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Louth Branch Magazine articles
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Mon July 30th. It emerged today that Leeds fans were far from
happy with the Bates/Wise connection at Turf Moor on Saturday on the day
that Hull City announced that they had "won the race" to sign another
Leeds striker vacating Elland Road, life long Leeds fan Richard Cresswell.
Leeds United fans stripped to their waists and removed their shoes as
they chanted 'Bates out' during the club's 2-0 friendly defeat at Burnley
on Saturday. Supporters chanted 'Get the Chelsea out of Leeds' in a reference
to the links chairman Ken Bates and manager Dennis Wise have had with
the London side in the past.
Sat July 28th. Leeds lost their fourth preseason friendly
in a Sat July 28th. Finally some information from Football League and KPMG. The future of Leeds United looks a little brighter after the Football League agreed to meet club officials next week. Serious doubts linger whether the West Yorkshire club will start the new League One season as they are still awaiting their 'golden share'. However, after receiving all the necessary information from Leeds' administrators KPMG, the League have agreed to meet club officials in a bid to resolve the club's precarious position. "The board of the Football League met on Friday to consider the current situation regarding Leeds United," read a League statement. "The board were informed by their legal representatives that the club's administrator, KPMG, had delivered on Wednesday the final documentation requested by the League. "The board considered all the information submitted and authorised the chairman to invite senior representatives of Leeds United 2007 Ltd and KPMG to a meeting next week with a view to seeking to make progress." LEEDS United's creditors could receive almost 53p for every pound they
are owed following the club's financial collapse – but only if it returns
to the Premership within 10 years. The figures emerged as full details
of Ken Bates's offer to buy the club back out of administration arrive
through creditors' letterboxes this morning. Weds July 25th. Whilst Leeds CEO Shaun Harvey was calling
for Tues July 24th. Leeds forced to retrack on flower protest.
The flo Sat July 21st. Leeds United fans have started a campaign
of protest against what is happening at
Sat July 21st. Slovan Liberec 1-0 Leeds United. United Thursday July 19th. It emerged that Leeds players have not been paid for the past six weeks. No real surprise there then."It's an absolute mess and it needs to be resolved urgently because the players are reaching the end of their tethers," stated Mick McGuire, the PFA rep. "There are funds around so there needs to be some common sense to make sure the players get their wages. "It's getting on for six weeks now and you cannot expect players to honour the terms of their contract when they're not being paid. It needs to be done urgently. It's just a pity that Mr McGuire doesn't speak up for the cleaners and tea ladies who also may be due their money. 1200 Leeds fans attended the match yesterday against Union of Berlin and the crowd of 16,000 was double the crowd expected for the friendly. The Saturday match against Dynamo Dresden has been postponed by the police because of trouble expected in East Germany by thugs. Weds July 18th. Union Berlin
2-0 Leeds United: Loach, Richardson, Marques, Heath, Parker, Douglas,
Prutton, Thompson, Lewis, Kandol, Beckford. Subs: Hamman, Delph, Carole,
Constantine, Weston, Elliott. Sales and Injuries R
Friday July 13th. York City 0-0 Leeds United. Leeds United (first half): Gay, Richardson, Marques,
Parker, Westlake, Bayly, Weston, Douglas, Howson, Elliott, Constantine. Thursday July 12th. Leeds were not given back their "Golden share" by the football league, meaning they can't bring in new players. They have demanded more paperwork from KPMG regarding Bates successful bid, and in essence who can blame them. For more read the Yorkshire Post column : In essence, there is no longer a threat to Leeds kicking off the new
season, the Football Association are happy for Leeds to play in pre-season
friendlies, and manager Dennis Wise will be allowed to sign new players,
subject to approval. The Football League statement in full What United fans are anxious to know . . . Q: Will Leeds United now be able to kick off the new season?
Weds July 11th. Black day for Leeds United. Just when you
think things can't get worse - they do. The worst and most disliked chairman
in Leeds United's long history has regained control through the incompetence
and and unfairness of KPMG. The Elland Road chairman had his bid accepted
this afternoon, beating off at least two other offers for the Elland Road
club. "The football club is in the right hands to go forward," said Mr
Bates. One of the failed Leeds United bidders has spoken of his disappointment
on missing out on the chance to buy the Elland Road club. Simon Franks,
chairman of Redbus, who lodged a joint bid with property developer and
Leeds United's former director Simon Morris, praised the club's fans,
thanking them for their support.
KPMG were embroiled in fresh controversy today after Simon Franks,
Sun July 8th. Bates threatens legal action. Ken Bates has vowed to take legal action if the club is sold to a rival bidder. Leeds' administrators KPMG put the club up for sale on Friday night after Bates' buy-back deal was challenged in the High Court by the Inland Revenue.But Bates has warned he will not go out without a fight and confirmed he had re-submitted his offer for the club.The 75-year-old told Yorkshire Radio: "Our bid is the original deal that was done in the meeting of creditors when we placed the Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA) on June 1."We have amended it twice to try and meet the Inland Revenue's objections and now we've withdrawn the conditionality of it, so it's now unconditional."Bates insists the threat of bankruptcy still hangs over Elland Road and that administrators KPMG could be forced to close the club down if nobody steps forward to pay the day-to-day running costs.And he claims rivals bidders, local property developer Simon Morris and London-based Redbus Group headed by Simon Franks, had made offers they could struggle to meet .Bates said: "We believe in fact our offer is valid. Therefore it should be the only one to be accepted."So there's a problem and a possibility that if the administrator goes down another route then there could be further legal battles."After all, we haven't come all this way over the last two-and-half years, borrowed and spent all that money, got the club turned round, got rid of all the bad organisation that the previous regimes left in place to go out without a fight."We honestly believe we have the future of the club at heart and it can go forward under our stewardship."The Inland Revenue are owed £7.7million by Leeds, who have total debts in excess of £35million. Under the terms of Bates' initial 1p-in-the-pound buy-back deal the Inland Revenue were set to receive just £77,000.Bates increased his offer to 8p in the pound, but his last-ditch offer to head off the Inland Revenue's legal challenge proved in vain.On Friday the High Court postponed a decision on the Inland Revenue's appeal until September 3.Bates added: "At the moment it's a very unhappy situation, it's unnecessary. At the moment we are precluded from signing players. We're just in limbo.He added: "It must all be very worrying for the fans and it's very worrying for the staff. They're just ordinary people wondering if they've got a job or not."If it's not funded by someone the administrators will have to close the club down because they're not allowed to, if you like, trade and borrow money, so the answer would be bankruptcy."Earlier on Sunday former Leeds chairman Gerald Krasner, an expert in insolvency law, told BBC Radio Five Live the successful bid for the club would be between £10 and £15million.Krasner said: "Whoever buys it will have a club free of debt apart from football debt and therefore I think we'd be talking £5million-plus."We're not in the Premier League any more and there needs to be a lot of internal investment."This is money for the creditors left behind rather than buying the club. The club will need funding for the season which is probably £10-15million."Krasner said he was unaware whether former Hull chairman Adam Pearson, a director at Elland Road until 2001, and multi-millionaire internet entrepreneur Pete Wilkinson were poised to make a move for the club.Krasner added: "I haven't been contacted by Adam Pearson but in the last six weeks I've been speaking with representatives of three or four consortia. "One of the conversations we've all had is whether two of them get together and put in a super-bid, and that is a still a possibility."
Leeds United: Gay, Bayly (Richardson), Marques (Heath), Coughlan (Douglas), Lewis (Boertien), Carole (Mullan), Fry (Thompson), Howson (Prutton), Westlake (Delph), Blake (Constantine), Elliott (Kandol). Around 4,000 people predominantly Leeds fans converged on Tolka Park
on a nice evening to watch a blend of trialists and old guard Leeds United
players. As one would expect the Louth branch were heavily in attendance
sprinkled around the ground, and with the only Leeds flag on view, a tricolour
behind the goals. In truth one can't have been too disappointed with the
offerings. Derry and F Friday July 6th. 2005. And KPMG offers the club for sale.
