Mighty Leeds Weblog

Yorkshire Post 30/9/14 FORMER Leeds United midfielder Jonathan Douglas insists Neil Redfearn can count himself ‘unlucky’ not to have been handed the head coach position on a permanent basis. The Irishman helped orchestrate Brentford to a 2-0 weekend win over his former club, in what proved an ignominious start to Darko Milanic’s tenure at the club. The setback followed an uplifting haul of ten points from a possible 12 under the command of interim head coach Redfearn, who presided over a four-match unbeaten streak prior to Milanic’s arrival. Despite a pronounced upturn under Redfearn, Massimo Cellino ruled out the 49-year-old from his thoughts for the permanent head coach role earlier this month, with the United owner expressing his desire for the Yorkshireman to continue his sterling job running the Academy. Douglas said: “They picked up 10 points out of 12 (under Redfearn). “I know Neil. He was with the academy when I was there. He’s a good coach and was probably looking to sta...

Slow starters: Coach Darko Milanic isn’t the first Leeds United boss not to make a winning start to his tenure at Elland Road. Leon Wobschall reports. NOT TOO many Leeds United managers have been afforded the luxury of a flying start to fully ingratiate themselves with supporters over the past decade, and Darko Milanic has plenty of company in the opposing respect. Like David Hockaday, the man he replaced as the new permanent head coach at Elland Road, the Slovenian was left to lament a disappointing afternoon in the capital in his first outing in the dug-out which ended in a lacklustre 2-0 weekend defeat for the Whites at Brentford. Hockaday kicked off with a similarly dispiriting setback by the same scoreline across town at Millwall on August 9. Gary McAllister and, to a lesser extent, Neil Warnock also didn’t exactly hit the ground running either when both were named as Whites manager and while Brian McDermott did generate some early momentum when he took over at Leeds in April 2...

Mail 30/9/14 By CHARLES SALE Pantomime club Leeds asked a football administrator advice on an important team issue at the weekend after he had been sacked by madcap owner Massimo Cellino. The Italian axed Graham Bean, who had been effectively acting as chief executive, for not consulting him on Leeds changing their fixture against Reading from Tuesday night to Wednesday. This is despite Bean having no say in the decision because Football League rules allow Reading to make the switch having played a TV game last Sunday. Cellino, said by Leeds staff to be in an uncontrollable rage over this run-of-the-mill issue, also made sure Bean’s security pass into Elland Road was immediately cancelled. Nevertheless, Bean was contacted by the club before their defeat at Brentford last Saturday because nobody was sure how many home-grown players — it is six — had to be included in the match-day squad. Bean, understandably, replied Leeds should contact Cellino for advice on the matter. To add ...

Yorkshire Evening Post 29/9/14 by Phil Hay Darko Milanic claimed the experience of a sobering defeat to Brentford would help him get a grip of Leeds United, saying a 2-0 loss at Griffin Park was “not the limit of the squad.” Milanic’s first game as head coach ended in disappointment as goals in either half from Jota and Alan McCormack ended Leeds’ run of four games without defeat on Saturday. United paid the price for a flat performance in London and were kept in the game for long periods by another excellent performance from goalkeeper Marco Silvestri. The Italian produced numerous saves as Brentford attempted to add to Jota’s finish on the stroke of half-time but McCormack’s deflected effort in the 77th minute put the match beyond Leeds. But Milanic, who took up a two-year contract at Elland Road last week, said the experience of watching his squad play would lead to a noticeable improvement ahead of back-to-back home fixtures against Reading and Sheffield Wednesday. “We have t...

Yorkshire Evening Post 29/9/14 by Phil Hay Another world, Darko Milanic called it, and so it is. Not just Leeds United but England and the Championship. “I need time,” he said after his first game as head coach ended in defeat at Brentford. It was less of a plea than a matter of fact. Time is something he lacked last week – three training sessions and a Friday spent on the road to London – and a visit to Griffin Park reminded Milanic that he has much to get his head around: a new country and a new working environment, on top of a new squad. One of the first things he will learn about the Football League is the speed at which the season turns over. By this weekend, Milanic will be three competitive games into his new job – half as many as his predecessor, David Hockaday – with a pile of observations to take into the international break. That break is his chance to take the club properly in hand. Milanic was asked after a 2-0 defeat how much influence he’d been able to exert having ...

