Mighty Leeds Weblog

leedsunited.com 28/11/13 Skipper happy with season progress… United skipper Rudy Austin believes that the high level of competition in the squad has been key to the team's rise into the Play-Off places. Sixth spot is currently occupied by Brian McDermott’s men and the captain feels that things are going well this season and is hoping that United can push forward. “It is going well so far and I was really pleased with Saturday,” said Rudy. “The boys are doing really well and we just have to keep it that way. “It was a tough game. I think that we played well in the first half but in the second half it was hard against 10 men. But the most important thing was that we got the three points. “We are feeling good. The squad is very competitive, everyone wants to play and that is how we want to keep it. “We have to take it one game at a time and we can’t get too carried away.” Rudy, who has now got over 50 appearances to his name in a Untied shirt, says he is enjoying his football ...

YEP 28/11/13 by Phil Hay Sam Byram believes Leeds United can close the gap to the Championship’s automatic promotion zone in the run-up to Christmas with the club poised to begin the defence of their play-off place. Byram wants Leeds to focus on reeling in the three clubs tied at the top of the table after a 2-1 win over Middlesbrough took United into the top six for only the second time this season. Brian McDermott’s squad briefly held a play-off spot after their win at Bolton Wanderers in September but Saturday’s result extended a spell of promising momentum in which United have taken 12 points from their past five games. A sizeable gap has opened up between joint Championship leaders Burnley, Leicester City and Queens Park Rangers, all of whom hold 35 points, and the rest of the table, and United are nine points adrift of the top three after 16 games. But speaking ahead of Saturday’s visit to Blackburn Rovers, an optimistic Byram, whose battles with injury have disrupted his s...

YEP 27/11/13 Former chairman Ken Bates appears to be pursuing another media venture on Leeds United’s doorstep. Phil Hay reports. You can take Ken Bates out of Leeds United but it seems you cannot take the man out of Leeds. The club’s former owner was back on his old stamping ground last weekend, reacquainting himself with Billy’s Bar, one of the emblems of his tenure as chairman at Elland Road. The 81-year-old has occupied offices over the road from the stadium’s drinking hole and is understood to be pursuing another media venture, seven years after launching the now defunct digital station Yorkshire Radio. The new project is unconnected to United, as Bates has been since he was sacked as club president in July of this year, but Leeds and their directors will soon engage with him again in a legal battle stemming from that dramatic parting of ways. His appointment as president on a three-year term was agreed under the terms of his sale of United to current owner GFH Capital last ...

Yorkshire Post 27/11/13 by Richard Sutcliffe KEN BATES last night moved to deny “categorically” speculation that he is involved in any of the consortiums bidding to buy Leeds United. The 81-year-old sold the Elland Road club to GFH Capital last December and was removed as honorary president just a few weeks into what should have been three years in the role. He is now embroiled in a legal battle with the United hierarchy which is likely to end in the High Court come the new year. Despite that, several sightings of Bates in Leeds since last Friday – including many outside Elland Road – had sparked a frenzied internet debate among supporters about his possible return. The former United chairman’s friendship with managing director David Haigh, one of the key players in GFH Capital’s purchase of the Championship club, has also added fuel to the rumours, but Bates last night moved to dispel the speculation. Speaking exclusively to the Yorkshire Post, he said: “I am aware of the negot...

Yorkshire Post 27/11/13 by Richard Sutcliffe MANAGING director David Haigh has reaffirmed his commitment to Leeds United by ploughing at least £1m into the club. The 36-year-old was a key figure in GFH Capital’s takeover at Elland Road a little under a year ago. In recent weeks, the ownership of United has been thrust back into the spotlight courtesy of a consortium, which includes former defender Lucas Radebe, making a bid for a majority shareholding. The offer, which is understood to have been an initial £7m with further payments scheduled, was immediately rejected. However, talks are also understood to have taken place between GFH Capital, who since taking charge in December last year have made it clear they would welcome other investors coming on board, and other interested parties over possible new backing. Those discussions are on-going, but with the January transfer window looming large and United handily placed in the play-off places, Haigh – through his company Sport Ca...

