Mighty Leeds Weblog

Yorkshire Evening Post 27/6/14 by Leon Wobschall HEAD COACH David Hockaday has promised that Leeds United will be a ‘leaner and meaner’ club in 2014-15 – and expects more departures of personnel in the coming weeks. Hockaday ran the rule over his first-team squad for the first time yesterday on their return to pre-season training at Thorp Arch and has pledged that his squad and backroom staff will be a ‘tight-knit’ group by the time the season begins. United are confident their transfer embargo will be lifted soon, with their bank accounts now unfrozen and while Hockaday expects some inward transfer activity shortly, he also believes that the retrenchment across all departments at the club will continue. While Thorp Arch re-opened yesterday after being closed during the off-season to save costs at the behest of United owner Massimo Cellino, the kitchen remained closed, with players bringing in their own packed lunches. Hockaday, who files out with his first-team squad and staff...

Football League World 27/6/14 BY SAM ROURKE The 22-year-old midfielder plys his trade at Serie B side Latina Calcio, and the Italian was an instrumental figure in the club's promotion push to Serie A which failed in the end. Viviani has a number of sides interested in signing him, with Sky Bet Championship side Leeds United one of the clubs vying for his signature. Viviani’s agent has revealed that the Yorkshire club are one of the teams interested in signing the young midfielder. “Now Federico is resting, but when he returns from holiday we need to decide [his future] together”, Giovanni Ferro told LaRoma24. “Leeds and other English teams have shown interest in him”, Viviani’s agent added. Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino is a fan of the young Italian midfielder, after trying to sign him for Cagliari during his time as owner of the Serie A club.

Here is the City 26/6/14 Stephen Pickering BBC Leeds sports broadcaster Adam Pope confirmed that Leeds United are still transfer embargoed but hope to have it lifted on Monday in time for the opening of the transfer window. Leeds United supporters were left confused this morning when BBC Leeds sports broadcaster confirmed that Leeds United were still under a transfer embargo with the Football League, despite having their bank account unfrozen. The news, whilst disconcerting in the short-term, will hopefully have no affect on their ability to attract and sign players once the transfer window opens as Cellino and co work hard to have the transfer ban lifted before the 1st July, next Tuesday. Leeds, who have already released Lee Peltier, have indicated that there could be a squad overhaul this summer as they attempt to improve quality and cut down on quantity. ''The new structure is that Leeds need to be leaner. There's excess baggage in every department,'' said...

leedsunited.com 26/6/14 United head coach David Hockaday has stated that the time for talking is over now that the players have returned to pre-season training. The United players will remain at Thorp Arch for the rest of the week before heading out to Italy on Monday and the head coach says they are all ready for the “hard work” to begin. “The players have now been told the itinerary for the next couple of weeks and we are now ready to crack on,” said David. “The time for talking is now over, it is a time to work. “We need to work hard and we need to work as a team . Last season wasn’t good enough for Leeds United Football Club. “These players are here because they are talented and my job is to help them help themselves. We’ll be moulding them into a hard working honest team unit, it is as simple as that. With United heading to Italy on Monday the head coach will be looking to use the time to get to know his players. “We are going to be taking the majority of the team to Italy...

Yorkshire Post 26/6/14 by Leon Wobschall LEEDS UNITED head coach Dave Hockaday has urged his players to rise to the challenge of embracing their new start at the club - after the first-team squad returned to training at Thorp Arch. The players will undergo two rigorous days of fitness training ahead of flying out to northern Italy on Monday for a two-week training camp in the Santa Cristini region of Val Gardena. Hockaday confirmed that Alex Mowatt and Scott Wootton will stay back in the UK, with the pair picking up injuries in the close season. The duo are ‘well on the way to recovery’ according to Hockaday, who expects them to be fine when United return from Italy. Hockaday confirmed that he expects that by the end of play today that all the club’s pre-season fixtures will be finalised. Speaking ahead of the start of his first pre-season session in charge, he said: “It’s a new start for everyone; it has to be. What is gone is gone. I can’t control that; I can control the futur...