Telegraph 28/9/14 By Thomas Jacobs, Griffin Park Goals from Jota and Alan McCormack were enough to secure victory for the home side and end the visitors’ four-game unbeaten run. Leeds owner Cellino was forced to watch the first half from the away terrace after being asked to leave the home section by stewards. However, things got worse for the Italian, as the hosts cruised to an impressive win. He said: “We were really, really bad today. I was feeling good but now I’m worried again.” Leeds were lucky not to fall behind in the first half when James Tarkowski fired a penalty over the crossbar after Andre Gray had been brought down in the box by Jason Pearce. But Brentford deservedly took the lead on the stroke of half-time when former Leeds midfielder Jonathan Douglas played in Spanish midfielder Jota, who beat Jason Pearce and Giuseppi Bellusci before finding the roof of the net. Pearce came close to equalising at the beginning of the second half, but Brentford goalkeeper David B...

Yorkshire Evening Post 27/9/14 New Leeds boss Darko Milanic admitted “I need time” after his side were brushed aside by Championship new boys Brentford. The Slovenian had taken just three training sessions with his new side before their 2-0 reverse at Griffin Park, in what he conceded was a very difficult first game in charge. Goals in either half from Jota, a summer signing from Celta Vigo in Spain, and Alan McCormack secured the Bees maximum points against a Leeds outfit that had won three of their previous four under Neil Redfearn. In contrast the Londoners were smarting after a 4-0 hammering at Middlesbrough and a 3-0 home defeat at the hands of Norwich, which saw boss Mark Warburton promise there would be a reaction. Milanic said: “It was a very difficult game. I expected a game like this against a side with very aggressive forwards. “We were not good enough in possession in the first half and were not dangerous. “We have to play with a much more offensive mentality. In the ...

Yorkshire Post 27/9/14 Brentford maintained their solid start to the Sky Bet Championship season with a deserved 2-0 win over Leeds to deny Darko Milanic a winning start as Whites boss. Spanish midfielder Jota gave the Bees the lead on the stroke of half-time, finishing off a flowing five-man move with a crashing drive into the roof of the net. And Alan McCormack sealed the points in the 76th minute with a rasping low drive that deflected off the foot of Giuseppi Bellusci and past despairing keeper Marco Silvestri. The United stopper had kept his side in it with a string of superb saves as the Bees swarmed forward with purpose on the break. United’s only real effort of merit came with five minutes remaining when Lewis Cook’s 25-yard grass-cutter licked just past the upright. Milanic said: “It was a very difficult game. I expected a game like this against a side with very aggressive forwards. “We were not good enough in possession in the first half and were not dangerous. “We ha...

Mail 27/9/14 New Leeds manager Darko Milanic saw his new charges fall to a 2-0 defeat Jota gave the home side the lead and Alan McCormack finished off Leeds The visitors barely threatened but for a Lewis Cook drive that went wide The game could easily have finished 6-2 to Brentford as they ran riot Brentford maintained their solid start to the Sky Bet Championship season with a deserved 2-0 win over Leeds to deny Darko Milanic a winning start as Whites boss. Spanish midfielder Jota gave the Bees the lead on the stroke of half-time, finishing off a flowing five-man move with a crashing drive into the roof of the net. And Alan McCormack sealed the points in the 76th minute with a rasping low drive that deflected off the foot of Giuseppi Bellusci and past despairing keeper Marco Silvestri. United stopper had kept his side in it with a string of superb saves as the Bees swarmed forward with purpose on the break. United's only real effort of merit came with five minutes remaini...

Inside Futbol 27/9/14 New Leeds United manager Darko Milanic admits his side's defeat away at Brentford today was "a bad result" for the Whites. Milanic was appointed Leeds boss earlier this week and took charge of a side unbeaten in their last four Championship games, having won three of those fixtures under caretaker boss Neil Redfearn. Redfearn did not travel to Brentford as part of the Leeds' coaching staff and Milanic watched his side go behind in the final minute of the first half when Jota hit the back of the net. Then, with Leeds chasing the game at Griffin Park, Brentford made sure of the points when Alan McCormack saw his shot deflected in, putting the hosts 2-0 up and condemning Milanic to defeat in his first match as Whites boss. "For me it's a big day, to have my debut in the Championship. It is a bad result for us and I have to congratulate the home team, they played very well", the Slovenian told LUTV. "If we look at all the gam...