BBC 26/11/13 Leeds United managing director David Haigh has committed a seven-figure investment to the club. BBC Radio Leeds understands that the funds from Haigh's company, Sport Capital, will be used towards bolstering the squad in January. He joined the club's board in December last year before GFH Capital's takeover of the Elland Road side. Leeds, who face Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, are currently sixth in the Championship. Meanwhile, Haigh has also revealed that his company are to sponsor Leeds United Ladies for the next two seasons with the businessman becoming chairman.

YEP 26/11/13 by Leon Wobschall Released Leeds United winger Ryan Hall is steadfastly focusing on moving onto a new chapter in his career after the end of his fraught spell at Elland Road. United announced on Sunday that the 25-year-old’s Elland Road contract had been terminated by mutual consent – bringing an end to his chequered 13-month career at the club. Hall’s exit came hot on the heels of the former Southend United and Crystal Palace player being suspended over an alleged breach of the club’s social media policy. Hall was barred on full pay after a number of controversial posts on his Twitter account expressing his anger at being out of the first-team picture. Hall became the club’s first permanent signing since being taken over by GFH Capital in December 2012 when he arrived for a six-figure fee, believed to be in the region of £150,000 following a loan spell. He still has 18 months left on his deal, with negotiations believed to be ongoing regarding the player’s pay-off....

YEP 25/11/13 Brian McDermott has revealed that Leeds United are close to agreeing a new contract with Alex Mowatt and says the young midfielder would be well advised to commit his future to the Elland Road club. McDermott confirmed that advanced talks between Leeds and Mowatt were underway after the academy product returned from injury with another compelling performance in United’s 2-1 win over Middlesbrough. Mowatt missed a recent victory at Charlton Athletic with a groin strain and was forced to pull out of England’s Under-19 squad for a friendly in Hungary but McDermott recalled him in place of Michael Brown on Saturday and watched the 18-year-old exert his influence again. McDermott talked last month about the importance of improving Mowatt’s terms amid an increasing level of interest in his talent among Premier League clubs, and Leeds appear to be on the verge of tying him to a longer, more lucrative contract. “We’re in the position where we’re talking to him about a new con...

Yorkshire Post 25/11/13 SAME expectant crowd, same opposition, same smiles, same whiff of optimism among home supporters. Even the same result. Saturday was just a delightful throwback, if you were a Leeds United fan, to December 22, 2012. Two goals from Luciano Becchio crowned GFH Capital’s first game in charge in a 2-1 triumph over the Teessiders, which represented a fourth successive home win for United, just as Saturday’s result did. Similarly as last December after a keynote win over the Boro, Leeds – up to sixth in the Championship table – have wind in their sails again. Now, it is a case of navigating the course better after hitting some post-Christmas icebergs under Neil Warnock in 2012-13. Granted, it took a shock 52nd-minute leveller from Mustapha Carayol to pep United into second-half life with the winner 
arriving from an unlikely source in Jason Pearce five minutes later. But the outcome of the game once United opened the scoring in the 35th minute courtesy of Ross ...

YEP 25/11/13 by Phil Hay Danny Pugh reflected on a remarkable change of personal fortune after chalking up a century of games for Leeds United during their 2-1 win over Middlesbrough. Pugh rounded off a week in which he became a father for the second time with his 100th Leeds appearance and a display that laid further claim to a regular starting place at Elland Road. The 32-year-old has been a bit-part player at Leeds for the past 18 months and was trapped on the transfer list for much of that period but Brian McDermott ended a year-long absence from United’s line-up by naming him in his side at Charlton Athletic this month. Pugh retained his place at left-back in front of a crowd of 30,000 at Elland Road on Saturday and played his part in a third straight league victory, a result which took United back into the Championship’s play-off zone for the first time since mid September. The former Stoke City player – a £500,000 signing in January 2012 – said: “My wife had a little girl l...