Yorkshire Post 26/6/14 DAVID HOCKADAY insists there will be a clean slate for every Leeds United player this pre-season – with the door open for all of his squad to impress. United players returned from their breaks to start training at Thorp Arch today and will be assessed before heading out to Italy for a two-week training camp next week. The players will undergo fitness training, speed agility and technical work ahead of jetting out to the continent where United will be based in Santa Cristina in the Val Gardena region of northern Italy. Hockaday has warned his players that they can expect plenty of hard work in the coming days and weeks, having already spent long hours co-ordinating the pre-season training itinerary after being appointed as head coach a week ago. The former Watford first-team coach and Forest Green manager says he has no preconceptions regarding his new charges and will hand them all a fair crack at proving themselves ahead of the big Championship kick-off at ...

Yorkshire Evening Post 25/6/14 by Leon Wobschall DAVE HOCKADAY admits he is relishing working with Leeds United talisman Ross McCormack and getting the best out of him again in 2014-15. The new United head coach starts work with first-team players tomorrow when pre-season training gets underway at Thorp Arch, with club owner Massimo Cellino having already pledged that prize asset McCormack is staying put, with keeping the striker a “matter of principle, not money”. McCormack – subject of plenty of transfer speculation so far this summer – and his United team-mates start preparations for the new campaign tomorrow, with the Scot likely to be pivotal to Leeds aspirations next term. And Hockaday is hoping the Championship top scorer of 2013-14 will carry on where he left off last term under his watch. Hockaday said: “Ross is a Leeds United player who signed a four-year deal and has put it out that he is really happy here. The chemistry is right and when that is right for a player and...

Yorkshire Post 24/6/14 FORMER Cagliari sporting director Nicola Salerno has given the clearest indication he is set to once again link up with Leeds president Massimo Cellino at Elland Road. Salerno, who worked with Cellino during the pair’s time at Serie A club Cagliari, turned down an offer to join Palermo following talks with the newly-promoted club last week. “Leeds? It’s a life choice, my first experience abroad but with an Italian owner,” Salerno told Italian football website Tuttomercatoweb. “The no to Palermo? There was some contact considering I have an excellent rapport with (Palermo owner Maurizio) Zamparini. I needed time and then I made my decision. But the rapport remains a good one.” Salerno’s potential reunion with Cellino has been no secret since the latter completed his takeover of Leeds in early April. Cellino ended his 22-year association with Cagliari when agreeing a deal to sell the club to the Giulini family on June 11 and said he had officially severed tie...

Yorkshire Evening Post 24/6/14 DEPARTING Leeds United Supporters’ Trust chairman Gary Cooper admits that the trust’s achievements during his time in charge have surpassed all his expectations following the organisation’s formation in October 2009. Cooper has decided to step down to spend more time with his family and also pursue his next challenge helping Leeds United Ladies and insists LUST’s future is in safe hands. The work of Cooper and countless others have given thousands of United fans an independent voice, with LUST’s membership having swelled to around 9,400 after starting with just 224 members in 2009. He is confident LUST’s profile will continue to grow and have an active say in the future of United. Cooper said: “I made a decision some weeks ago. We set ourselves some targets back in 2009 and quite honestly, we have surpassed them a long time ago in terms of membership levels and a decent line of communication both with local authorities, local MP’s and central governm...

Vital Leeds 23/6/14 Leeds United have had the winding-up order served against them by Sports Capital dismissed by the High Court. Leeds were served with a winding up order by Sports Capital in May as they tried to reclaim a £950,000 loan made by them to the club after they failed to make a payment. The decision saw the clubs bank account frozen, that saw them fail to pay the players wages for a second time in three months. The club were ordered to repay the money at a High Court ruling on June 10th, giving them until today to repay the loan. It is believed that Leeds repaid the loan last week allowing the High Court to dismiss the case today. The club's bank account can now been unfrozen, allowing the players to receive their wages as well as building a squad ahead of the new season.