Guardian 27/9/14 Brentford 2 Leeds 0 In theory, the technique is pretty simple: rap the outside with your knuckles and listen for a deep, hollow sound. That is how you spot a good watermelon. But Massimo Cellino is far too eccentric for that. Known as il mangiatore di direttore, the manager eater, in his native Italy after a tumultuous 22-year stint at the helm of Cagliari, Cellino, the Leeds owner, reckons finding a decent manager is like picking a ripe watermelon: a matter of luck more than judgment, where the only fail-safe approach is to dive in and try several out. Having already sacked David Hockaday and Brian McDermott since taking charge in April, he hired the former Slovenia defender Darko Milanic this week in his latest attempt to build a promotion-winning side. This was Milanic’s opening bow and Cellino watched events unfold from pitchside, surrounded by Leeds supporters, having been ushered from his original seat by the stewards. He must have been horrified by what he s...

Yorkshire Evening Post 27/9/14 Darko Milanic’s reign as Leeds United head coach began with a disappointing defeat at Brentford. A goal from Spaniard Jota deep into first-half stoppage time and a late Alan McCormack effort ended Leeds’ run of four games without defeat and gave Brentford the points at Griffin Park. Jota struck from close-range as United owner Massimo Cellino, who appointed Milanic on Tuesday night, looked on from the front of the away end. Cellino joined United’s travelling crowd midway through the first half, climbing into the stands along with sporting director Nicola Salerno, but an away following of 1,600 were left deflated by a deserved defeat - despite another impressive performance from goalkeeper Marco Silvestri. Silvestri’s display kept the scoreline down but he was beaten again on 77 minutes by a deflected McCormack finish. Milanic made two changes to United’s line-up but did not sway massively from the formation left to him by Neil Redfearn, employing a ...

Mail 27/9/14 Leeds owner Massimo Cellino spotted watching his side's game at Griffin Park with the Brentford fans... before being escorted to the away end Cellino spotted in the home end with the Brentford fans before being escorted to watch the remainder of the game with the visiting supporters Pictured buying a hotdog outside Griffin Park before Leeds' game with Brentford The latest sensational story surrounding maverick owner Cellino By ROBIN COTTLE FOR MAILONLINE Maverick Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino caused consternation when he was spotted watching his side's away clash with Brentford with the home fans. He was soon escorted to the away end and watched the rest of the match with the Leeds fans, where he saw Jota give the Bees the lead on the stroke of half-time. Alan McCormack made it 2-0 to the hosts late in the second half. Bemused and excited Leeds fans tweeted pictures of the Italian watching on from the stands as the Yorkshire club entered another ...

Yorkshire Evening Post 27/9/14 Ex-Manchester United defender Phil Neville criticised Darko Milanic’s appointment but Phil Hay says the Slovenian has earned his chance at Leeds. “It’s a disgrace,” said Phil Neville, and he wasn’t talking about Marcos Rojo’s ball retention. Welcome to England, Darko Milanic – or “a lad from Slovenia I’ve never heard of” as Neville kindly put it. The two men played at the same European Championship in 2000 – Milanic as Slovenia’s captain, Neville as the left-back who condemned England in the group stages – but no matter. A real name from a real country please. None of this speaks-four- languages nonsense. Milanic might be many things but Leeds United’s new boss is no empty suit. There are certain coaches in Europe – many of them old, some no longer active – who built up records in the eastern bloc with unrivalled establishment clubs but Milanic never worked behind the iron curtain. He’s a modern thinker with modern qualifications, as Neville should kn...

Spoughts 26/9/14 Graham Bean, who was sacked from his key role as a football administrator at Leeds United today by owner Massimo Cellino, has revealed that he has never seen morale so low anywhere in his career, as he posted on Twitter. The former Football Association compliance officer has said that he attempted to get the staff a pay rise from Cellino, who simply answered no. Bean has also reported that the staff have not had a pay rise in four years, and with many of them having been dismissed this summer, Bean was keen to get them onto a higher financial packet in an attempt to improve the situation. He said: “Last week me and FD tried to get the staff a pay rise as they’ve not had one for 4 years. “The answer was a single unanimous NO. Staff need lifting badly…….u can’t fault their efforts – but nver seen morale so low anywhere (sic).” Word from the club suggests that Bean was sacked for failing to notify Cellino over a fixture change in the summer months. This will see Lee...