Leeds United have been put up for sale with deadline bid to be in by this
Monday by 5PM. KPMG said that it had made the decision because of a challenge
by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) over the £7.7m it is owed by the Yorkshire
club. Former chairman Ken Bates had proposed to take Leeds out of administration,
repaying creditors eight pence in every pound that it owed. A deadline
for offers has been set of 1700 BST on Monday. "We are interested in talking
to other parties," confirmed a KPMG spokesman. The administrator had earlier
warned that there was now a danger the club would be unable to start the
new season. Unpaid taxes Leeds United has debts of £35m, including the
money owed to HMRC in unpaid taxes. Those who have previously declared
an interest in buying the club include Duncan Revie, son of former Leeds
manager Don, and property entrepreneur Simon Morris. Earlier this week,
businessman Simon Franks said he was ready to buy Leeds United, through
his Redbus investment vehicle. HMRC has been challenging Mr Bates's plans
to exit administration at a High Court hearing in Leeds. KPMG said that
unless the club was able to leave administration, the Football League
may not let it start the season. League officials are due to meet next
week to discuss the situation. The court case has been adjourned until
3 September, while Leeds are due to play their first game of next season
away to Tranmere on Saturday, 11 August. Former Leeds chairman Gerald
Krasner expects the ownership question to be sorted out before the start
of the season. However, a spokesman said that as the club was in administration
he could not comment on KPMG's decision. And Mr Bates has already warned
that the cost of defending the HMRC's court action could cost the club
its future. Weds July 4th. Bates with few cards ? Ken Bates's last-ditch attempts
to rescue his takeover of Leeds United from an HM Revenue and Customs
(HMRC) challenge failed last night. A high court hearing has been set
for Friday after the Inland Revenue snubbed a final 8p-in-the-pound offer
lodged on Monday against the £7.7m that the taxman was owed when Leeds
filed for administration in May. However, there were suggestions last
night that the process might not reach the court.One source said the administrator,
KPMG, was considering annulling the arrangement under which Bates's consortium
took over last month. It is thought that KPMG would then invite fresh
offers. Under insolvency law, that would require the court proceedings
to be withdrawn, so for KPMG to take that step it would require the prior
approval of HMRC. Tuesday July 3rd. Revenue launches challenge.The Inland Revenue have confirmed they will mount a legal challenge to Leeds United chairman Ken Bates's buy-back of the club, after he formed a new company to save the League One side from administration. The club's creditors narrowly accepted his 1p-in-the-pound offer last month. It was a decision that angered the Inland Revenue, who are owed £7.7 million by the club in unpaid taxes, and had until 4pm today to announce formal action. Their concern was shared by Yorkshire MPs Phil Willis, George Mudie and Colin Burgon, who met with then economic secretary to the Treasury Ed Balls and former Sports Minister Richard Caborn at Westminster to express their concerns at the buy-back deal. The Yorkshire club raised their offer to the Revenue of £77,000 to £616,000 yesterday in a last-ditch attempt to avoid a legal challenge. With Bates fearing the club could slide into liquidation, the former Chelsea chairman increased his initial offer to 8p in the pound and also agreed to extend the period that an extra £5m would be paid to creditors if Leeds reached the Barclays Premier League within ten years. Before today's announcement, Bates voiced his fears for the future of the Elland Road club: "From 4pm on Tuesday there'll either be a Leeds United or there won't. It's not about personalities, it's about Leeds United and the many people who support the club on and off the field. I've always been told Leeds city needs a successful football club, and I hope Wednesday can be the first step towards Leeds United being a successful team for the city of Leeds," he said. Tax exile Bates has his work cut out now! Monday July 2nd. New Bid by jittery Bates. Leeds
have upped their offer to the Inland Revenue from £77,000 to £616,000
in a last-ditch attempt to avoid a legal challenge to the club being re-sold
to Ken Bates. Bates was obviously afraid that the Inland Revenue were going to go the whole hog and in effect they called his bluff. Friday June 29th. My View. We should know by next week where our
club is going. In most sane peoples view Bates has gotten away with it
by offering £1
Friday June 29th. Leeds have agreed terms "in principle" which would see our former captain, Kevin Nicholls join Preston as soon as the transfer embargo is lifted. Three players it seems that will be definitely staying are central defenders, Matt Heath and Rui Marques and striker, Tore Andre Flo. Rui Marques has already turned down a contract with a Bundesliga club. Curtis Weston, ex Swindon Town under Dennis Wise (midfielder) is to link up with Leeds in the next few days with the view to a contract. Jamie Mullan, the former Manchester United winger, is to return to Thorp Arch next week for a another trial. Two months after impressing Dennis Wise and his coaching staff during an earlier spell of training with Leeds, the Whites will take another look at the 19-year-old before deciding whether to hand him a permanent deal. he is alleged to have turned down a three year deal with Swansea City. Leeds are also set to offer former Anderlecht and Man United Reserve Floribert N'Galula a trial. Wise who is trying to bring in up to ten players (with probably more than ten leaving) has said that deals "in principle" have been agreed with six players already. Thursday June 28th. Leeds United chief executive Shaun Harvey
last night warned that any legal challenge to Ken Bates's rescue bid will
put the club's very survival in doubt. He said: "The club has been advised
that a procedural appeal would not succeed. Such an appeal at this late
stage would, however, have the affect of hindering the acquisition of
a playing squad required to obtain promotion to the Championship at the
first attempt. I'm back ! Brief updates June 17th to June 27th. Transfer Rumours. Leeds United may just be in the
running to sign current free agent Tomasz Radzinski. Radzinski,
who was released by Fulham at the end of last season has been linked to
a number of Championship clubs. Bates bid in trouble ?. With just five days to go before creditors can lodge a high court bid against Ken Bates controversial buy back of Leeds United. Treasury Secretary Ed Balls held a meeting yesterday with tax officials and MPs. They are likely to investigate two debts that emerged at a very late stage, both to companies with links to our co-director. Two specific cases were raised by the MPs. One being Yorkshire Radio, who weren't listed on the preliminary statement that was issued to all creditors but whose demand in the final document circulated at the vote was for £480,000. Without the later emergence and acceptance of the debt (around 1.3 per cent of the £35m-plus debts total) Bates would not have retained control. Bates is listed as a director of Yorkshire Radio, along with his Leeds co-director Mark Taylor, who is also the sole shareholder. The second case related to Mark Taylor & Company, whose principal, Mark Taylor, is a director of both the club and the takeover consortium. The company's initial claim rose from £59,756 to £273,615.32 in the final analysis. KPMG are still continuing to insist that everything is above board. A spokesman for the administrator told the Guardian that "We have taken and conducted this in accordance with normal insolvency procedures and were advised by legal counsel to ensure we were operating in accordance with insolvency law and we always acted in the bounds of that." Transfer excuses already ? Dennis Wise suggested that Leeds may have missed up to 10 transfer targets due to their embargo on ins and outs of Elland Road. Excuses already Dennis ???? The Leeds manager said: "We are talking to players but unfortunately we are having to wait. There are a lot of players we initially earmarked who have gone. It is about 10 but we understand the situation so we will not harp on about it. I am not here to make excuses or say 'we are miles behind people, give us time'. No, we will try as quickly as possible to get in the players we need and then take it from there. But there are a lot of options. Sometimes, players do not particularly want to hold on – they get jittery feet and want to try and get themselves sorted out. I am talking about people on frees and players who have turned down contracts, and unfortunately they do not want to wait. Leeds is still a draw, but the other thing I get is 'how much?' That disappoints me. Because this is a massive football club, they seem to think Leeds United will pay me loads of money. It is not going to happen. We have made that mistake before and we are not here to make it again. It's very difficult to say 'I need this amount of players'. It depends on who goes out and what positions go." Leeds no appeal to Sky. Leeds have been overlooked in the first
batch of Football League games selected by Sky to be broadcast live next
season. The Elland Road club were notably absent from 26 fixtures chosen
yesterday to be televised during the first four months of the new campaign.Sky,
who will show a total of 70 Football League matches during the 2007-08
term, have decided to broadcast just five League One encounters between
the opening day on August 11 and the end of November. Season Ticket Sales. Ken Bates expressed his joy that Leeds United had a fantastic response to season ticket sales Last season United had just 10,700 season ticket holders. This season although a division lower they have sold 8,600 season tickets since the forms were sent out three weeks ago. Phenomenal response but nothing to do with Bates but just a statement that we already knew - Leeds fans are terrific and loyal unlike our current chairman. Ticket Prices. Leeds have unveiled reduced match-day ticket prices
for Elland Road
