McCormack is delighted to be staying at Leeds United
YEP 3/9/13
Despite the Firm offers and countless rumours, United striker Ross McCormack tells Phil Hay he never wanted to leave Elland Road.
In one respect, the transfer window just gone drew a line in the sand at Elland Road. It was the first since the end of January 2011 when Leeds United made it through the mist without losing a player they were loathe to sell.
The agreement of a four-year deal with Ross McCormack broke a trend which began with Max Gradel and continued with Jonathan Howson, Robert Snodgrass and Luciano Becchio. Unpopular departures have been part of the routine but a resistant streak was found in United’s boardroom summer. “It’s important to keep our key personnel,” said managing director David Haigh.
That sounded like a change of policy to the club’s supporters and McCormack himself. Negotiations between his advisors and Leeds did not drag on to a ridiculous extent – terms were agreed and his deal signed in the space of less than a fortnight – but it was a relief for him to have his future resolved on Friday and a relief for Leeds to reach deadline day without the usual panic about who might be leaving.
McCormack stated more than once that he intended to stay at Elland Road, regardless of three offers for him from Middlesbrough and one from Blackpool.
Boro’s highest bid exceeded £1.5million and the Teesside club were ready to pay him more than his salary at Leeds but he was as keen as United to get his contract finalised prior to Saturday’s defeat to Queens Park Rangers.
By then, persistent speculation was frustrating him. “It was starting to get annoying,” McCormack admitted.
“You meet fans in supermarkets and other places and some of them are not quite believing you when you say you want to stay. But I think that’s put to bed now. Everyone knows I’m here for the foreseeable future.
“People are saying I played it well, that my agent played it well and maybe used the interest to get a new contract. But that wasn’t the case. I think the gaffer (Brian McDermott) was the main one who wanted to get me tied down to the club. I’m really grateful that it’s happened.
“It’s always nice when other clubs want you and it was obviously pretty public about Middlesbrough. They were one of the clubs. I’d said before that if Leeds were going to sell me I would have had to move on but I’m glad that’s not the case.”
Boro were never able to get a foot through the door at Elland Road, failing with multiple offers in quick succession. There was a firm belief among their manager, Tony Mowbray, and the club’s board that Leeds were willing to sell McCormack at the right price but United boss McDermott was opposed to a transfer from the outset and the start of contract talks ahead of a 2-1 win at Ipswich Town saw Boro off.
McDermott took the view that Leeds would be securing McCormack for the “peak years of his footballing life” with the striker back in the Scotland squad and less than two weeks on from his 27th birthday. The improved deal he signed on Friday runs to 2017.
“The new contract will take me to 30, 31,” McCormack said. “They say your peak in your career is at 28 or 29 and I’m learning every day.
“I’m settled, my family are settled and we love the place. I’m ready to kick on and really learn the game here.”
This season has been a new experience for McCormack following McDermott’s decision to reinvent him as an attacking midfielder, lodged behind United’s strikers.
The position is unfamiliar to him but he scored four times last month, helping Leeds to reach the international break in 10th place in the Championship. Saturday’s loss to QPR – a game in which McCormack admitted he “didn’t play well” – was the only defeat in six league and Capital One Cup fixtures.
“I’m learning how to play in this position and how to influence games,” McCormack said. “It’ll take a while but I’m really enjoying it.
“We’ve got mostly the same players as we had last season but we’re a new team playing a new formation so it’s going to take time for us to get used to it.”
Leeds and QPR were drawn into a tight, scrappy match in which few chances presented themselves. Rangers left-back Clint Hill inflicted United’s first defeat of the season with a far post tap-in on 75 minutes as Leeds buckled under a hanging free-kick from Joey Barton.
“When you’re not winning games at home you’ve got to pick up a point,” McCormack said. “So we’re really disappointed.
“We didn’t create anything and didn’t get our forward players on the ball in dangerous areas.”
McCormack’s recent recall to the Scotland squad after an extended exile will involve him in World Cup qualifiers against Belgium and Macedonia during the coming week. He was not selected for last month’s compelling friendly between England and Scotland but the Scottish coach, Gordon Strachan, came to watch his performance during Leeds’ 2-1 win over Brighton on the first day of the Championship season.
In all, four first-team players will figure in international fixtures while the rest of United’s squad draw breath before their next league match at Bolton Wanderers on September 14.
Club captain Rodolph Austin is flying out to represent Jamaica after a strong run of performances in the Leeds midfield and Paul Green has been called up by the Republic of Ireland.
Youngster Chris Dawson, meanwhile, is part of Wales’ Under-21 squad for games in San Marino and Moldova, continuing along the road to another first-team opportunity at Elland Road.
The midfielder made his senior debut against Derby County in April but underwent shoulder surgery soon after and has not been involved under McDermott since.