leedsunited.com 26/9/14 United captain Jason Pearce has spoken for the first time about the club’s new head coach and he says that the squad are all ready for a new start. Darko Milanič was announced as the new head coach on Tuesday evening and took his first training session the same day. “We came in on Monday and Redders took training as normal,” explained Jason. “On Tuesday it was announced that the new head coach was coming in so all the boys were ready for a new start again. “It has come off the back of four good results and we’ll give him a chance to show us what he can do and hopefully he can improve us. “There is a lot of shape and organisation. Hopefully this will bring a different aspect to our game so that we are more solid as a team. “To be fair we have only had a couple of days training now so it is difficult to say at the moment. We’ve got the international break coming up so he will probably be able to put in plenty of training in there.” United head for Brent...

Yorkshire Evening Post 26/9/14 by Phil Hay Leeds United have sacked consultant Graham Bean following a dispute about the rearrangement of next week’s game against Reading. Bean – a former compliance officer at the Football Association – was dismissed from his job by owner Massimo Cellino on Thursday, four months after joining the senior management team at Elland Road. In what appears to have been a bitter and acrimonious departure, Bean left the club after a disagreement over the decision to move United’s forthcoming clash with Reading back by 24 hours. The Championship match – scheduled for Wednesday night – was rearranged in July after Reading’s meeting with Wolverhampton Wanderers switched to this Sunday to accommodate a live broadcast on Sky Sports. The date was changed after discussions between the Football League and Bean, who spoke with former Leeds head coach David Hockaday before agreeing to Reading’s request. Cellino, who was abroad at the time, was never asked about t...

Spoughts 26/9/14 Leeds United have suddenly sacked consultant Graham Bean from his role at the Elland Road club, as reported by Phil Hay of the Yorkshire Evening Post. The former Football Association compliance officer has had his role at the club ended as the result of a fixture rearrangement for next week. It seems as though Bean agreed to move the Reading clash to Wednesday next week, but did not inform Massimo Cellino, the club’s owner, at the time. This followed consultation with the then head coach Dave Hockaday in July, shortly after his controversial appointment to the role. This now sees Leeds play on Wednesday night before facing off with Sheffield Wednesday at 12.15pm, a shorter recovery time than if they had played Reading on the Tuesday. Having previously worked at the FA, Bean was considered to be a key administrator under Cellino. It remains to be seen if he will be replaced. Regarding his sacking, Bean said: “I’ve enjoyed working with staff at Leeds. As far as wo...

Here is the City 26/9/14 Dan Coombs What do Leeds fans need to know about their new boss ahead of the weekend? It promises to be a fascinating weekend ahead at Leeds United as Darko Milanic coaches his first game in charge of the club against Brentford. He continues the rebuilding process Neil Redfearn had managed so excellently, after a dismal beginning to the campaign under Dave Hockaday. There remain many questions regarding the former Sturm Graz manager, who was a Slovenia captain in his playing days. Italian journalist Emanuele Giulianelli is well connected with sporting director Nicola Salerno and the Leeds players signed from his country over the summer, has spoken personally to Milanic, and gave an interview to Radio Yorkshire on Thursday. He discussed Milanic's potential style, and whether he would be selecting young players or not. Giulianelli said: "The style of playing of Leeds could be a mix, between the classic English style, so an attacking style, lots o...

Here is the City 26/9/14 Dan Coombs Jason Pearce has become the first Leeds star to provide details of their new head coach's early training sessions. Leeds United defender Jason Pearce has revealed how new manager Darko Milanic is working to make them harder to beat. Although the club are unbeaten in their last four matches, Pearce has told how one of Milanic's first messages to the side was about adapting their set up. He told Leeds United TV, regarding the training sessions: "It's different, a lot of (work on) shape, and organisation and things like that maybe we are not used to. "Hopefully it'll bring a different aspect to our game, so we are more solid as a team. "Then we were playing five-a-sides and keep ball and things like that." Milanic is in a strange position for an incoming manager as Leeds are currently a winning side, whereas usually a new boss will come in immediately when results are not so good. This means he must not try to ...