Sat June 16th. Sorry folks but it is time to enjoy another hard earned rest away from the frustration of the banana industry. Normal service will be resumed in around 11 days time. In the meantime log onto www.leedsunitedworld.co.uk for all the tit bits surrounding this soon to be great club again of ours. So what has been happening in the past few days. Peter Ridsdale has decided (rumour has it) to lift the lid over his time at Leeds on what promises to be a best selling book. Should be a good read, and also there is the little matter of the League One fixtures that were recently announced . We start on August 11th away to Tranmere Rvs and we finish on May 3rd at home to Gillingham. We travel to Notts Forest on August 25th in the pick of the early clashes and Kevin Blackwell returns to Elland Road with Luton Town on September 1st. For a club trip that could be interesting if a little early. Full round up as follows : Saturday, 11 August 2007 Coca-Cola Football League One Tranmere v Leeds, 15:00, Tuesday, 14 August 2007 Carling Cup Macclesfield v Leeds, 19:45.Saturday, 18 August 2007 Coca-Cola Football League One Leeds v Southend, 15:00 , Saturday, 25 August 2007 Coca-Cola Football League One Notttm Forest v Leeds, 15:00 , Saturday, 01 September 2007 Coca-Cola Football League One Leeds v Luton, 15:00 , Saturday, 08 September 2007 Coca-Cola Football League One Leeds v Hartlepool, 15:00 , Saturday, 15 September 2007 , Coca-Cola Football League One, Bristol Rovers v Leeds, 15:00 ;Saturday, 22 September 2007 , Coca-Cola Football League One Leeds v Swansea, 15:00 , Saturday, 29 September 2007 Coca-Cola Football League One Gillingham v Leeds, 15:00 Tuesday, 02 October 2007 Coca-Cola Football League One Oldham v Leeds, 19:45 Saturday, 06 October 2007 Coca-Cola Football League One Leeds v Yeovil, 15:00 Saturday, 13 October 2007 Coca-Cola Football League One Leeds v Leyton Orient, 15:00 Saturday, 20 October 2007 Coca-Cola Football League One Brighton v Leeds, 15:00 Saturday, 27 October 2007 Coca-Cola Football League One Leeds v Millwall, 15:00 Saturday, 03 November 2007 Coca-Cola Football League One Carlisle v Leeds, 15:00 Tuesday, 06 November 2007 Coca-Cola Football League One Bournemouth v Leeds, 19:45 Saturday, 17 November 2007 Coca-Cola Football League One Leeds v Swindon, 15:00 Saturday, 24 November 2007 Coca-Cola Football League One Cheltenham v Leeds, 15:00 Tuesday, 04 December 2007 Coca-Cola Football League One Leeds v Port Vale, 19:45 Saturday, 08 December 2007 Coca-Cola Football League One Leeds v Huddersfield, 15:00 Saturday, 15 December 2007 Coca-Cola Football League One Walsall v Leeds, 15:00 Saturday, 22 December 2007 Coca-Cola Football League One Leeds v Bristol Rovers, 15:00 Wednesday, 26 December 2007 Coca-Cola Football League One Hartlepool v Leeds, 15:00 Saturday, 29 December 2007 Coca-Cola Football League One Swansea v Leeds, 15:00 Tuesday, 01 January 2008 Coca-Cola Football League One Leeds v Oldham, 15:00 Saturday, 05 January 2008 Coca-Cola Football League One Leeds v Northampton, 15:00 Saturday, 12 January 2008 Coca-Cola Football League One Crewe v Leeds, 15:00 Saturday, 19 January 2008 Coca-Cola Football League One Leeds v Doncaster, 15:00 Saturday, 26 January 2008 Coca-Cola Football League One Luton v Leeds, 15:00 Tuesday, 29 January 2008 Coca-Cola Football League One Southend v Leeds, 19:45 Saturday, 02 February 2008 Coca-Cola Football League One Leeds v Tranmere, 15:00 Saturday, 09 February 2008 Coca-Cola Football League One Northampton v Leeds, 15:00 Tuesday, 12 February 2008 Coca-Cola Football League One Leeds v Nottm Forest, 19:45 Saturday, 16 February 2008 Coca-Cola Football League One Doncaster v Leeds, 15:00 Saturday, 23 February 2008 Coca-Cola Football League One Leeds v Crewe, 15:00 Saturday, 01 March 2008 Coca-Cola Football League One Swindon v Leeds, 15:00 Saturday, 08 March 2008 Coca-Cola Football League One Leeds v Bournemouth, 15:00 Tuesday, 11 March 2008 Coca-Cola Football League One Leeds v Cheltenham, 19:45 Saturday, 15 March 2008 Coca-Cola Football League One Port Vale v Leeds, 15:0 Saturday, 22 March 2008 Coca-Cola Football League One Leeds v Walsall, 15:00 Monday, 24 March 2008 Coca-Cola Football League One Huddersfield v Leeds, 19:45 Saturday, 29 March 2008 Coca-Cola Football League One Leeds v Brighton, 15:00 Saturday, 05 April 2008 Coca-Cola Football League One Leyton Orient v Leeds, 15:00 Saturday, 12 April 2008 Coca-Cola Football League One Leeds v Carlisle, 15:00 Saturday, 19 April 2008 Coca-Cola Football League One Millwall v Leeds, 15:00 Saturday, 26 April 2008 Coca-Cola Football League One Yeovil v Leeds, 15:00 Saturday, 03 May 2008 Coca-Cola Football League One Leeds v Gillingham, 15:00 Sat June 9th. From next season any club going into administration after the fourth Thursday in March will have their 10-point deduction suspended. If the club is relegated the points will be deducted from their tally at the start of next season. If the club stays up the 10 points will be taken off their final total. The club would then go down if the 10-point deduction subsequently resulted in it slipping into a relegation place. The rule change was passed unanimously by the 72 chairmen of the Football League at their annual general meeting in Portugal. Football League chairman Lord Mawhinney said: "I am delighted that clubs have backed their board so strongly on this issue. "The changes we have made today enable the League's 'Sporting Sanctions' regulations to remain true to their original aim. Leeds went into administration on 4 May - and the automatic 10-point deduction saw them relegated to League One. However, the Yorkshire club were almost certain to be relegated anyway and in entering administration avoided starting the following season minus 10 points. Meanwhile, Boston United went into a Company Voluntary Agreement on 5 May, during their last game of the season - when they were losing at Wrexham and set to be relegated from League Two in any event. Meanwhile it emerged that both Kevin Blackwell and David Healy were two of the creditors who voted against Ken Bates takeover. Healy also refused a wage deferral and in all fairness who could blame him ? Thurs June 7th. Whilst it now appears St Gemmas Hospice is not owed any money by Leeds after all, Ken Bates now blames the Inland Revenue for small creditors not getting their money. And there was I thinking it was all down to you, Ken. Looks like I'm wrong again and the value of the club in your possession has just coincidentally rocketed for you. The man could put out a better twist than a ballerina. Bates told BBC Radio Leeds: "The Inland Revenue acted extremely unreasonably. Over the last two-and-a-half years Leeds have paid between £15m and £20m to the Revenue, but our cash flow dried up and we asked for a holiday.The Revenue said no and put foward the petition to wind up the club. I'm sorry small creditors have lost money, but that is totally down to the Revenue." Bates added: "We were happy to pay everyone over a period of time. "The fault for Leeds United creditors should be place fairly and squarely at the Revenue's door. Meanwhile Ken has claimed that "the club has attracted 2,000 new season ticket holders, £500,000 in new sponsorship in the last week, and a new shirt sponsorship is to be announced along with other significant deals close to completion". Meanwhile Leeds who can't buy or sell a player for a month were li Tuesday June 5th 2007. Transfer funds for Wise. Perhaps it's the money that was saved not paying the balloon man, or St Johns Ambulance or even St Gemmas Hospice but Ken Bates has promised Leeds manager Dennis Wise sufficient funds to launch a strong start to life in League One. And the Elland Road chairman says the transfer embargo imposed on the club after it went into administration will not hinder their hopes next season. "I don't discuss figures, and never have, but Dennis will have funds available to him," said Bates. "We're in limbo slightly but that does not stop us talking to players formally and agreeing deals in principle." The Football League has confirmed that the embargo it imposed following the move into administration on 4 May is unlikely to be lifted until July. That delay will leave Wise with a month to rebuild his relegated squad ahead of the start of the campaign on 11 August. "We've already held lots of informal discussions, and Dennis has got a long shopping list," Bates added. "We actually sent him away on holiday while all this was going on because there was nothing more he could do. But he knows who he wants. "Obviously we've had a few setbacks and missed out on a few players, but that's inevitable regardless of whether you're in administration or not. "It happens every year and you never get every player you try for." And why wouldn't he seen as some of the 1300 plus small creditors will get just 1p in the £1. Read their comments from the Yorkshire Post as they join St. John's Ambulance and St Gemmas Hospice The Losers. The IT supllier The Caterer The Party Planner Monday June 4th. Ken Bates, the man who turned a £20M "Following the Leeds United creditors meetings that have taken place on Friday 1 June and Monday 4 June, the Administrators of Leeds United Association Football Club Limited (The) can confirm the result of the vote on the CVA (company voluntary arrangement) proposal to sell the Club to a newly formed company, Leeds United Football Club Ltd. Creditors have approved the CVA proposal, which means, subject to Football League and Football Association approval, the business and assets, including players, of the Club will transfer to Leeds United Football Club Ltd, the directors of which are Ken Bates, Shaun Harvey and Mark Taylor". Richard Fleming, joint administrator and KPMG Restructuring partner said: "I am satisfied that in voting to accept this CVA proposal the creditors have approved a solution that allows the Club to plan ahead for next season; reduces uncertainty for all those with an interest in Leeds United; provides some return for creditors; and avoids liquidation. Leeds United Football Club Limited must now seek approval from the Football League and can begin to rebuild for next season. The supervisors can also begin the process of agreeing creditors' claims for dividend purposes." The creditors will receive an initial dividend of 1p in the pound; with an additional £5m (equivalent to 16p in the pound) in the event that the Club regains Premiership status within five seasons. There is also another clause where any new owners to pass a 50per cent dividend to creditors should the club be sold for £5m or more in the next six months. It's still possible that Bates will want to sell the club to one of the other consortia in future, but this clause will probably mean that he will wait until December before doing so. It hasn't been a day for justice and Bates can't blame Peter Ridsdale for the extra £15M wort of debt that he built up inspite of receiving around £12M for the sale of Wood and Taiwo to Chelsea, Hulse and Kilgallon to Sheffield United and gate receipts of nearly £2M unshared from the Millennium stadium last May. There may still be legal challenges from creditors who were offered £0.40p in the pound from other unsuccessful consortia so this may yet drag on. These consortia are alleged to be disinterested from dealing directly with Ken Bates who to would loathe to see making a quick buck, but the Revie lead consortium may still do business with Bates.This would be good for Leeds fans who are sick of the sight of the man who did everything except save Leeds.The club will remain in administration for a further 28 days to allow any creditor who wishes to dispute the sale to go to court. The new company, Leeds United Football Club Ltd, must then seek approval from both the Football League and Football Association before manager Dennis Wise can sign new players ahead of their first season in Coca-Cola League One.