Despite the Firm offers and countless rumours, United striker Ross McCormack tells Phil Hay he never wanted to leave Elland Road.
In one respect, the transfer window just gone drew a line in the sand at Elland Road. It was the first since the end of January 2011 when Leeds United made it through the mist without losing a player they were loathe to sell.
The agreement of a four-year deal with Ross McCormack broke a trend which began with Max Gradel and continued with Jonathan Howson, Robert Snodgrass and Luciano Becchio. Unpopular departures have been part of the routine but a resistant streak was found in United’s boardroom summer. “It’s important to keep our key personnel,” said managing director David Haigh.
That sounded like a change of policy to the club’s supporters and McCormack himself. Negotiations between his advisors and Leeds did not drag on to a ridiculous extent – terms were agreed and his deal signed in the space of less than a fortnight – but it was a relief for him to have his future resolved on Friday and a relief for Leeds to reach deadline day without the usual panic about who might be leaving.
McCormack stated more than once that he intended to stay at Elland Road, regardless of three offers for him from Middlesbrough and one from Blackpool.
Boro’s highest bid exceeded £1.5million and the Teesside club were ready to pay him more than his salary at Leeds but he was as keen as United to get his contract finalised prior to Saturday’s defeat to Queens Park Rangers.
By then, persistent speculation was frustrating him. “It was starting to get annoying,” McCormack admitted.
“You meet fans in supermarkets and other places and some of them are not quite believing you when you say you want to stay. But I think that’s put to bed now. Everyone knows I’m here for the foreseeable future.
“People are saying I played it well, that my agent played it well and maybe used the interest to get a new contract. But that wasn’t the case. I think the gaffer (Brian McDermott) was the main one who wanted to get me tied down to the club. I’m really grateful that it’s happened.
“It’s always nice when other clubs want you and it was obviously pretty public about Middlesbrough. They were one of the clubs. I’d said before that if Leeds were going to sell me I would have had to move on but I’m glad that’s not the case.”
Boro were never able to get a foot through the door at Elland Road, failing with multiple offers in quick succession. There was a firm belief among their manager, Tony Mowbray, and the club’s board that Leeds were willing to sell McCormack at the right price but United boss McDermott was opposed to a transfer from the outset and the start of contract talks ahead of a 2-1 win at Ipswich Town saw Boro off.
McDermott took the view that Leeds would be securing McCormack for the “peak years of his footballing life” with the striker back in the Scotland squad and less than two weeks on from his 27th birthday. The improved deal he signed on Friday runs to 2017.
“The new contract will take me to 30, 31,” McCormack said. “They say your peak in your career is at 28 or 29 and I’m learning every day.
“I’m settled, my family are settled and we love the place. I’m ready to kick on and really learn the game here.”
This season has been a new experience for McCormack following McDermott’s decision to reinvent him as an attacking midfielder, lodged behind United’s strikers.
The position is unfamiliar to him but he scored four times last month, helping Leeds to reach the international break in 10th place in the Championship. Saturday’s loss to QPR – a game in which McCormack admitted he “didn’t play well” – was the only defeat in six league and Capital One Cup fixtures.
“I’m learning how to play in this position and how to influence games,” McCormack said. “It’ll take a while but I’m really enjoying it.
“We’ve got mostly the same players as we had last season but we’re a new team playing a new formation so it’s going to take time for us to get used to it.”
Leeds and QPR were drawn into a tight, scrappy match in which few chances presented themselves. Rangers left-back Clint Hill inflicted United’s first defeat of the season with a far post tap-in on 75 minutes as Leeds buckled under a hanging free-kick from Joey Barton.
“When you’re not winning games at home you’ve got to pick up a point,” McCormack said. “So we’re really disappointed.
“We didn’t create anything and didn’t get our forward players on the ball in dangerous areas.”
McCormack’s recent recall to the Scotland squad after an extended exile will involve him in World Cup qualifiers against Belgium and Macedonia during the coming week. He was not selected for last month’s compelling friendly between England and Scotland but the Scottish coach, Gordon Strachan, came to watch his performance during Leeds’ 2-1 win over Brighton on the first day of the Championship season.
In all, four first-team players will figure in international fixtures while the rest of United’s squad draw breath before their next league match at Bolton Wanderers on September 14.
Club captain Rodolph Austin is flying out to represent Jamaica after a strong run of performances in the Leeds midfield and Paul Green has been called up by the Republic of Ireland.
Youngster Chris Dawson, meanwhile, is part of Wales’ Under-21 squad for games in San Marino and Moldova, continuing along the road to another first-team opportunity at Elland Road.
The midfielder made his senior debut against Derby County in April but underwent shoulder surgery soon after and has not been involved under McDermott since.