Leeds All Over 26/9/14 So the diamond is finally starting to yield positive results, this just as another new manager takes the reigns for Leeds United. On this occasion it is Darko Milanic who will be charged not so much with turning the ship around, but keeping it steady to its course and maybe tweaking a few things along the way. Under the watchful eye of Massimo Cellino and, you’d hope, the close aid of Neil Redfearn, Leeds can hopefully continue their momentum. Despite Milanic being a reported 4-4-2 or 4-3-2-1 man with a predilection for wingers, the players populating United’s squad at the moment largely conform to a wingless structure. This has been noticeable in Leeds’ attacking play this season, with the wing-backs usually offering the width for the side. However, whilst defending, it has been increasingly perceptible that, whilst defending, the Leeds midfield has often simply levelled out, with the diamond reverting to a flat four shuttling across the entire midfield in orde...

Yorkshire Evening Post 26/9/14 by Phil Hay Darko Milanic says he will leave Leeds United’s winning team largely untouched at Brentford tomorrow as he begins a demanding first week in his job as head coach. Milanic promised to stick closely to the formula which brought Leeds 10 points from their last four games ahead of the start of another busy spell of three league fixtures in eight days. The Slovenian will be thrown into the Championship this week, visiting Griffin Park tomorrow before returning to Elland Road for a clash with Reading on Wednesday night and a Yorkshire derby against Sheffield Wednesday next Saturday. Milanic assumed control of Leeds’ squad from caretaker boss Neil Redfearn on Tuesday after leaving his job as coach of Austrian side Sturm Graz and signing a two-year deal in Yorkshire. The 46-year-old, who said on Wednesday that academy manager Redfearn would be in the dug-out with him and new assistant Novica Nikcevic tomorrow, has taken charge of a side who reco...

Yorkshire Evening Post 26/9/14 Sam Byram is set to return to Leeds United’s starting line-up on Saturday as Gaetano Berardi serves his second ban of the season. Berardi will begin a two-match suspension during United’s visit to Brentford, opening the door for Byram to regain his place after a recent ban of his own. Byram has been out of the team since receiving a red card at Watford last month, limited to brief substitutes appearances against Bournemouth and Huddersfield, but the dismissal of Berardi towards the end of Saturday’s Yorkshire derby has subjected him to another spell on the sidelines. The Swiss right-back incurred a three-match ban after being sent off on his debut in the League Cup and he was punished again for two bookable offences by referee Chris Foy during Leeds’ 3-0 win over Huddersfield. That offence normally carries a one-game punishment but Berardi’s previous red card will see him miss United’s midweek clash with Reading too. He will return to contention for ...

Yorkshire Evening Post 26/9/14 Softly Softly: Former United striker Noel Whelan says Darko Milanic is starting his reign from a position of strength. Phil Hay reports. Milanic talked of imposing “ideas” and “changes” on United’s squad but in his own time and at his own pace. Noel Whelan thinks the club’s new head coach would be wise to let continuity flow at Brentford. “This isn’t the time to rock the boat,” the former Leeds striker said. Whelan watched his old club take Huddersfield Town apart last Saturday and described the performance at Elland Road as “the best Leeds have played for longer than I can remember.” He liked the interplay in midfield, the variety up front and the attacking abandon shown by United, even with 10 men and a 3-0 lead. Tomorrow he expects Milanic to pick up the baton and run with it. The Slovenian has had a handful of training sessions to prepare and will seek his first victory at Griffin Park, a stadium where Leeds have rarely played and rarely won. The...

Here is the City 25/9/14 Dan Coombs Leeds sporting director Nicola Salerno believes fans will soon see the best of Adryan. Leeds pulled off one of the surprise deals of the summer when they secured the season long loan of Brazilian prospect Adryan. The Flamengo owned star had previously been on loan with Cagliari, and is yet to make his debut for Leeds. He has however been on the substitutes bench in recent matches, and it is likely to only be a matter of time before he makes a Championship appearance. Sporting director Nicola Salerno agrees, and pledges the attacking midfielder will become a key player for the club. He told TMW: "There are still bureaucratic details to be resolved. The boy is training. He came at a period of difficulty. Soon we will see the protagonist." Salerno did not go into details regarding the issues, but it is unlikely to be anything to do with his registration with the Football League, as he has been cleared to be named on the bench in recent...