Ripon Gazette 23/6/14 by Andrew Lawton Harrogate Town have signed Leeds United right back Lewis Turner as they prepare for pre-season ahead of the new Conference North season. Turner, 21, spent time on loan at the CNG Stadium during the 2012-13 season, but was unable to play a game before returning to his parent club. Turner will be hoping to help Town improve on their ninth placed finish in Conference North last season and push for promotion in the new campaign. He said: “I believe that it is a club on the up and I am looking forward to being part of a successful team this campaign. “The manager and the chairman seem very driven and ambitious and I can’t wait to get started.” The right back, who can also play across the back line or up in midfield, spent last year on a season-long loan with Chester FC scoring twice. Despite the Blues finishing in the relegation zone, Turner won the club’s Player of the Year and picked up the fans’ and players’ Player of the Year awards with hi...

Yorkshire Evening Post 23/6/14 by Leon Wobschall LEE PELTIER has completed his move from Leeds United to West Yorkshire neighbours Huddersfield Town - just hours after leaving the Whites by mutual consent. The former Whites captain had a year left on his deal, but following talks between himself and the club, agreement was reached for him to quit Elland Road following a difficult final season at the club. He has now made his return to Huddersfield, around three years after leaving them for Leicester in a £1m move. Peltier, 27, joined United two summers ago and was appointed captain by former boss Neil Warnock. But his fortunes dipped last term and he ended on joining Nottingham Forest on loan after falling out of favour under Brian McDermott. Peltier, who made 27 appearances for Leeds last term, tweeted: “I have now officially left Leeds United football club - just want to thank all the people at the club who have helped and supported me. “All the fans that have supported me ov...

Yorkshire Post 23/6/14 FORMER CAGLIARI sporting director Nicola Salerno is continuing to be linked with a reunion with Leeds United president Massimo Cellino at Elland Road. Salerno, who worked alongside Cellino during his tenure at the Serie A club, was expected to link up with top-flight new boys Palermo, who were keen to recruit his services. But it now appears as if Salerno will not be linking up with Palermo following talks last week and analysing his position, potentially opening the door for him to come to Leeds. On discussions regarding the Palermo post, Salerno, speaking to the Italian press, said: “I do not have the heart. “I can confirm that I have not accepted the proposal of Palermo. The club needed an immediate response, while I did not have sufficient certainty.” Meanwhile, reported Whites target Chuks Aneke has joined Belgian outfit Zulte Waregem on a three-year deal. The former Arsenal midfielder, 20 – recently released by the Gunners – has spent most of the last...

Here is the City 21/6/14 Stephen Pickering According to reports Nicola Salerno has flown to England in anticipation of joining former president Massimo Cellino at Leeds United. According to reports coming out of Italy, Massimo Cellino's go-to guy Nicola Salerno has flown into England in anticipation of taking up his former role under Cellino, however, this time at Leeds United. Salerno was always expected to join up with Cellino at Leeds, but the Italian's talks with Palermo last week did throw doubt to whether that vision would become a reality. However, after considering the position, Salerno told reporters that his heart wasn't in it. 'I do not have the heart,' Salerno said. 'I can confirm that I have not accepted the proposal of Palermo. The club needed an immediate response, while I did not have sufficient certainty.' Salerno's arrival at Elland Road could prompt Leeds United into making player acquisitions after a number of reports have link...

Yorkshire Evening Post 21/6/14 Forest Green chairman Dale Vince believes David Hockaday deserves his chance after being controversially installed as the new head coach at Leeds. Hockaday, 56, was Leeds president Massimo Cellino’s surprise choice to succeed Brian McDermott and the appointment has angered the majority of the club’s fans who demanded a bigger name to take on the new role. But Vince, who worked closely with former Watford and Southampton coach Hockaday during his time in charge at Forest Green – his only managerial job – said he has all the right attributes to prove his critics wrong. “I’m really pleased for David actually, I’m chuffed for him,” Vince said. “He’s a great bloke. He’s a very hard-working, loyal and honest man with an unbelievable depth of footballing knowledge. “I really want him to succeed, but would not dare to predict how it will work out for him. “Massimo Cellino is a lot better qualified than me to make a judgement on whether David can be success...

