Mighty Leeds Weblog

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

Aabed al Zeerah has joined Leeds United’s board and GFH’s David Haigh tells Phil Hay he expects more new investors to follow suit. GFH Capital expects to announce further sales of shares in Leeds United in the weeks ahead after relinquishing a 10 per cent stake to an investment bank in Bahrain. The International Investment Bank (IIB) has acquired a minority interest in the Elland Road club in what is likely to be the first of several equity deals negotiated by United’s owner. GFH Capital completed a full purchase of Leeds on December 21 but the addition of IIB to its ranks and the appointment of the bank’s chief executive, Aabed Al Zeera, as a director of United’s parent company, Leeds City Holdings Limited, is an initial step towards reducing the company’s exposure at Elland Road. The Dubai-based private equity firm – itself wholly owned by Gulf Finance House, another investment bank situated in Bahrain – has been under intense pressure to outline its long-term plans amid doubts a...