Mighty Leeds Weblog

Yorkshire Evening Post 29/5/08 Kenton out as United regroup By Phil Hay Darren Kenton has followed Alan Thompson out of Elland Road as Leeds United begin a rebuilding process which could see as many as 10 players leave the club this summer. The experienced defender has been released by Leeds after reaching the end of his short-term deal, and other fringe players will be allowed to exit the club following United's unsuccessful attempt to reach the Championship. Leeds have confirmed their retained list and offered new one-year contracts to goalkeeper David Lucas and young striker Tomi Ameobi, but Kenton will not be kept on by manager Gary McAllister. The 29-year-old full-back arrived at Elland Road in January, initially on loan from Leicester City, and United made the agreement permanent shortly before the end of the transfer window. Kenton made a total of 12 league appearances for Leeds, his last against Huddersfield Town at the Galpharm Stadium on April 15, and his departure – alon...

Rick Broadbent in Beijing It was surely fate that Kaiser Chiefs played their homecoming gig at Elland Road the night before Leeds played Wembley. In the past, Leeds has not done bands. The musical benchmark was always the Wedding Present, an angsty group of moderately ugly men in black. They sang songs about girlfriend trouble because they were from Leeds and so they could not get girlfriends. But this was to be a musical and football bonanza, the rebirth of the culturally deprived. It was fate that the amps on Saturday night were emblazoned with LUFC and the first song was Everything Is Average Nowadays. The second was Every Day I Love You Less And Less. This was sporting history set to jangly guitar music. You’ll have noticed that everyone’s been harping on about fate this week, blurring the boundaries between genius, serendipity and John Terry’s inability to stand up. And, let’s face it, if fate really had much to do with football, I would not have been in Beijing yesterday and I wo...

By James Mariner A season which began with them 15 points adrift at the bottom of League One, following their controversial points deduction, could end in a remarkable triumph for Leeds United tomorrow. The League One side climbed from there into the top three, then slipped back after Gus Poyet, the assistant manager, left for Spurs and manager Dennis Wise, headed to Newcastle. Gary McAllister came in and boldly changed the playing style. After a stutter as the team adapted, Leeds recovered in time to reach the play-offs and now stand 90 minutes from a return to the Championship. Leeds are favourites but fans will warily recall the 2006 Championship play-off final which ended in defeat to Watford, followed by relegation the next season to League One. Now, as in 2006, Leeds finished fifth in the regular season and their opponents third. McAllister is hoping for a different outcome this time. "I'm proud of taking the team to Wembley, but the proudest moment will be if we get the...

BBC 21/5/08 Robinson agrees to Leeds switch Midfielder Andy Robinson is to leave League One champions Swansea City for Leeds United on a free transfer. Robinson, 28, wanted to wait until after Leeds' play-off final against Doncaster on Sunday before deciding whether to stay with the Swans or go. But a Swansea statement said: "The club felt it was an unrealistic request and imposed a deadline of yesterday for Andy to make his mind up. "This he did, subsequently deciding to move on." The Liverpudlian joined Swansea in the summer of 2003 on a free transfer after being released by Tranmere. He came close to leaving two years ago when contract talks then stalled and bids came in from Southend and Cardiff. But he eventually agreed a new two-year deal which runs out next month - and Leeds have said that he has agreed to join them once his Swans contract expires. The Swans confirmed the latest round of contract talks started last October and had hoped to agree terms before t...

By Phil Hay Rui Marques has agreed a new two-year contract at Elland Road after positive talks with Leeds United last week. Discussions over an extended deal for the Angolan defender were suspended at the start of April but after a number of minor details were ratified Marques today ended speculation over his future by opting to remain at Elland Road for another two years.The 30-year-old's existing one-year deal had been due to expire at the end of this season but negotiations aimed at reaching a new deal stalled on April 8 with Leeds blaming "differences in valuation" for their decision to withdraw from talks. Marques' wage demands were believed to have contributed to the deadlock, but the parties were also at odds over the length of the contract being offered to the centre-back. His initial request was for a three-year contract, taking him up to the age of 33, but Marques has now agreed to the 24-month extension with the club he joined in 2005. Fresh talks between L...

Yorkshire Evening Post 19/5/08 United must heed semi final lessons says Freedman By Phil Hay With three play-off finals lodged in his memory bank already, Dougie Freedman does not need instructing on the unforgiving nature of the game awaiting Leeds United at Wembley on Sunday. A beaten finalist in 1996 but subsequently victorious on two occasions with Crystal Palace, Freedman might be tempted to say that second chances come to those who are prepared to wait long enough. But in London this weekend, the 33-year-old knows the danger of expecting the reprieve offered to Leeds by the return leg of last week's semi-final against Carlisle United. Of all the lessons taken from a scintillating two-legged tie - settled on Thursday in dramatic circumstances - the most valuable may be the warning of what will happen if the form and confidence of Gary McAllister's players deserts them against Doncaster Rovers at Wembley. United's performance at Brunton Park on Thursday amounted to thei...

Yorkshire Evening Post 16/5/08 Leeds United boss McAllister's show of faith reaps rewards Carlisle United 0 Leeds United 2 (Leeds United win 3-2 on aggregate) On the residential road to Brunton Park, a lone flag flying from a first-floor window displayed the banner: Be just and fear not. The standard had been raised in support of Carlisle United, but the message of inspiration passed them by. Justice was served on the most fearless team in Cumbria last night. Eleven white knights swept into the county yesterday and left behind a state of desolation worthy of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. When the cavalry ride again, their blood-stained banner will fly at the only stage befitting of a squad who have long since abandoned the concept of surrendering alive. Wembley called to Leeds United last night and the reply that came was resounding in its conviction. Four days ago their cause seemed lost, but United have resisted the compulsion to go quietly into the night. This, instead, m...