by Phil Hay Massimo Cellino has reiterated his commitment to buying Leeds United’s stadium from its private owners and said he will use funds raised from the sale of Cagliari to repurchase Elland Road. Speaking during the unveiling of David Hockaday as United’s new head coach, Cellino highlighted Elland Road as a priority among his aims at Leeds, saying he was “embarrassed to be a guest in my own house.” The Italian, who has previously promised to buy back the ground before the end of 2014, would need more than £15m to regain ownership of Elland Road for the first time since its controversial sale 10 years ago. The ex-Leeds board led by Gerald Krasner sold the stadium to property developer Jacob Adler in 2004, raising £8m at a time when United were under pressure to repay a substantial loan. Adler negotiated a 25-year lease and also gave the club the right to buy back the ground for a set fee at any stage before 2029. Both the rent and the buy-back cost rise by three per cent annu...

leedsunited.com 20/6/14 New head coach David Hockaday says that coaching is his passion and that he can’t wait to start work at United after his role at the club was confirmed on Thursday. The experienced coach put pen-to-paper on a two-year contract and admits to being given an “unbelievable opportunity” at United. “I’m excited and ready to start work ,” said United’s new head coach. “I’m a very experienced coach and I spent over 20 years as a player. “At the end of the day I have been given this unbelievable opportunity and I intend to take it with both hands. “My remit is purely the players, everything that happens on the training pitch and everything that happens on the football pitch. That is it, it is as simple as that. “That suits me because I am a coach. Coaching is my passion, it is my drive and it is what makes me tick.” United’s new head coach says that improvement on the pitch is the main aim for him and club President Massimo Cellino. “The President is here to take...

Yorkshire Evening Post 20/6/14 David Hockaday says he expects to find hidden gems in Leeds United’s squad, despite the club’s fraught finish to the last Championship season. United’s new head coach plans to open the door to players who have struggled to make an impact at Leeds – including striker Steve Morison. Morison was signed by Leeds as part of a swap deal for Luciano Becchio in January 2013 but he went loan to Millwall last season, moved out of Elland Road by former boss Brian McDermott. Leeds owner Massimo Cellino revealed that Morison would be fully involved next term, saying: “He needs to show if he’s still a good player because he used to be.” And Hockaday said: “When I was playing at Swindon, we got two promotions playing a direct style under Lou Macari. Then Ossie Ardiles came and played a diamond with pretty much the same players. “Don’t be surprised if some of the players pleasantly surprise you and if they are better than they showed last year.”

Yorkshire Evening Post 20/6/14 David Hockaday’s appointment has been heavily criticised by fans but he insists he is the right man for Leeds United. Phil Hay reports. When the obvious question came, asking David Hockaday whether he could live with the strain of managing Leeds United’s senior squad, he answered with one word. “Yeah.” The club’s new head coach did not need telling that public opinion was against his appointment but at his unveiling yesterday he refused to be bullied – resistant to attempts to elicit an admission that he was punching above his weight at Elland Road. Would players as recognised as Ross McCormack respect a coach whose last job was in non-league? “Ask them after the first day of training,” he said. “Ask them after they’ve seen me coach.” Did the offer of the job at Leeds surprise him? “It wasn’t surprising.” And what could he say to justify his selection? “I’ll say I got promotion as a player five times,” he said. “I got promoted from the Championship as...

Yorkshire Evening Post 19/6/14 by Phil Hay Even before today’s press conference began, Leeds United’s president appeared five minutes before his new head coach, strolling in without Hockaday behind him. “He’s gone already,” Cellino quipped, an owner schooled in the art of firing managers, coaches or anyone fitting that description. The Italian touched on the debate about Hockaday’s position and authority in his opening gambit, saying: “I’m here to present the new coach, manager or super manager, whatever. What’s the difference?” The achievements and qualifications distinguishing one coach from another are usually found on their CVs but in Cellino’s company, most are the same. The focus at the start was on Hockaday - how he came to take the job at Elland Road, whether he thought he was good enough to thrive as head coach, what he made of the dubious public reaction to him - but Cellino promptly became the focal point, speaking for all but fractions of a gathering which lasted for al...

