after Adam Le Fondre struck deep into injury-time to ruin his return to Reading. The United boss watched Le Fondre – a player he signed for Reading in 2011 – guide home a header in the sixth minute of added time to inflict Leeds’ second defeat of the season and wreck McDermott’s night. Leeds were on the cusp of a deserved goalless draw when a foul by Stephen Warnock on Le Fondre earned the left-back a red card and created the chance which Reading’s dangerous forward dispatched clinically. Moments earlier, Jason Pearce had come within inches of snatching a victory for United on McDermott’s first appearance at the Madejski Stadium since Reading sacked him as manager in March. Pearce’s last-gasp header flew wide of a post, giving Reading time for one last attack, and McDermott said: “It’s difficult to take. I thought we’d win it with 10 minutes to go, never mind lose the game. I didn’t think i...

Yorkshire Post 19/9/13 by Leon Wobschall 
at the Madejski Stadium BRIAN McDERMOTT already knew plenty about late finishes involving former club Reading and his current one at the Madejski. And one man in particular. Step forward Adam Le Fondre, who after breaking 10-men Leeds’s resistance with two goals in the final six minutes to put the Royals within touching distance of the top-flight in the pair’s last fixture on Good Friday 2012 when McDermott was manager, produced another choice late offering. Last night’s decisive denouement arrived even later in the piece than the former Rotherham United man’s late blast that spring Friday. With almost the last kick of the game, the man they called Alfie won it from Royston Drenthe’s free-kick – all this coming after big defender Jason Pearce spurned a golden chance to do just that at the other end for Leeds. It was Reading’s evening on what McDermott hoped would be his special night back ‘home’ in Berkshire. The game looked like boiling...

YEP 18/9/13 by Phil Hay Brian McDermott has had more infuriating nights at Reading but not so many that he can remember. A game that looked destined to end in a satisfactory draw resulted instead in an injury-time defeat, with a red card thrown in for good measure. The dream scenario for Leeds United’s manager, much as he refused to say so, was to go back to the club who sacked him six months ago and take them to the cleaners. For his replacement, Nigel Adkins, there was scope to prove that swapping coach-for-coach as Reading did in March was a clever and calculated move. Neither boss made a point to the other but Adam Le Fondre’s late, late header prevented an equal share of the honours. Leeds have been here before with Le Fondre, beaten by two headers from the striker on their last visit to the Madejski Stadium. McDermott was in charge of Reading then and knew what to expect when Royston Drenthe swept a free-kick onto Le Fondre’s forehead in the sixth minute of added time. T...

BBC 17/9/13 Leeds United manager Brian McDermott is looking to the past in his determination to make Elland Road an intimidating venue for opposing teams. McDermott's players are recreating some of the pre-match rituals made famous by Don Revie's side in the early 1970s. That includes walking out and waving to the crowd in the manner pictured above. McDermott said: "I distinctly remember that team walking out like a group of soldiers, it was bordering on being a little scary and I liked it." "We are fortunate to have people from that era around the club, like Norman Hunter and Eddie Gray and Peter Lorimer, and now Dominic [Matteo] from another successful era when they did really well in the Champions League. "I have great respect for what they achieved and I have no interest in diluting that." McDermott said the club's fans were responding to the idea. "We sat down, all of us, and had a discussion about the past and the history of our c...

leedsunited.com 17/9/13 United striker Luke Varney on change in away form… Saturday’s goalscorer Luke Varney believes that a change in mentality and way of thinking is the reason for United’s early season away form. United have picked up seven points after three away games this season, at Leicester, Ipswich and Bolton and remain undefeated on the road. Reading is the next destination for United on Wednesday evening (8pm) and the striker feels a change in attitude could be key to the trip. “The dressing room on Saturday was similar to after the Ipswich game,” he said. “It was another great away performance. “To get the three points really adds to it. We’re delighted and very pleased and we can now look forward to another tough game on Wednesday. “It shows the mentality and the different way we are thinking this year. “We are keeping solid and if we keep that clean sheet you know that you have got a chance of winning games. “I think too many times last year we went under too sof...