Brief round up of last two weeks during my absence On Friday June 1st Ken Bates consortium secured 75.02% of the
votes for their buy back bid of Leeds United. Needing 75 per cent of the
votes among 1,300 creditors, he polled 75.02 per cent — a margin so slight
that a recount was ordered and another meeting called for Monday morning.
Many felt administrators KPMG failed to act in their best interests by
agreeing to sell the club back to Bates so quickly. Andrew Simister, of
STL Harrogate, said: "The reaction of creditors was one of disbelief and
frustration. There were offers to people like myself of at least 15p in
the pound but the administrators only seemed interested in Ken Bates’
offer. "It seems to have been masterminded from start to finish by Mr
Bates." Bates was at the stadium but he did not attend the meeting. Former
Leeds chairman Gerald Krasner, who was at the meeting to represent smaller
creditors free of charge in his role as a corporate insolvency expert,
warned the matter could be taken further. He said: "They have disallowed
substantial votes by creditors on both sides and there may well be challenges
in court." That so-called 'pre-pack' deal was a relatively new concept
in football. Although a CVA (company voluntary arrangement) proposal had
been successfully tested at Rotherham United last year, lawyers from Leeds
firm Walker Morris pioneered the move. They are advising Ken Bates and
his team at Elland Road. Meanwhile, on Sat June 2nd property developer Simon Morris increased his offer to creditors in a late attempt to thwart Ken Bates' bid for control of Leeds. Morris has now offered the club's creditors a 40p in the pound deal in an effort to buy Leeds United. "If we are successful in our bid to buy Leeds United, there will be 20p in the pound for the creditors immediately, and a further 20p in the pound for them over a period of time." "We believe creditors will see and understand the value in our offer." However, Morris' bid is expected to be too late, as there will not be another vote on Monday, only a recount. Pre-season friendlies announced Saturday 7 July away to Shelbourne , York City on Saturday 14 July, before the overseas tour to Germany to play : Union Berlin on July 18 - a 3rd division outfit, followed by Dynamo Dresden on July 21. The tour ends with Bundesliga relegation-avoiders Energie Cottbus on July 23. Then it's away to Burnley on 28 July, and then to Darlington for an evening fixture on July 31 before entertaining Wigan at Elland Road on August 4, a week before the season starts. Other News All but four of the current Leeds squad agreed to defer their wages whilst the current CVA is being sorted out. Leeds were linked with Burnley goalkeeper, Danny Coyne and lower division striker Leo Constantine. Dennis Wise offered to take a pay cut and rightly so for getting Leeds relegated. Fulham were linked with a move for David Healy and Kevin Nicholls was linked with both Preston and Luton Town. It was thought Tore Andre Flo will be offerd a three and half year contract by Wise. Sat May 19th. I will be travelling for the next fortnight so I will have no updates implemented, but for latest Leeds Utd info log into www.leedsunitedworld.co.uk Friday May 18th. And he had a go at Ridsdale over the goldfish A good deal of hot air was spouted about the £250-a-year Peter Ridsdale
spent on goldfish at Elland Road but it turns out Ken Bates has spent
a much more inflated sum on balloons. Among the minor creditors who Bates
has callously swept aside by his hokey-cokey approach to administration
is the Ballyhoo Balloon company who are owed nearly £1,000 for supplying
decorations to the club’s functions in January. Friday May 18th. Sutton sacked and others still owed Alan Sutton, a physio with Leeds United for 21 years, was shocked to be made redundant by the club’s administrators in a brief telephone call as he drove home from work this week. Sutton, 60, was one of the main organisers of a recent tribute dinner to Leeds' Republic of Ireland defender Gary Kelly, who retired at the end of the season.Leeds United still owe seven ex-players money among a lengthy list of around 1,350 creditors. Debts of £35million forced The Whites into administration when it became apparent they would not retain their Championship status earlier this month. While Leeds no longer pay the likes of Robbie Fowler and Mark Viduka, they still are indebted to Danny Mills, Michael Ricketts, Eirik Bakke, Paul Butler, Steve Stone, Jermaine Wright and Sean Gregan. Mills is due £216,667 in wages while Ricketts is owed a staggering £117,500 and under Football League rules all clubs in administration must pay up. Friday May 18th 2007 Krasner in fighting mood. Former Leeds chairman Gerald Krasner says Ken Bates' offer to pay off the club's creditors is "derisory". And Krasner has offered to represent the creditors free of charge to prevent chairman Bates retaining control. Bates placed Leeds in administration this month and could get the go-ahead to buy the club back as director of a new company at a meeting on 1 June. He has offered to settle the club's debts at 1p in the £1 and has the backing of the club's major creditors. The creditors are owed a reported £22million. But in a letter sent to creditors Krasner said: "Having now seen the papers in connection with the proposed CVA, it appears that Mr Bates' new company is proposing a dividend of 1p in the £1. Effectively, he will have bought the club back debt free for approximately £500,000, including professional costs. Quite frankly I consider this offer utterly derisory and unless you agree with this proposal, it is up to you as a creditor to make your voice heard." Krasner added: "I have had a lot of approaches recently from fellow professionals, acting either for creditors or for third parties, who wish to invest in the club, but do not want to deal with Mr Bates. "They have all asked me the same question, 'What can be done?' "My answer has always been that if the Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) proposal by the joint administrators is voted down, then I believe that substantial new investment would come quickly into the club and the return to creditors would be much higher." Krasner, director of Leeds-based solicitors Bartfields, has stressed he has no financial interest in the matter, but is acting on behalf of a number of creditors who have already approached him. Leeds went into administration with debts of £35million following a winding-up order issued by the Inland Revenue, who are owed £5million in unpaid taxes. For all the disagreements I had with Krasner, I would say that he acknowledged every letter and magazine sent to him from the Louth Branch with a reply which is more than I can say for Bates. Thursday May 17th 2007. Simon Morris was in bullish mood regarding his takeover plans at Leeds United : I would like to think a fair and reasonable deal will be done on behalf of the creditors. Our package to pay creditors is £10million, while the whole takeover package runs into hundreds of millions of pounds worth of commitment. He's (Bates) hanging on for dear life. The fact that he put in his offer, which equates to £350,000 if the club's reported debt is correct, shows there is hardly loads of capital there." It has been reported former West Ham chairman Terry Brown, a Dubai-based consortium headed by former Leeds manager Don Revie's son Duncan and two separate Irish consortia are also in the running. Tuesday May 15th 2007 Meeting to be arranged
Sat May 12th. It emerged that Dennis Wise was present in Ireland on Friday night to see St Pats lose a two goal lead to draw with UCD. There is little doubt that The Mennace was casting his eye over Pats full back/midfielder, Stephen Quigley. Quigley at 22 is one of the best players in the LOI and could more than hold his own in the Leeds team. I was very impressed with him against Dundalk in the FAI Cup last season. There are plenty of LOI players who could more than hold their own in the Championship, let alone League One and are worth a look. Elsewehere, Jermaine Beckford hinted that he would prefer to stay with Scunthorpe if a deal could be arranged, and who could blame him.He scored freely for The Iron as they moved up to the Championship whilst Wise preferred the contribution of the limited and poor finishing of Tresor Kandol (Bambi on ice). He added : I will definitely be sad if I do leave. With regards to the future, I'm not sure exactly what's going to happen. I just want to play football, we'll have to see in the summer. From the first day until now, I'm still smiling. The lads made me feel comfortable from the first day that I walked through the changing room and all I can say now is I'm really good friends with all of them. I just wanted to play a few games, score a few goals and have a few good performances as well. Luckily enough for me I've been able to do that. You can't ask for more than that when you go to any club on loan". Meanwhile Gus Poyet claimed that administration has foiled Wise and his plans for the close season and they needed to look at youth now : ""Dennis and I had plans for next season, but we had to tear them up because we went into administration and have had to start again. We will have a very busy summer making sure we are ready for the start of next season, because although it is easy to say we will come straight back up, making sure we do it will be another thing. Those players in the youth ranks will now be given a big chance to make it into the first team, a great chance to make their careers in football."Here's hoping that they'll be looking at youth at another club in a few weeks time as they added nothing to the club since Blackwell's departure except relegation. Time for them to go and they will should a new chairman come in. Fingers crossed ! Leeds United have announced that subject to the approval of the proposed CVA, that those holding 20-year season tickets will have their tickets honoured by the club for the new season. Weds May 9th. And the bids begin !