Josh McLoughlin Leeds United have today made the surprising appointment of Dave Hockaday, the former Forest Green Rovers manager. Brian McDermott had to be sacked twice before he actually left Leeds United, but it was still incredibly harsh given the circumstances that he had to work under in the second half of the season. The club's future was up in the air and the team were struggling on the pitch due to the uncertainty. Eventually when Massimo Cellino completed his takeover of the club it wasn't a surprise to see McDermott leave the club. What was a surprise however, was seeing the three names in contention for the job. Eammon Dolan, former Leeds manager Gary McAlllister and the man to eventually get the job Dave Hockaday. Out of the three the general consensus from fans was that they wouldn't mind McAllister returning to the club. Between the three of them there is only around seven years of managerial experience and to take on a job with the magnitude of this one w...

Leeds United’s new head coach Dave Hockaday has vowed to win over the club’s fans following his surprise appointment at Elland Road today. Hockaday’s only previous managerial experience was at Conference side Forest Green Rovers, who he left by mutual consent after a run of seven defeats in eight matches last October. But the 56-year-old former Watford coach, who has signed a two-year contract before being unveiled alongside new assistant Junior Lewis at Elland Road, appeared undaunted by the task that lies ahead. “I wasn’t surprised to get the call because I’d spoken to lots of people and when I met the president (Massimo Cellino) and he talked it was very obvious he knew what he was talking about,” Hockaday said. “It happened and it seemed right and he offered me the job and I accepted.” Hockaday, who said the club had players lined up to strengthen the squad and that Ross McCormack would not be sold, added: “I can eulogise as long as I want about a club the size of Leeds, but ...

by Phil Hay Leeds United have confirmed the appointment of David Hockaday as their new head coach. The 56-year-old has signed a two-year deal at Elland Road and will be assisted by former Hull City player Junior Lewis. Lewis was coaching at non-league Hendon but quit that job to join the backroom team at Leeds. Little-known Hockaday, meanwhile, is back in football for the first time since he left his role as manager at Forest Green Rovers last October. The former Watford assistant is a surprising and unpredictable choice by United owner Massimo Cellino, who launched his search for a new first-team boss after ending Brian McDermott’s reign on May 30. Hockaday has coached with a number of prominent sides, including Leicester City and MK Dons, but he is taking full control of a Football League squad for the first time. The club have made no comment at this stage on the future of coach Nigel Gibbs, who had been assistant to McDermott. A brief Leeds statement read: “Leeds United ar...

Leeds United are pleased to announce that David Hockaday has been appointed to the position of head coach. The 56-year-old has signed a two-year contract and will assume overall responsibility for the coaching staff and first team playing squad with immediate effect. David arrives at Elland Road with a vast amount of coaching experience and was integral to the management team at Watford that gained promotion to the Premier League in 2006. As well as his time at Watford, the former Forest Green manager enjoyed success at Southampton and MK Dons. Hockaday had a long playing career with over 500 league appearances to his name. He started his playing career at Blackpool where he remained for eight years until he moved onto Swindon Town. The former right-back made over 200 appearances for Swindon and was also part of the side that gained promotion twice in his time at the club. His other clubs include Hull City, Stoke City and Shrewsbury Town. Leeds United’s new head coach will be joi...