Roy Keane is a shadow forever stalking Alfie Haaland. These days Haaland speaks of him in tired, uninterested tones. But you doubt that the Norwegian would hold so much affection in Leeds were it not for his history with Manchester United’s ex-captain. Haaland was back at Leeds United in December, a guest at a Championship game against Ipswich. He attended a function in the club’s banqueting suite beforehand and gave a thousand handshakes to all and sundry; a cult hero among the masses at Elland Road. It was never his intention to be regarded as one but two clashes with Keane in 1997 and 2001 – the first as a Leeds player and the second with Manchester City – made him welcome in Yorkshire any time. When Keane came to Elland Road as manager of Sunderland in 2006, he was greeted with chants of ‘One Alfie Haaland’ from the Kop. That feud still resonates. Haaland has done his best to forget about the reckless tackle which began the countdown to his retirement 12 years ago; the studs-u...

Sky 24/11/13 Leeds United forward Ryan Hall has left the club by mutual consent. Hall recently spent a month on loan with Yorkshire rivals Sheffield United and played five times during his spell at Bramall Lane. But he was suspended on his return to Leeds as the club investigated a breach of discipline, believed to be related to the club's social media code of conduct. Hall came through the ranks at Crystal Palace but failed to secure a regular place in the side before making his name at Southend, where he scored 23 goals in 105 matches. He impressed during a loan spell at Leeds before making the switch permanent in January but he has now left Elland Road.

leedsunited.com 24/11/13 Leeds United can confirm that Ryan Hall has left the club by mutual consent.

YEP 23/11/13 Brian McDermott believes there is more to come from Leeds United after this derby win thrust them into the Championship promotion race. Leeds advanced into a play-off position for the first time since September, with in-form Ross McCormack again on the mark. McCormack, who took his goal tally for the season to 13 in all competitions, opened the scoring against the club which had three bids for him rejected in August and although Mustapha Carayol equalised seven minutes into the second half, defender Jason Pearce headed Leeds’s winner five minutes later. Leeds manager Brian McDermott said: “We have tried to find a way to play with no wingers and to get Ross up field as much as possible. If he plays right up the pitch he will score goals. “Every time he plays he looks as if he is going to score. There were bids for him but that is not really relevant because he wanted to stay at Leeds and never wavered.” McDermott added: “Sometimes you are better playing against 11 men...

Yorkshire Post 23/11/13 Aitor Karanka shrugged off Middlesbrough’s defeat in his first game in charge and hailed the attitude of his players as they battled with 10 men against Leeds. The former Real Madrid defender saw goalkeeper Jason Steele sent off shortly before the interval but was happy with what his side accomplished afterwards in the 2-1 loss at Elland Road and is now convinced they can climb the Sky Bet Championship table Karanka said: “It would have been better if we had won, but I am happy because we played very well in the second half when we were down to 10 players.” Karanka side-stepped questions about Steele’s dismissal for charging out of the penalty area and bringing down Leeds striker Dexter Blackstock. “I prefer to talk about the team and how we were still in the game until the final whistle,” he said. “I have had just 10 days with the players but they have shown a good attitude and with that we can build. “Even so, there may be changes for the next game, depe...

Guardian 23/11/13 James Savage Aitor Karanka was pleased with the attitude shown by his new charges in a narrow defeat but admits it was mistakes which cost him a result in his first game as Middlesbrough manager. The former Real Madrid assistant claimed a trip to Elland Road was the perfect way to start to his reign on Teesside but a goal from Ross McCormack followed by a red card for goalkeeper Jason Steele left him with a mountain to climb at half-time. Mustapha Carayol grabbed an equaliser early in the second half but the hosts hit back swiftly through defender Jason Pearce's header and closed the match out. Despite the defeat Karanka was pleased with the effort and work-rate shown by his players, especially after going down to 10 men. "I am sad about the result but I am also happy because I have a team which has a good attitude," he said. "It is the same attitude which I have seen in the 10 days which I have been working with them. "We were still in th...