Meanwhile The Football League are to review the loophole which allowed
Leeds and Boston to go into administration when they knew their relegation
fate. Both clubs were able to potentially escape the consequences of starting
the new season with a 10-point penalty. Weds May 9th 2007. Leeds United continued their cull with the release of Robbie Elliott and Hayden Foxe. Both players hardly set Elland Road alight and were on short term contracts. They are the second and third players to have been let go. Tues May 8th. Could Ridsdale have turned it around ? Ridsdale, who resigned in 2003 in the face of massive supporter unrest
at United's crippling debts, is adamant that the club's seemingly inevitable
relegation could have been avoided.
Tues May 8th. Other parties still in town ? Leeds United's administrators are expecting several parties keen on taking
control at Elland Road to step up their bids this week. The club went
into administration with debts of £35million last Friday following a winding-up
order issued by the Inland Revenue, who are owed £5million in unpaid taxes.
The business was, with the administrators' approval, almost immediately
bought by a new company, Leeds United Football Club Limited, of which
Ken Bates is a listed director. But the sale is subject to approval by
the club's creditors at a meeting later this month and also by the Football
League, while other consortia are poised to ambush Bates' plans to resume
control of the club. The club's joint-administrator Richard Fleming, of
accountancy firm KPMG, revealed nobody had yet stepped forward with a
firm offer showing proof of funds. He told PA Sport: "We've had a number
of approaches, but only from intermediaries acting on behalf of other
people. "I expect that to change though over the course of the next couple
of days." A growing number of Leeds fans are dismayed that potential new
owners do not appear to have had chance to lodge their interest in buying
the club. Leeds property entrepreneur Simon Morris has declared his intention
to launch a takeover bid and it has been reported former West Ham chairman
Terry Brown, a Dubai-based consortium headed by former Leeds manager Don
Revie's son Duncan and two separate Irish consortia are also in the running.
Fleming said: "The deal we have done is subject to the approval of creditors,
but we know we already have the backing of a reasonable chunk because
we have consulted them informally. "If the creditors don't approve the
transaction at the meeting, the natural route of course will be to talk
to other people. "In any event we will be talking to people who have a
valid interest." Leeds MP Colin Burgon, who has protested about the veil
of secrecy under which Bates has operated at Elland Road, has announced
he will be writing to Sports Minister Richard Caborn about the need for
transparency in the handling of clubs' finances. Fleming added: "Make
no mistake, this club was insolvent. The cash-flow showed it needed £10million
straight away. Tues May 8th. Administration for
Leeds could mean a big write-off for tax payers. (by Nick Hood) Tues May 8th. Elland Road buy-back on back burner ? A dramatic turn of events last week saw United placed in administration
only to emerge minutes later in the hands of a newly-formed company called
Leeds United Football Club Limited. May7th. Ian Moore (pic'd right)became
the first of the cull at Elland Road.
When Kevin Blackwell was asked if he could have prevented the current situation if he had stayed at the Yorkshire outfit, Blackwell said: "I know what I can do – I'm a bloody good manager. "I turned the club around from nothing. We were forced to sell players, but we got to the play-off final.18 months later they are all but relegated so you can draw your own conclusions .I've texted and spoken to a lot of people in Leeds in the past few weeks. It was my privilege to work at the club and I will never forget it. We had a quarter of a million people clamouring for tickets for the play-off final last season; it was awesome. Everywhere we went, the fans filled the place out and sang their hearts out – they were brilliant. It's with a heavy heart that I see where they are now.They are in that position in the league because they deserve to be there, you can't say that any team should stay in the Championship.But with the size of the club and the fans they've got there, I think they'll be all right."
Former Leeds chairman Gerald Krasner believes the battle for control
at Elland Road is only just starting. The club went into administration
on Friday and administrators KPMG immediately agreed to sell the club
back to a new company, Leeds United Football Club Limited, headed by current
chairman Ken Bates, chief executive Shaun Harvey and director Mark Taylor. While Bates went on the offensive and blamed previous regimes for the club’s huge debts, it emerged that the likely fall-out will leave manager Dennis Wise with a largely untried squad who may struggle to stay afloat even in the third tier. It is understood senior players such as David Healy, whose spectacular
scoring record Leeds will seek replacements on a maximum of £5,000 a week. In some cases, players will pursue a move rather than drop into League One, while other departures will be driven by a need to slash the wage bill. One insider said: "It was already going to be difficult because Leeds were always going to be such a target in League One. "It was guaranteed others would raise their game. If all Leeds a Concerned players were addressed yesterday afternoon by former chief executive and director of the new Leeds United FC Ltd, Shaun Harvey, and further meetings are planned with the players’ union on Tuesday. Creditors are due to meet later this month to consider the latest developments but several are already querying how debts that were described as manageable less than a year ago have spiralled to around £35million. Bates attempted to turn the tables on any critics by blaming some of his predecessors and hailing a new boardroom triumvirate of himself, Harvey and solicitor Mark Taylor as a fresh start. He said: "Going into administration brings to an end the financial legacy left by others that we have spent millions trying to settle. "But the important thing now is not to view this as the end, but the beginning of a new era. The financial burden of the past finally pushed the club into administration following the issuing of a winding up petition by HM Revenue & Customs, who will be one of the company’s major creditors. "The other parties who will suffer the biggest financial loss are institutions from which the board arranged funding: Astor Investment Holdings, Krato Trust and Forward Sports Fund, who collectively will lose in excess of £22m." Former Leeds director Melvyn Levi, who is understood to have nearly £2m at risk, said: "Once again, those who do not have a voice — the fabulous and truly loyal fan base and small creditors — are being dealt the worst possible hand. "I hope a Yorkshire knight in shining armour will charge in and rescue By going into administration before their relegation had been confirmed, Leeds avoided starting next season with a 10-point penalty. The deduction will be made from their current Championship tally, though the new arrangements still hinge on creditors agreeing to forego at least some of their debt. If they consent to the formation of a newly-named club at Elland Road, it would just remain for the Football League to give the sale its approval. Bates admitted the door was still open to new investors, saying: "Since January 2005 we have followed up every approach received but refused to deal with unnamed consortiums represented by third parties, if indeed they ever existed. "To avoid time-wasters we have always required proof of funds first, whereupon they often disappear." The Inland Revenue are particularly unhappy with the haste of the deal and want to know if there are any alternative offers. They will not allow Leeds to escape paying an estimated £5m VAT and tax bill. There is also concern about the involvement of Harvey, who was twice involved in financial meltdowns at Bradford City before moving to Elland Road.