Yorkshire Evening Post 19/6/14 by Phil Hay Leeds United have repaid a loan of £950,000 to Sport Capital, clearing the way for the High Court in London to lift Sport Capital’s winding-up petition next week. The YEP understands that the debt owed to Sport Capital - an offshore firm based in Guernsey - was repaid yesterday, a day after Sport Capital had its assets frozen by a court in Dubai. Sport Capital lent money to Leeds in November of last year but moved to call in a £950,000 loan at the start of April, shortly before Massimo Cellino’s takeover of United. Cellino refused to settle the debt before a deadline of April 24 and Leeds were served with a winding-up petition the following day. The Championship club opted to contest the petition but were ordered by the High Court in London last week to paid back the money before this Monday, June 23. United’s main bank account has been frozen in the meantime, preventing the club from meeting the players’ wage bill for May on time. But...

by Leon Wobschall TALKS were continuing last night between David Hockaday and Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino over the vacant head coach position at the Elland Road club. The former Forest Green Rovers manager travelled up to West Yorkshire for discussions yesterday with Cellino, who is expected to hand him a dramatic return to football at United after being put off by the compensation fee involved in taking Reading academy boss Eamonn Dolan. The impending appointment of Hockaday, 56, a little known name in the football world and someone whose only experience of management ended inauspiciously at Rovers, has been met with derision by many Leeds supporters. But while significant sections of the Whites fanbase have not been enamoured at news of his likely arrival, the north-easterner – recommended to Cellino by an agent who is advising him – quickly emerged as a serious option for the Italian following the departure of Brian McDermott. Cellino has made great play about appointing...

by Phil Hay The manager behind Watford’s promotion from the Championship in 2006 was known for a while as ‘Aidy Who?’ The sound of head-scratching accompanied Aidy Boothroyd’s appointment at Vicarage Road but Watford’s punt was vindicated in the end. Dave Hockaday worked with Boothroyd in that same season, a year when Leeds United were beaten by Watford in the play-off final, and any lessons he learned from Boothroyd’s capacity to surprise will be coming back to him. For the past two weeks, the 56-year-old has been ‘Dave Who?’ - the most obscure candidate for the job of running the senior squad at Leeds. Hockaday is travelling to Yorkshire by train today with the expectation of becoming Massimo Cellino’s first head coach, or the first to be employed at Elland Road with the Italian’s blessing. United’s owner never warmed to Brian McDermott - too expensive, too tied up in matters away from the training ground, unsuited to Cellino’s model of ownership - but Hockaday is Cellino’s man; ...

Yorkshire Evening Post 18/6/14 An order freezing the global assets of ex-Leeds United director David Haigh was extended by a court in Dubai last night as the 36-year-old neared the end of his fifth week in custody without charge. Haigh, who is accused of a catalogue of financial irregularities by former Leeds owner Gulf Finance House, saw an interim freezing order put in place for an indefinite period while prosecutors in Dubai decide whether to bring charges against him. In a separate move Deputy Chief Justice Sir John Chadwick granted a request that shares and assets of Sport Capital – the offshore firm with links to Haigh and which United owe more than £950,000 – should also be frozen. Last week, the High Court in London ordered Leeds to repay a loan of almost £1m given to the club by Sport Capital in November 2013. United and their Italian owner, Massimo Cellino, disputed the loan but lost their case and were given until next Monday – June 23 – to return Sport Capital’s money. ...

Mail 17/6/14 By SIMON JONES Fulham are poised to make an improved £6million bid for Leeds United striker Ross McCormack. They previously had a £5m bid rejected on Monday. Having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of last season, the West London club are hoping to bring in some fresh blood in hope of escape from the Championship at the first time of asking. Fulham's strikers struggled badly last season, with Dimitar Berbatov leaving in January, and £12million signing Kostas Mitroglou failing to score after being signed as his replacement. They have now targeted the Scottish international who scored 28 goals in 43 Championship games for Leeds United.

Yorkshire Post 17/6/14 Dave Hockaday remains the short-priced favourite to be named as Leeds United’s new head coach, with the club having suffered a fresh blow in their pursuit of Eamonn Dolan. An unnamed Thai investor is closing in on acquiring Reading and it is expected that Royals academy manager and United target Dolan will be offered a new deal in a bid to keep him in Berkshire. Reading have been forthright in their desire to keep highly-rated coach Dolan, 46, with director of football Nicky Hammond stating the club’s determination to keep hold of the Irishman in a statement seven days ago in what effectively amounted to a ‘hands-off’ warning. Dolan has three seasons remaining on his Royals deal and he is now likely to be offered fresh terms by the Berkshire club in a further bid to repel any further potential advances from Leeds. Securing the services of a new head coach is at the top of a lengthy list of priorities for Cellino, now fully concentrating on United business aft...