Yorkshire Post 23/11/13 ROSS McCORMACK’S seventh goal in three matches against the side who were so desperate to sign him in the summer helped Leeds United secure a hat-trick of league wins for their first time under Brian McDermott. Seeking their fourth straight home win in front of a bumper Elland Road crowd of 30,367, United were full value for victory against visitors, who did their cause no good whatsoever by shooting themselves in the foot in the 42nd minute, courtesy of a crazy dismissal for keeper Jason Steele. The Boro custodian injudiciously raced out of goal to haul down Dexter Blackstock after slack defensive play from the Teessiders, with referee Philip Gibbs having no option but to dismiss him. Seven minutes earlier, McCormack -whose strike had a certain ring of inevitably to it - had been on hand to nod home an opener from close range with Boro again not helping their cause with some slack defending. Ten-man Boro did manage to stun the majority of Elland Road by gra...

Yorkshire Evening Post 23/11/13 by Phil Hay Brian McDermott has hinted that he will allow next week’s loan deadline to pass without further signings, saying Leeds United are in a “pretty good place” ahead of the run-in to Christmas. Leeds have until 5pm on Thursday to make temporary additions to their squad and McDermott will take a last look at the options available to him after today’s clash with Middlesbrough at Elland Road. The United manager has used the Football League’s emergency loan market only once, signing striker Dexter Blackstock from Nottingham Forest on a 93-day deal last month, and he has cover in most areas of his squad following the recent capture of centre-back Marius Zaliukas on a free transfer. His choice of central defenders was weakened by the loss of Scott Wootton to an ankle injury – a set-back which will keep the 22-year-old out for a number of weeks – but McDermott approached today’s game against Middlesbrough on the back of three wins from four games an...

Yorkshire Evening Post 23/11/13 Lucas Radebe is a man without enemies or none that we know of. And when you consider how toxic the past 10 years at Leeds United have been, that’s some achievement. It’s the mark of a diplomat or a skilled politician but really, Radebe is devoid of a bad bone in his body; an icon with Nelson Mandela in his corner. If you want a figurehead for a buy-out of Leeds, Lucas is your man. He carries no baggage and is as close as any other ex-player to a non-divisive presence. There is nothing surprising about the consortium who bid to buy Leeds last weekend attempting to align themselves with Radebe. It’s a surprise that nobody tried this strategy before, though his personal circumstances were deeply challenging for many years. He’s a winner in a PR sense and an easy sell – powerful currency in the fight for credibility. But these squabbles for equity always rest on real currency and real money. Radebe’s name will not open the door to anything more than nego...

YEP 23/11/13 El-Hadji Diouf has been out in the cold at Leeds but Brian McDermott says the player is happy to fight for a place. Phil Hay reports. Leeds United manager Brian McDermott says El-Hadji Diouf is still in the thick of his plans, despite the forward’s muted role at Elland Road. McDermott said Diouf’s repeated absence from his line-up was a tactical matter and denied that there were any problems between them amid surprise over the limited impact made by the Senegalese international. Diouf has been a bystander for much of this season, starting one game and appearing as a substitute in four others, and the two-times African Player of the Year was omitted completely from United’s most recent fixture, a 4-2 win at Charlton Athletic. A stomach bug threatened to rule him out of this afternoon’s meeting with Middlesbrough but Diouf’s lack of involvement under McDermott meant his inclusion on the bench was unlikely regardless of his fitness. The 32-year-old has not played since ...

Leeds United boss Brian McDermott says he has dealt with the lack of goals in the side in the early months of the season. Leeds have scored 15 goals in their last 6 games since McDermott moved Ross McCormack into a more attacking role, this coming after the side had netted just 6 times in their opening 9 games. The whites have also won four of their last six games to move to within one point of a play-off place and McDermott says he feels he has now dealt with a big priority within the squad. Speaking in the Yorkshire Evening Post, McDermott said, "We`re on a bit of run at the moment, three wins from four, and we`re scoring goals which as I said myself was a problem for us at the start of the season. That was a priority and we dealt with it and I prefer not to look beyond the priorities." McCormack has certainly thrived since returning to a centre forward role having been used out wide and in behind the central striker since the arrival of Neil Warnock in February 2012. ...