YEP 17/9/13 by Leon Wobschall Sam Byram has put himself in contention for a first-team return in Leeds United’s clash at Reading tomorrow night with another ninety-minute run-out for the development squad. The highly-talented right-back, who turned 20 yesterday, featured in the 2-0 loss at Birmingham City and could be handed a belated birthday present if Lee Peltier is ruled out of the Royals clash – a first Championship appearance since April 20. Byram, who is reportedly being monitored by Newcastle United – the latest in a long line of Premier League clubs who are tracking his progress – followed up his first full ninety minutes of the season in a behind-closed doors friendly against Sunderland at Thorp Arch at the start of last week with another against Blues. While keeping coy on the subject of a first-team comeback for Byram, boss Brian McDermott has spoken about his return “getting close” – and his availability this week could be particularly timely with former skipper Pelti...

YEP 17/9/13 Former Reading captain Ady Williams reveals to phil hay that brian mcdermott will enjoy cult status on his return to the club. Time will tell whether Reading took a prudent course of action by replacing Brian McDermott with Nigel Adkins. Relegated from the Premier League and ninth in the Championship, the jury is yet to deliver a verdict. The two men will avoid that debate and shake hands warmly at the Madejski Stadium tomorrow. This is not Dennis Wise meets Kevin Blackwell or a horribly bitter reunion. When Adkins was offered the Reading job in the aftermath of McDermott’s sacking, McDermott told him to take it. “He’s a top man,” said Adkins. “We’ll always welcome him back here.” Adkins was not the sole beneficiary of McDermott’s demise on March 13. Reading’s cull of their previous coaching team offered Leeds United a manager who, at a time of dire straits in West Yorkshire, they were lucky to find available. There are some at the Madejski who would argue now that the ...

Fear and Loathing in LS11 16/9/13 The following piece was written for the latest issue of The Square Ball, just prior to the QPR home game; the decision that day to clad the players in tracksuit tops, complete with names and have them perform a pre kick-off wave to the crowd suggests I’m not alone in advocating the club embrace its past, I only hope this marks the start of something more substantial as outlined in the piece that follows… In an era where ‘brand awareness’ supersedes tradition, where market savvy moves steamroller seemingly lesser concerns like identity, where Hull City have become ‘Tigers’, where the Bluebirds of Cardiff now bow in deference to the Red Dragons, football now, more than ever stands accused of selling its soul to the highest bidder. From the Far East to the Middle East, players arrive at clubs, often recruited as much for their potential in increasing market penetration as their prospects of breaking into a starting XI. Pre-season tours serve primarily ...

Mail 16/9/13 By Neil Ashton Newcastle are monitoring Leeds’ highly-rated right back Sam Byram as he continues his recovery from injury. Byram, who turned 20 on Monday, is the best full back in the Championship and was being watched by a number of Barclays Premier League clubs before injuring his hip at the end of last season. The defender continued his rehabilitation when he appeared for Leeds’ Under-21 development team against Birmingham. Byram won five separate player of the year awards last season and is valued by Leeds at around £6m. Newcastle signed Mathieu Debuchy to play in the position last season, but they are short of cover after losing Danny Simpson to QPR.

YEP 16/9/13 by Phil Hay Brendan Rodgers’ opening gambit as Liverpool manager was to put the names of three players in envelopes and claim that the individuals concerned would “let us down this year – the cause, the fight, everything.” Leeds United’s own Irish ringleader took a different tack and kept his glass half-full. Speaking in July with signings scarce, Brian McDermott predicted that “someone will come from within this squad and surprise you. I’m convinced. It happens a lot.” McDermott named no names but he would single out Luke Varney now. There are others too who for reasons of fitness, tactics or attitude look more comfortable in Leeds United’s skin than they did six months ago. McDermott asked for their effort and promised loyalty in return. It is a healthy and fertile arrangement. Leeds were in the habit of muddling through at grounds like the Reebok Stadium when McDermott stepped in to clean up the car crash but Varney’s sixth-minute goal and the aggressive sparring ...

YEP 16/9/13 by Phil Hay Brian McDermott praised Noel Hunt for facing down criticism of his recent form after the Leeds United striker showed signs of rejuvenation in a 1-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers. Hunt reacted to a vote of confidence from McDermott by shining in Saturday’s win at the Reebok Stadium, emerging from a spell in which he openly questioned his own performances. The Republic of Ireland international – a consistent and effective player during McDermott’s successful tenure at Reading – voiced disappointment with himself after struggling to settle into United’s team during the first month of the Championship season. Hunt joined Leeds on a free transfer from Reading in July and has yet to score a competitive goal for the club. But McDermott resisted the temptation to drop him at Bolton, saying the continued selection of Hunt was a “no brainer”, and the 30-year-old’s lively outing amid much scrutiny drew a nod of respect from his manager. “Picking Noel was a 100 per c...