Leeds’ problems also extend to the training ground, where manager Wise has had a huge row with captain Jonathan Douglas and clashed with several players, including deposed skipper Kevin Nicholls. Former Leeds chairman Gerald Krasner also believes investors interested
in Leeds may have to join forces to launch a successful bid for the club.
He said interest is coming from a number of quarters, including from Ireland. Duncan Revie - son of former Leeds United manager Don (pic'd right) May 4th. How did Leeds come to finish last in the old Second Division six years after Chairman, Greg Tipping obstructed the view of many at a Champions League Semi-Final at Elland Road ? On the final day of the 2000-2001 campaign, Leeds, Liverpool and I May 4th. Administration for Leeds.
Richard Fleming, Mark Firmin and Howard Smith, of KPMG Restructuring,
were today appointed administrators of Leeds United Association Football
Club Limited at the request of the Club's directors. Shortly after their
appointment the joint administrators agreed to sell the business and its
assets to a newly formed company called Leeds United Football Club Limited,
the directors of which are Ken Bates, Shaun Harvey and Mark Taylor. The
sale of the Club is subject to approval by its creditors, via a Company
Voluntary Arrangement (CVA). This would see creditors forgoing a significant
element of their debt, in order to allow the Club to continue trading
under new ownership. The creditors' meeting, to consider the CVA, will
be held before the end of May. The Football League will also need to approve
the sale. Richard Fleming, joint administrator and KPMG Restructuring
partner said: "We were asked by the board of directors to advise Leeds
United on Monday 30 April 2007. The Club has experienced significant financial
difficulty for some years and was burdened with historic debt and wage
structures. "It was necessary for the Club to enter administration as
its balance sheet dated 31 March 2007 indicated debts totalling approximately
£35 million, with a cash injection of approximately £10 million required
to continue trading. Further, Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs (HMRC)
recently issued a winding up petition for approximately £5 million. If
this debt had not been paid by 25 June 2007, the Club may have been forced
into liquidation." The administrators understand from discussions with
the Football League that the administration will result in the immediate
deduction of 10 points from the Club's current points total in this years
Championship. This means that next season the club will start the campaign
in League One with no points deducted. Richard Fleming concluded: "This
agreement has been reached quic May 2nd. Latest News : Well, listening to Ken Bates you'd think that Dennis Wise won the Championship and deserves a new rewarding contract instead of the facts, 32 games at the helm and failed to get us out of the bottom three by May. he firmly blamed Kevin Blackwell for all of Leeds woes on the pitch and Peter Ridsdale for all of Leeds woes off the pitch. As rumours of Leeds entering liquidation persisted and former chairman Gerald Krasner (pic'd below with the old board inc. current crawler Peter Lorimer) added to that view, it became apparent that should Leeds be liquidated before Sunday they would avoid a 10 point penalty next season. A report in a national newspaper claimed Bates is in talks with Leeds
City C For all the action of the 2007-08 pre-season, click here For all the highs and lows of the 2006/2007 season, please click here July 5th 2005. If you want to read my review of the season (concentrating highly on Cardiff in May 2006) click to "Diary of a season" on "Other Articles" in blue on left hand side of column.
For previous news stories, please click here. For what you think of Leeds, click here to send in your rants and I'll include them in the "Rants" page. |
Leeds
Utd Louth
Supporters Club |
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istian Nade from Sheffield United and Ipswich's Alan Lee. Wise
will no doubt soon claim that he had no time to sign players and yet we
are letting Cresswell go, the one player who can put the ball in the back
of the net. Crazy !!!
row and whilst results "don't matter" according to
losing managers during the Summer period, it breeds lack of confidence
and worryingly Kandol just can's hit a barn gate from five yards.
He was clean through twice and missed badly. Beckford and Thompson wen
close also. Leeds need a much needed winning lift against Darlington who
are up next. Wise and Poyet will be watching the clock anxiously over
the next few days wanting to get badly needed players signed. 
Meanwhile, KPMG have sent a letter to Leeds United fans who
have questioned their handling of the club's administration.
the "fans to get united behind the club", our club was busy
completing the sale of our latest crown jewell, Danny Rose 
wer
power protest by Leeds United fans was gathering pace at Elland Road today.The
sudden appearance at 
the Billy Bremner
statue of floral displays, shirts and a variety of messages triggered
huge support for action to end the club's summer of discontent under Ken
Bates.
and is saying we've had enough. We're saying don't ignore us.
We won't go silently." Perhaps the best fans opinion was as follows :
This protest is about the way the club has been allowed to plummet into
the position we're in."
Elland Road. Flowers and wreaths are being laid at the Billy
Bremner statue in a show of demonstration and frustration against the
current regime at Elland Road and in particular Ken Bates. 
went down 1-0 to a side that finished fourth last
season in the Czech Premier division and who are currently playing Inter
Toto football. Leeds had their chances mainly through Beckford, Kandol
and Constantine. Beckford looked lively and Mouloud was a new trialist
at the back. Thompson and Prutton didn't feature but Wise seems happy
with the fitness and believes the goals will come. He says he wants a
tight squad with "perhaps four additions" but the goalkeeping position
must be worrying him at this stage. Next up it's Energie Cottbus on Monday
night, who finished 13th in the Bundesliga last season, 
followed by Burnley at Turf Moor in a game which will feature
Robbie Blake against Leeds. 
Leeds playing their current strongest squad (still unable to
bring in players) were defeated 2-0 by Union Berlin in the first match
of their three game pre-season tour of Germany. The match was played in
front of a packed stadium with the kick-off having to be delayed because
of the numbers turning up - the locals obviously still think we are a
big club. Marco Gerhardt beat Loach in the Leeds goal in the 40th minute
although Leeds did have their chances, with Beckford, Lewis and Thompson
all going close. Beckford was lively throughout and indications are that
if Scunthorpe fail to increase their offer, Wise wants to keep him.
eports suggest that Leeds have sold Matthew Rose
to Spurs for a fee approaching £1M. He joins Robinson, Lennon, and Keane
in the latest Elland Road/White Hart Lane jumble sale. It's all a bit
rich of Bates who had strong words for Tom Taiwo and Michael Woods for
going to Chelsea so young when he disposes of one of our future stars
just a year later. Shaun Derry will be out at least until September
and will miss the whole pre-season and early matches. At least he can't
be sold I suppose until January 2008.
Friday July 13th. Roll up, roll up buy a
Leeds player ! Although he is unable to buy players, i
t doesn't stop Bates from selling all assets on show. We may
be lucky to have 11 players left to start the season at this rate. Nicholls
went to Preston for £500,000 and David Healy eventually completed
his switch to Fulham for £1.5M today. Burnley nabbed Robbie Blake for
£250,000 and Spurs are thought to be close to signing teenage Danny
Rose for £1M. That's the same club that signed Aaron Lennon for approximately
the same sum. I wonder what ever happened to him ? Richard Cresswell
is thought to be signing for either Sheff Utd or Hull City, and Beckford
is close to completing a £400,000 move to Scunthorpe. It is all so worrying
for a Leeds fan base who have witnessed a mass exodus before. This time
there may be nobody coming through the revolving door even though our
beloved chairman promised us "serious investors" in the club. Yeah yeah
!
Tuesday July 10th. Deadline comes and goes. The
confusion over the bidding process continued on Tuesday with KPMG refusing
to clarify how many bids have been received. The only confirmed offer
is a joint bid from investment company Redbus and local property developer
Simon Morris. Sky News maintain that "one conditional bid and two unconditional
bids" have been received. That would lead one to believe that Bates bid
is the first unconditional bid and the Redbus/Morris consortium is the
second.The other bid could be from the ex Hull City chairman Adam Pearson
At lunchtime today KPMG's Richard Fleming issues the
following statement: "We are continuing to evaluate the expressions of
interest received and will make a further announcement in due course.
We appreciate that there is a great deal of interest in the outcome and
will take our decision in the best interests of creditors to ensure the
best future for the club." Many supporters have called KPMG's handling
of the affair as shambolic and I am rapidly coming around to that way
of thinking. It may take as long as three days for the real "winner" to
be announced but if it means that papa Smurf is gone it would (in my view)
be worth the wait. 
the chairman of London firm Redbus, claimed the administrators
had forced him to "bid blind" for Leeds United. Franks 
me scale in front of them following KPMG's decision to put United
up for sale late on Friday evening.
Monday July 9th. The 5PM deadline for bidding
for Leeds United has passed with news that at least two bids were entered.