Yorkshire Evening Post 17/6/14 by Leon Wobschall Leeds United are remaining resolute in their desire to keep star striker and captain Ross McCormack in the wake of stiff interest from Fulham. United owner Massimo Cellino has reportedly rebuffed a £5m offer for the Scot’s services, although the club did not comment on the reports which surfaced yesterday. Fulham are expected to maintain their interest in McCormack and are being tipped come back in with an improved offer, with several other clubs watching developments regarding United’s talisman. Derby County and Norwich City are monitoring the situation, with both in the market for a new striker. The Rams remain fans of McCormack, but it is unlikely that they will have the financial wherewithal to fund a successful move. Finance would not be so much of a problem to Norwich, armed with parachute payments, following relegation to the Championship. Despite signing one forward already this summer already in Bournemouth’s Lewis Grabb...

Bolton News 16/6/14 ANDRE Moritz has not yet made a decision on his Wanderers future and could still join up with Dougie Freedman’s side at the end of this month for pre-season training. The Brazilian playmaker has been strongly linked with a move to Leeds United but the player insisted on his official Twitter account tonight that it was not the case. “For all the people who are asking me, all I can say is that I haven't signed anything yet. Do have a few offers but nothing signed. Thanks,” he wrote. Sources close to the player also claim he has not turned down the offer tabled by the Whites back in May. Moritz, who scored seven goals last term, is currently back home with his family mulling over the offer to stay on with Bolton for another year on similar terms to those offered last season. But while the former Crystal Palace man is understood to be keen on staying in the North West, he would ideally like to find a longer deal and has put the feelers out for other English cl...

Mirror 16/6/14 By Bill Cooper The Yorkshiremen have rejected £5m bids for their top striker from two Championship rivals but now Bluebirds plan to nearly double that sum. Cardiff are ready to pay £9million to re-sign striker Ross McCormack - four years after off-loading him to Leeds for just £350,000. The Bluebirds' boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants McCormack to fire his relegated team back to the Premier League at the first time of asking. And he is set to succeed where Derby and Fulham have failed by making the Elland Road outfit an offer they can’t refuse for their unsettled skipper. Solskjaer has already made five summer signings - including three strikers in Federico Macheda, Adam Le Fondre and Javi Guerra - as he sets about digging into the £23m parachute payment City are receiving after tumbling out of the top flight. The Cottagers, who took the drop alongside City, and beaten Championship play-off finalists Derby have both had £5million bids for the 27-year-old rejecte...

Yorkshire Evening Post 16/6/14 by Leon Wobschall LEEDS UNITED face an uphill battle in their quest to appoint Eamonn Dolan as head coach, with Reading’s prospective new owner expected to offer him a new deal. An unnamed Thai investor is believed to be close to acquiring the Berkshire club, who have been attempting to find a new buyer since last October with their majority shareholder Anton Zingarevich standing down from the Royals board earlier this month. Last week, Reading issued a hands-off warning to Leeds regarding Dolan following an enquiry from United owner Massimo Cellino, now back in the UK after completing the sale of Cagliari. Dolan, 46, is the twin brother of Pat Dolan, the agent of former United boss Brian McDermott who helped to negotiate his severance with Leeds. He is believed to be contracted at Reading until 2017, but it now appears likely that he will be offered fresh terms by the Royals, whose advisors Begbies Traynor and Vibrac have agreed an exclusivity arra...