Inside Futbol 25/9/14 Bureaucratic issues are preventing Brazilian playmaker Adryan from making his Leeds United debut. Leeds pulled off a complex deal to snap up the attacking midfielder earlier this summer, with Flamengo, Cagliari and the player's agent all involved in the switch. Adryan had been on loan, with a purchase option, at Italian Serie A side Cagliari from Flamengo. However, Leeds were able to convince Cagliari to terminate the loan and Flamengo agree to a fresh loan of Adryan, with the Yorkshire giants now holding a purchase option. Adryan has yet to play for Leeds, despite being a firm favourite of the club's hands-on owner Massimo Cellino. According to Italian outlet Tutto Mercato, that is down to bureaucratic issues. Indeed, a form relating to the deal is wanted by Leeds from Adryan's agent Reinaldo Pitta. And while Pitta could send the document electronically, he has insisted on delivering it by hand. Until it arrives at Elland Road, Adryan is unli...

Yorkshire Post 25/9/14 DESCRIBED as ‘a good-looking guy’ by his new boss Massimo Cellino, time will tell whether Leeds United head coach Darko Milanic proves just as easy on the eye with the club’s supporters. Finally unveiled by United yesterday, the ex-Sturm Graz manager was the centrefold with Cellino, who stole the attention from David Hockaday on his first press conference on June 19, not in attendance this time around. For Milanic, flanked by United sporting director Nicola Salerno, there were no early attempts at sugar-coated soundbytes to claim brownie points and win fans over. It is clear in his world, substance comes before cultivating style marks. When asked about what was the most difficult thing about his job, former Prime Minister Harold MacMillan famously replied. ‘Events, dear boy, events’. Dealing with events, on Saturday and in midweek, will be Milanic’s modus operandi. For his full-time predecessor Hockaday, those events began at Millwall and for Milanic, they...

Yorkshire Evening Post 25/9/14 THE Football League has refused to comment on fresh claims that the written judgement from a tax conviction imposed on Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino could put him in breach of the governing body’s owners and directors test. A spokesman for the League said it was still to receive a copy of a report which is casting renewed doubt over Cellino’s future as majority shareholder at Elland Road. The 58-year-old bought Leeds in April after successfully appealing against an attempt by the Football League to ban him from taking control of United. Cellino was disqualified on the basis of a court case in March in which a Sardinian court found him guilty of failing to pay import duty on a private yacht. An independent QC upheld a subsequent appeal by Cellino on the grounds that he could not be certain if Cellino was guilty of a dishonest offence – the basis on which the Football League disqualifies prospective owners and directors – until the judge hearing t...

Yorkshire Evening Post 25/9/14 DARKO Milanic last night spoke of his pride at becoming Leeds United’s new head coach and played down Massimo Cellino’s ruthless reputation, saying: “It doesn’t worry me.” The Slovenian promised “aggressive, dangerous” football at Elland Road after signing a two-year deal to become United’s first-ever continental boss. Milanic ended the club’s four-week wait to replace David Hockaday by accepting an offer from Cellino on Tuesday and his reign will begin in earnest on Saturday when Leeds travel to Brentford for their ninth league game for the season. The former Sturm Graz boss said he had been set no specific targets by Cellino beyond gradually honing a young Leeds squad for promotion to the Premier League and he insisted that the Italian’s track record of regularly dismissing coaches was of no concern to him. Hockaday – the first head coach appointed by Cellino after his takeover of United – lasted for only 70 days in the job but Milanic said: “Our j...

Yorkshire Evening Post 25/9/14 Humble and positive. A man who prefers hard work to cheap talk. Those were Massimo Cellino’s words and very much the first impression of Darko Milanic yesterday. Leeds United’s new head coach is the polar opposite of the man he will work for at Elland Road: no hyperbole, no drama and no desire to be in the public eye any longer than necessary. New to England and new to Leeds, he was asked at the start of his first press conference what his unique selling points were. “It’s difficult for me to answer,” Milanic said. “It’s better that other people say ‘these are my good things, these are my bad things.’” David Hockaday was accused of a streak of arrogance and over-confidence when Cellino presented him as United’s head coach in June but there was none of that with Milanic, the man who has replaced him four weeks after Hockaday’s sacking. By his own admission, Milanic was surprised to be chosen – unaware of interest from Leeds until the club’s sporting dir...