Bid 1. Bates and his original offer still stands but now "unconditionally".
2. The Redbus consortium maintain their bid is higher than Bates but not
as high as their original bid because they "couldn't see what they were
buying as assets were taken out". Hopefully for all Leeds fans sanity
the latter wins out. Simon Franks speaking on Sky said that he had thousand
of e-mails from Leeds fans wishing him success including most of the Supporters
clubs. There is no doubt that Leeds United fans have had enough of the
Bates spin doctoring . His content has always been nil. The club is in
a worst state than when he took over. That says it all. Harvey and Dews
and Lorimer must all go. It will be 12 Noon on Tuesday before there is
any hint of an announcement. It is unclear but probably unlikely that
there were any other bids. If the Redbus consortium is successful it remains
unclear as to the intentions of the Inland revenue and their High Court
case for more compensation. 
Sat July 7th.Tolka Park : Shelbourne 0-2 Leeds United. 
lo were absent, as was the soon to be sold Healy and
Cresswell whose wife is due to give birth, but there is enough talent
there to escape this division at the first attempt should Leeds hold on
to the nucleus of the squad. Blake was the best player on show in the
first half and after hitting the crossbar with a superb free kick, his
second deflected shot later on but Leeds deservedly ahead. Carole did
okay on the right wing with his trickery and he too had a superb shot
come off the crossbar. Marques and Couglan were untroubled at the centre
of defence and there were one or two strong challenges flying around to
say the least. Right full back Bailey (captain for the day on home ground)
was quick to go to ground in the tackle and is no Gary Kelly on this showing.
Up front 16 year old Tom Elliott missed two open goals from four yard
headers that Conal Tipping or Sean Cunningham 
ced many corners
but the deliveries were poor and in fairness Kandol and the useful looking
Constantine were starved of good service. The latter forced an excellent
save from Hussey in the Shels 
goal in the final minute. On the left, Mullen the tricky ex Man
United reserve saw a lot of the ball but he looks light weight.
p in the pound when there were at least five better offers that
dwarfed his bid. Only at this stage an MP backed Inland Revenue may take
him on but this is doubtful by the day now. If as seems likely he gains
control of Leeds and we will know by Tuesday July 3rd if he is successful
with his 1p in the pound offer, it looks like we will be stuck with him
for at least the foreseeable future, ie all of next season.
So what now ? There will be revenue coming in as undoubtedly
players exit the building. Will this be reinvested in the team ? I sincerely
hope so because even a poor manager like Dennis Wise should get us out
of his division at the first attempt, and I don't mean through the Play-Offs.
Any other chairman would have dispensed of Wise for getting us relegated
last term. Bates won't. There will be money coming in, of that there is
no doubt. Healy will probably fetch £1.25 to £1.5M. What is sold from
: Cresswell, Derry, Douglas, Blake, Beckford, Nicholls, Westlake and Richardson
will probably unearth another £2M. That's huge money for this division
if £3.5M is allocated to the relaunch of Leeds. Whether Wise is astute
enough to use it wisely is another question. He is set to keep Heath and
Rui Marqes. That is a strong partnership for this division and if he can
keep Flo fit and fill in the necessary voids supplemented with talented
players coming through the ranks ie. Parker, Howson, Bayly, Rose and Elliott,
there is no reason why we can't hit the ground running. Leeds will be
the huge scalp for every side next season just like we have always been
in the Championship. Strong, talented players are needed who can handle
playing for Leeds in a half empty and sometimes (and rightly so) impatient
Elland Road. A good chairman/manager partnership would invest wisely in
players who would both get us out of this division and help spring board
us toward the Premiership the following season. Time will tell if this
is the case, but I suspect (and hope) that there will be two different
individuals occupying these positions on June 29th 2008.
next season. The club are introducing low-cost Category C tickets
for a number of League One games, starting admission charges for adults
at £15 and concessions at £8.Adult costs rise to £30 in the East Central
Lower and West Stands for Category A fixtures, and £22 for Category C
matches. United have not introduced concessions for either area of Elland
Road and juniors will pay the full prices.But junior charges in the North
and South Stands will range from £8 to £12, and United have opened section
L34 of the Family Area to non-members of the Leeds United Members Club.
Juniors in the Family Area will be charged just £8 for all of United's
23 home fixtures. What does this mean to the Louth Branch ? Well, we traditionally
sit in the John Charles Paddock (West Stand area) . The prices are : Cat
A - £30Stg , Cat B - £28Stg and Cat C - £22Stg. Let's call a spade
a spade. It is still far too expensive for Division Three
nked with a move for Millwall midfielder Marvin Elliott
and David Healy 
debt into a £35M debt and relegated Leeds into
the old division three for the first time ever regained control of Leeds
United by a 0.2% margin of votes. He had suggested that he would win by
a landslide but in the end 75.2% voted for his 1p in the pound proposal,
a minimal victory when one considers that he had control over the majority
of shareholders. KPMG revealed there were 27,178,255 votes in favour of
Bates and 8,965,174 against, giving him 75.20% of the vote. What it means
is that Danny Mills will get his £260,000 owed whilst the St Johns Ambulance
brigade will get pittance as will one Hospice and the poor sod who
thought he would recover the payment for £1,000 worth of balloons back
in January. At least the £10 will pay for his petrol money to the KPMG
lead meeting. The final statement read as follows :
deals that took Rob Hulse 
risen to £3m if Neil Warnock's side had stayed in the
Premiership and the striker had reached a certain target of goals.
free to find other clubs. Sullivan, spent much of last
season on loan with Doncaster and is being linked with a move to south
Yorkshire. Sully added : I want to thank everyone who helped and supported
me while I was here. There are so many people to thank behind the scenes
that you don't see on a Saturday afternoon. I wish the club every success
because it's a fantastic club and always will be. I'll always treasure
having played for this club on my CV. It's sad that it has come to an
end for me but football moves on. I was delighted when Kevin Blackwell
took me here. When it's Leeds United it's a massive bonus. I'm sure the
club will come back. Everything is here to do it. Hopefully sooner rather
than later". Hird also joined Rovers for the latter half of the
campaign. Crainey made 62 appearances for Leeds while Sa played 12 games
for the Elland Road outfit. Sully was player of the year by the Louth
Branch in season 2004/05. 
Sun May 13th. The battle for Elland Road or
Leeds United (whichever is your fancy) hots up. It has recently emerged
that Simon Morris already has a stake in Elland Road, which is owned by
a company based in the Virgin Islands that was previously thought to be
owned by Ken Bates. Morris, 29 (who was part of the Krasner consortium
who sold the club to Bates at the start of 2005), has offered £10million
bid to buy the club, and plans to build a new 50,000-seater stadium Bates
maintains that doesn't matter and perhaps sees himself in the driving
seat, whilst Dunca Revie (son of "The Don" has said that finance is the
least of his problems as he has access to the money(through the
Arabs.ie - the wealthy Maktoum family, who rule Dubai ) and is looking
for a world class manager to recreate his father's legacy. He now plans
to see the Leeds chairman to discuss the next step. He told the Daily
Mail "It is time to sit down with Ken Bates, to push this thing further
and see what he wants. I intend to ring him on Monday and arrange a meeting
to find out what the story is. I know Ken and I quite like him. It's always
best to deal with him face to face and be up front about it. I've been
staggered by the reaction of Leeds fans to my interest in taking the club
back where we belong. I've always said they are the most passionate fans
in the country and they've proved me right."
Simon Morris, the former Leeds director, today launched
a £10million bid to buy the club and build a new 50,000-seater stadium
as part of a £400million "world-class leisure venue". The 29-year-old
property entrepreneur was recently named among the top ten richest people
under 30 in Britain with a fortune estimated at £69million. He has tabled
a £10million bid for the club and, if successful, says he will provide
a further £25million to bring financial stability to Elland Road.
the end, after five very successful years, it started to go wrong,
but it's gone far more wrong since I left than it did while I was there.
The striker bought for £50,000 from Burnley in April 2005
scored just 2 league goals for Leeds in 47 appearances. He was rumoured
to be on £5,000 per week much more than Leeds are prepared to pay players
in League One. Prize asset David Healy has been linked with a move to
both Sunderland and Sheffield United and didn't feature yesterday against
Derby County. Gus Poyet said: "We do not know whether David will play
for Leeds again. "I would not expect the top scorer in European Championship
qualification to be playing in League One next season."