Scratching Shed 23/11/13 Like the jilted-ex who just won’t go away, Ken Bates was in Leeds yesterday attempting to win back favour at Elland Road and worm his way back into the club’s ownership structure. The news was revealed by Paul Hunt at a regional member’s club meeting at Elland Road who assured those present the largely despised ex-Chairman was quickly shown the door: “Take mine and David [Haigh's] word for it” Hunt is quoted as saying “he’ll never be back involved at Leeds United Football Club.” During his 8 years at Elland Road, Ken Bates was a controversial figure whose regime saw The Whites relegated to League One before leaving the club back where he started, never delivering on the Premier League promise he made on his arrival. Claiming to have “saved” the club twice (the first time from an administration he later put us in, and the second time from himself presumably), the outspoken ex-Chairman, a master of manipulation and divide and conquer rule, polarised the ...

leedsunited.com 22/11/13 United boss looking forward to return to league action on Saturday… United manager Brian McDermott says that his side have his full attention ahead of Middlesbrough’s visit on Saturday. Middlesbrough have one away win to their name this season but that isn’t a stat that the manager is looking into as he concentrates on how his team will line-up against them. Elland Road is expecting a bumper crowd on Saturday and the manager is looking forward to returning to action at home. “It feels like a long time since we had our last home game,” he said. “There is a real expectancy from the crowd and we’re hoping for 30,000 on Saturday which would be fabulous. “I don’t look at Middlesbrough’s stats, I just look at us. I look at our training sessions and the way we are going about our business. “I look at the players that we have got and then we’ll match ourselves up against the opposition we are playing. So that’s what we’ll do and we are looking forward to getti...

YEP 22/11/13 Paddy Kenny says United is a better place on and off the field this season and Is hoping to extend his career at the club. Phil Hay reports. Ross McCormack took the match ball home after Leeds United’s victory at Charlton Athletic but an overshadowed Paddy Kenny held legitimate claim to one of the spares. His fingertip saves were a subplot to the tale of a rampant Scottish striker. It is arguable whether McCormack’s moment in the sun would have come without the earlier interventions of his goalkeeper, and 80 yards apart on a woefully sodden pitch they contrived to send Leeds into the international break with tails up and optimism renewed. United’s manager, Brian McDermott, talks relentlessly of collective endeavour – the full story of Charlton away – and Kenny sees more of it at Elland Road now than he did in his first season with Leeds. A cloud has been lifted, Kenny says, which might explain why his performances are largely beyond reproach. The keeper was a steady c...

YEP 22/11/13 Brian McDermott said he was untouched by speculation about ownership changes at Leeds United as he looked forward to a welcome game at Elland Road. McDermott responded to questions over a recent £7million offer for a controlling interest in Leeds by saying he was unaffected by matters that were “not on my horizon.” United’s owner, GFH Capital, received a takeover bid from a UK-based consortium last Saturday but the Dubai-based firm rejected the proposal outright and has not received an improved bid. Talk of investment intensified further on Wednesday when club legend Lucas Radebe confirmed that he was part of a group looking to acquire a stake in United and described a boardroom role at Elland Road as his “dream scenario”. But Leeds manager McDermott said: “Things like that don’t bother me, not at all. What excites me is what happens on a Saturday afternoon. It excites me coming into work every day. “I’m not affected by (takeover speculation) and the only thing that m...

leedsunited.com 21/11/13 Trio return as boss talks selection... United boss Brian McDerott welcomes Sam Byram, Stephen Warnock, and Alex Mowatt back into the equation for Saturday’s Elland Road clash with Middlesbrough. The trio have recovered from their respective knocks, and are all available for selection for the game against the Teesside outfit. With Danny Pugh and Michael Brown both stepping up turning in the 4-2 win at Charlton - and turning in excellent performances - the boss, who says he has already picked his team , has had plenty to consider. “They both did great,” he said. “I spoke to them afterwards in front of the group and they did really well. “I know what team I will pick on Saturday, and the players know. I try to pick a team that I think will be right for the occasion. I try to do it honestly, go with my gut feeling all the time, and I never go with soft decisions. Soft decisions are easy. “Supporters will ask sometimes ‘why isn’t he playing?’ but I see tra...