Yorkshire Post 16/6/14 LEEDS United are seeking more than £2.5 million from West Yorkshire Police after winning an Appeal Court fight over the costs of matchday policing. The club, which objected to having to contribute to policing costs in an “extended footprint” around its Elland Road stadium, emerged victorious from a marathon court battle against the force last year. Leeds secured a ruling that it was only liable for the costs of officers deployed inside the ground, having successfully argued that hundreds of officers involved in crowd control around the stadium were only doing their public duty. Today, the club’s lawyers arrived at the High Court in London, seeking to claw back £2,520,294 from the force, saying that was the amount of the policing over-charge, including interest, between 2008 and last year. However, the force’s legal team are fighting the case every inch of the way. Michael Beloff QC, for the club, insisted that its calculations were based on sums that were “...

Inside Futbol 16/6/14 Leeds United are tracking young Inter goalkeeper Raffaele Di Gennaro, who may be Nicola Salerno's first present if he joins the Yorkshire giants. Salerno is poised to leave Cagliari after Leeds owner Massimo Cellino sold the club to former Inter board member Tommaso Giulini. The sporting director has two options: join his old boss Cellino at Leeds, or take up an offer from Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini to remain in Sicily. Leeds are already looking at summer signings and young shot-stopper Di Gennaro is favoured by Salerno. And the 20-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Cittadella, could well move to Leeds this summer, according to Sky Italia. Di Gennaro is an Italy Under-20 international and highly-rated within his homeland. The custodian clocked up valuable playing time in Serie B last season, making 39 appearances for Cittadella and conceding 47 goals, with 12 clean sheets earned.

Yorkshire Post 16/6/14 FULHAM ARE expected to step up their pursuit of Leeds United skipper Ross McCormack this week. The Londoners are believed to have tabled a £5m bid for the Scottish international late last week, which is expected to be rebuffed by United. But the Craven Cottage outfit, who are currently embarking on a major rehaul of their squad in the wake of relegation to the Championship after 13 seasons in the top-flight, are reportedly ready to return with another bid if, as expected, their initial offer is rejected. Fulham boss Felix Magath has shown the door to a number of senior players including Steve Sidwell, John-Arne Riise and John Heitinga. After getting a number of high-earners off their wage bill, Magath is now targetting some incoming activity ahead of the start of pre-season next month. United owner Massimo Cellino, who returned to the UK last night, is now expected to address the issue regarding McCormack. Newcastle United made an enquiry about the 27-year...

Mail 16/6/14 By SIMON JONES Leeds United will reject Fulham's £5million bid for striker Ross McCormack but expect counter offers from Norwich and Derby on Monday. Fulham, keen to boost their squad with proven Championship experience after relegation from the Premier League, made their bid on Thursday but Leeds value the Scotland forward at around £8m. McCormack, 27, was the Championship's top scorer last season with 28 goals and has attracted interest from a number of clubs but Elland Road are refusing to give him up easily. Meanwhile, Leeds are to hold further talks with Dave Hockaday about becoming manager. The former boss of Conference Premier side Forest Green was considered a dark horse to replace Brian McDermott but has firmed as one of the favourites. McDermott, who took over from Neil Warnock in 2013 after he was sacked by Reading, left by mutual consent manager after the arrival of new owner Massimo Cellino. Hockaday was a right back for Blackpool, Hull City, S...

Here is the City 14/6/14 Stephen Pickering Reports from a local Sardinian newspaper indicates Leeds United could sign up to six Cagliari players. According to Sardinian newspaper La Nuova Sardegna, Leeds United could sign up six Cagliari players this summer as an article, which involved questions put to the new Cagliari owner Tommasso Guilini, stated that a number of players could be leaving the club. The report states: For the rest, we don't know the future of Pinilla [contract expiring in 2015] and Ibarbo. But even Murru, Avelar, Ibraimi, Nene, Del Fabro could be going, maybe in the direction of Leeds. Even Eriksson - who started yesterday at the Villa Stuart [Rome], physical therapy after surgery for reconstruction of the cruciate ligament, and will return to the field for mid-October - could end up in Yorkshire. The six players indicated to be wanted by Leeds United will come as no surprise to supporters who were expecting Cellino to call on his Italian links to help rebui...