Leeds United boss Brian McDermott reflected on a great result after Leeds won 1-0 at Bolton Wanderers. Leeds won thanks to an early header from Luke Varney and McDermott says he is making Leeds difficult to play against. Speaking after the game, McDermott said,'To come away and win 1-0 at Bolton is a great result. 'We're trying to get a group together that's difficult to play against but also we're trying to get a group that can control games better with the ball. 'We've been working at our set plays because they've been really important to us and it was a great delivery and a really good header from Luke (Varney).' After a poor season on the road last season, Leeds remain unbeaten in their first three games on their travels this term. The clean sheet at Bolton was their second in three games on the road this season having managed just one last season. McDermott will now take his Leeds team to Reading on Wednesday night looking to put one over...

Yorkshire Post 14/9/13 Dougie Freedman believes Bolton can still win promotion after Luke Varney’s header saw Leeds claim a 1-0 win and condemn the Trotters to their fourth straight defeat in the Sky Bet Championship. Wanderers have not won a league game all season and remain level on points with Millwall, with a slightly better goal difference meaning they move up to second bottom. But Freedman is not concerned with the Trotters’ current position and hopes that a much-needed victory can help spur them on. He said: “Have we given up on automatic promotion? We’ll never give up. Anything can happen in professional sport. “Obviously we’re disappointed with the result. To concede a goal after seven minutes was disappointing but we didn’t have too many clear opportunities and that’s the biggest disappointment. “Leeds are a very experienced side and they held on well but we didn’t hit the target enough. “I’m certainly not worried because this is professional sport. You have your ups a...

YEP 14/9/13 by Phil Hay Who knows if the Republic of Ireland wanted Brian McDermott? All we do know is that John Delaney, the Football Association of Ireland’s chief executive, identified him as a candidate on Wednesday without being prompted. Delaney was asked directly about Martin O’Neill, Mick McCarthy, Chris Hughton and Roy Keane. He threw in McDermott’s name himself. A Freudian slip or a man who’d been watching the betting markets closely? Leeds United drew their own conclusions and were not at all impressed. They are lucky to have a manager who prides himself on straight dealing. McDermott’s press conference on Thursday was an exhibition in honesty and class, killing the story dead without upsetting the club he works for or the country he intends to manage one day. Leeds looked for a categorical statement and got it within 24 hours. There is no reversing out of that one. You suspected from the outset that the Irish vacancy would not suit McDermott – too early in his career a...

YEP 13/9/13 by Phil Hay Sam Byram is on the verge of a first-team comeback for Leeds United – but the club look likely to delay his return until after Saturday’s clash with Bolton Wanderers. Manager Brian McDermott said Byram was “close” to putting himself in contention following a long fight with a hip injury but he is due to be given a final run-out with United’s Under-21 squad on Monday. The teenage right-back completed his first 90-minute appearance since April during a friendly against Sunderland at Thorp Arch this week and he will feature again in a development-league match against Birmingham City. McDermott, who takes his senior squad to Bolton this weekend, said: “He’s close. He’s getting there. “He played 90 minutes on Monday and he’ll play another 90 minutes next week, then we’ll see where we are. “I’m not rushing him and I want to make sure he feels comfortable and up to speed. Once he tells me he’s right then he’ll be right.”

Steve Parkin used to be a miner but now he is a man with a vision to give Leeds the iconic building it so nearly gained before the recession struck. Jayne Dawson talks to him. There was a time when the skyline of Leeds was full of cranes. They were everywhere, soaring high, a symbol of our prosperity. Then the recession happened and they disappeared, leaving empty sky and the city ...unfinished. In particular there was one big hole, literally a hole. The foundations of the two glass towers known as Lumiere - the greatest symbol of the city’s big bold future - had been months in the drilling, but no towers ever rose. The site became an eyesore. Instead of a building to be proud of, the people of Leeds found themselves complaining about the ugliness of it all. All was stagnant. Until now. Now, there is talk of what can only be described as a phoenix rising from the ashes - thanks to a former miner from Middleton. Steve Parkin is that man, an old-school entrepreneur and capitalis...