leedsunited.com 21/11/13 Leeds United and Leeds Rhinos join forces... The sporting giants of Leeds, Leeds Rhinos and Leeds United, have agreed a new working partnership that will see the clubs work closer together than ever before. The two clubs have agreed a Memorandum of Understanding that outlines the aims and objectives for the new initiative which hopes to foster the loyal support for both Leeds Rhinos and Leeds United within the city and use that to help increase participation in sport through the work of both club’s charitable foundations. The new partnership was launched at Headingley Carnegie Stadium today with Leeds United’s Paul Hunt and Leeds Rhinos’ Gary Hetherington shaking hands on the new vision for the top two professional sporting organisations in the city. Commenting on the new initiative Hetherington said: “We are delighted to work more closely with Leeds United because there is a lot of synergy between our two organisations. Both clubs have an incredible her...

YEP 21/11/13 by Phil Hay Leeds United’s board are yet to receive a second offer from the consortium bidding to buy the club, despite Lucas Radebe revealing last night that he is backing an attempt to secure shares in Leeds. United turned down a £7million bid for a majority stake from a UK-based group over the weekend and have attracted no further offers since dismissing the approach as “risible”. The consortium concerned have not declared their identities but individuals involved with the group are understood to include Mike Farnan, a former commercial and marketing employee with Sunderland and Manchester United, Frank Devoy – a business associate of Farnan’s – and Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive Gary Verity. Former Hull City chairman Adam Pearson has also been heavily linked with the consortium, but he denied any involvement soon after news of their bid broke on Saturday. The seven-figure offer to Leeds, which was aimed at securing a stake well in excess of 50 per cent, was...

YEP 21/11/13 Whites boss Brian McDermott has drawn up a plan of action for the run-up to the Christmas period. Phil Hay reports. In touch at Christmas was Brian McDermott’s order and the next five weeks will determine whether Leeds United give him scope to further his reputation as a manager who finishes each season more spectacularly than he starts it. McDermott was drawn into discussing the taboo subject of promotion before the international break, abandoning his usual caution and saying that a Championship position “there or thereabouts” at the turn of the year would open the door in the second half of the term. His players responded to that quiet prompting by beating Yeovil Town and Charlton Athletic, reaching their two-week interlude a point behind the play-offs. McDermott thinks that most observers will see United’s form – 23 points from 15 games – as “not bad” or “relatively okay”, no better than that. But only three clubs have put clear water between themselves and his squa...

Yorkshire Post 21/11/13 Leeds United legend Lucas Radebe last night revealed he is backing a consortium bid to buy into the Championship club. United turned down a £7m bid for a majority stake from a UK-based group over the weekend but yesterday revealed they had attracted no further offers since dismissing the approach as “risible”. The consortium concerned have not declared their identities but individuals involved with the group are understood to include Mike Farnan, a former commercial and marketing employee with Sunderland and Manchester United, Frank Devoy – a business associate of Farnan’s – and Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive Gary Verity. A statement released by club legend Radebe last night fuelled expectation of forthcoming investment at Elland Road. Radebe, 44, who captained Leeds and played for them between 1994 and 2004, maintains huge popularity among United’s fanbase and would be a highly popular addition to the board, an ambition he called his “dream scenario”...

Guardian 20/11/13 Radebe says acquisition would be a 'dream scenario' South African made over 250 appearances for club The former Leeds United captain Lucas Radebe has confirmed he is part of a consortium looking to buy a stake in the club. The 44-year-old made more than 250 appearances for Leeds and returned to Elland Road in October as a special guest for the game against Birmingham City. Now the South African has revealed on his personal website that he is looking into buying part of the club and hopes to return them to the top tier of English football. His statement on lucasradebe.com read: "Following recent speculation, I can confirm that I am part of a consortium which has submitted a preliminary indication of interest regarding the acquisition of a stake in Leeds United Football Club. The club has a special place in my heart. It is my dream scenario. "We hope to continue our recent discussions confidentially with the current shareholders and the board. We...

Young Leeds United defender Ross Killock has extended his loan deal at Chester FC until the New Year. The 19-year-old will remain with Chester until January 5th after impressing during his initial loan spell with the club. Killock has made five appearances for Chester since joining the non-league side on loan and he was due to return to Elland Road after their game with Nuneaton this weekend.