May 7th.Ken Bates delivered a typically outspoken
diatribe in the direction of Peter Ridsdale, former manager Kevin
Blackwell and a number of ex-players. The chairman who took Leeds lower
than any of his predecessors still can't see the wrong he has inflicted
on the club. Just read this garbage : "What happened here is definitely
Ridsdale’s fault. He borrowed the money and he wasted it. Now he’s trying
to blame David O’Leary, but it was Ridsdale who signed the cheques.Ray
Ranson told me that when Leeds signed Rio Ferdinand, Ridsdale called him
and said ‘You’d better help find us £17million quickly. So instead of
spouting off about what is now happening here, he should concentrate on
his own problems at Cardiff.
want who are out of contract, some don’t want to play
in League One and others don’t have the heart for the fight. Bates' scorn
is not reserved solely for those off the field, though, as the now retired
Gary Kelly (pic'd left with Leeds legends, Allan Clarke,
Paul Reaney, Mick Jones and Frank Worthington after the Ipswich game)
has come in for some more sharp-tongued criticism."At the start
of the season we asked Gary Kelly if he would reduce his wages after five
years here on £2m a year," rued Bates."On top of all that he also got
£4,000 a game."His agent said he’d cut his appearance money to £2,000
a game but wanted it all back if we were promoted. Thanks a bunch."
May 6th. Derby County 2-0 Leeds United.
May 5th. KPG may have acted prematurely as there
is more than one buyer in town and most have been waiting not to do business
with Ken Bates. This comes from the former chairman who sold out to Ken
Bates and he should know. After all it was the Krasner regime that reduced
the debts from £103M to £20M. Bates managed to get it up to £35M during
his stint. 
eeks I've received phone calls from representatives
asking me for technical advice.
property entrepreneur Simon Morris (pic'd 2nd from left alongside,Melvyn
Levis-left, Krasner 3rd left and David Richmond outside right).The
29-year-old, worth a reported £69million and recently installed on The
Times' rich-list as the 10th wealthiest person aged under 30 in the UK,
is a former director at the club.
with Northern Ireland has attracted interest, Derby target Richard
Cresswell, Robbie Blake, Kevin Nicholls, Jonathan Douglas and Shaun Derry
will leave.
re left with is a bunch of kids on two or three grand
a week, you dread to think what might happen."
this once-great club. The present owner has
brought this club to its knees. Let’s make sure the creditors do not settle
for another Bates regime."
Kevin Blackwell, 
“I think it’s a cheap way of (eventually) getting into the Premiership.”
- has outlined his intention to form a consortium capable of
buying the club. Leeds were plunged into administration on Friday, incurring
a 10-point penalty to confirm the club's relegation to League One. The
club's administrators immediately agreed to sell The Whites to a group
called Leeds United Football Club Limited, headed by Ken Bates. But, appalled
at The Whites' decline in recent seasons, businessman Revie is hoping
to restore the glory days at Elland Road. Revie runs a company called
Soccerex and has revealed there is strong interest with regards to putting
together a takeover package. "What is happening to Leeds is a bloody disgrace,"
Revie told the Mail on Sunday. "I cried when I watched the result against
Ipswich last weekend. "I've tried to ignore my feelings for a long time
as I know the aggravation needed to put things right. "But when things
get this bad, I can't ignore it. My feelings run too deep. "I am interested
in trying to get Leeds back where they belong, which is in the top six
of the Premiership. "I've held talks with some influential people and
the feedback has been good. I will be holding more talks in the next few
weeks." Don Revie (pictured) presided over the most illustrious period
in Leeds' history and was manager of the club between 1961 and 1974. He
won two First Division titles, was runner-up a further five times, lifted
one FA Cup, a League Cup and also two Fairs Cup trophies.
pswich were battling it out for the last Champions League place
in the Premiership. That tussle came only days after the Elland Road outfit
missed out on a spot in the final of that European competition following
a last-four defeat at the hands of Valencia. Liverpool eventually triumphed
in the race to clinch third place in the table behind Manchester United
and Arsenal, leaving the clubs from Yorkshire and Suffolk to contest the
Uefa Cup. Fast forward to this season and Leeds, who also just missed
out on qualifying for the Champions League in 2001-2002, have been relegated
to League One after going into administration. Also in the shake-up for
the Uefa Cup places in 2001 were Chelsea, who did qualify in sixth place
and who have since gone on to win two Premiership crowns, and Sunderland,
who missed out on Europe in seventh but have won promotion to the top
flight this season. BBC Sport looks back on the factors that have contributed
to the downfall of Leeds, who have entered the third tier of English football
for the first time in their history.
The failure to qualify for the Champions League during the 2000-2001
and 2001-2002 seasons led to dire financial consequences for Leeds.
nal six months of the previous year, with the failed £100m gamble
on players in a bid for European success beginning to make the accountants
nervous. Chairman Peter Ridsdale sanctioned the spending spree by manager
David O'Leary. O'Leary 
strikers when other parts of the team were weakened.
He also invested £20Million on Duberry, Seth Johnson, Darren Huckerby
and Jason Wilcox. Despite initially insisting he would ride out the increasing
storm at the club, Ridsdale resigned his role in March 2003. Professor
John McKenzie replaced Ridsdale at the helm but in October 2003, Leeds
posted pre-tax losses of £49.5m for the year ending 30 June 2003, which
was a record annual loss for a British football club. Leeds averted the
threat of going into administration by signing an agreement with the creditors
before Professor McKenzie, who had put a price tag of £60m on the club,
resigned as chairman and then as a director. A locally-based consortium
led by new Leeds chairman Gerald Krasner sealed a £30m takeover in March
2004 but by November of the same year Elland Road had been sold on a sale-and-lease-back
arrangement after a buy-out led by Sebastien Sainsbury failed. Former
Chelsea supremo Ken Bates then stepped into the breach by buying a 50
per cent stake in the club in January 2005.
boss Terry Venables 
November 2003, there was an inevitable parting of
the ways after a 22-match reign. It was left to caretaker boss Eddie Gray
to oversee the descent into what was then Division One in 2004 - after
14 years in the top echelon of the English game.
He was then replaced by Kevin Blackwell in what was
seen by some as a surprise appointment, with many other bigger names being
linked to the post. However, with no money, few experienced players and
seemingly little hope he managed to instil a team spirit and a work ethic
into the side that - after a mid-table position in 2004-2005 - propelled
them to fifth place in the Championship last season. After years of uncertainty
the fans were given renewed hope that this was to be the springboard for
success but Watford ended all that with victory over Leeds in the play-off
final. Despite that setback, Leeds were still touted as one of the candidates
for promotion this season but Blackwell was sent packing in September
2006 after a poor start to the campaign. A month later, Dennis Wise left
Swindon for Elland Road and even though he turned the relegation battle
from a seemingly doomed scenario into a down to the wire one, he was unable
to stop the rot and next year supporters will be having to learn the routes
to new destinations in League One.
some of the club's assets - ie the players.
The exit of defender Rio Ferdinand 
and £3.5m respectively. Manchester City bought forward Robbie
Fowler, who Leeds signed from Liverpool for £11m in 2001, for £6m in January
2003. Meanwhile, £15m-rated Jonathan Woodgate and Harry Kewell 
h for £4.5m, while in May of the same year Tottenham acquired
goalkeeper Paul Robinson for £1.5m and Manchester United snapped up striker
Alan Smith in a deal worth £7m.
and his team-mates remain
content at a club with a big history yet facing life in a division that
generates smaller column inches in the media? The club may also have to
contend with a fight to keep the fans coming through the turnstiles. None
would have expected a return to the glory days under manager Don Revie
of the 1960s and 1970s but after last season's near miss on the promotion
path the supporters must be stunned by the drop down a division. Manchester
City were relegated to the same division in 1999 - then called Division
Two - and bounced back a year later with a play-off final victory that
eventually led to a return to the Premiership so, if Leeds can climb off
the management merry-go-round and look to long-term stability at the helm,
all may not be lost. Former Leeds manager O'Leary recently told BBC Five
Live Sport that he hoped the club would stave off relegation because "I
never wanted to leave, the fans were fantastic to me and I had great times
there". If Leeds had gone on to reach that Champions League final six
years ago or been involved in the competition the following season the
fate of the club could have been so different.
kly to maximise the possibility of survival of this
major football club, to minimise uncertainty for all the Club's stakeholders
and supporters and to allow the Club to plan ahead for next season. There
is now a big decision for the creditors to make at their forthcoming meeting."
Rugby league club Hunslet Hawks. Leeds have already
sold Elland Road and their Thorp Arch training ground to cover previous
cash shortfalls and the club’s playing squad is short of valuable assets
with a large percentage of players out of contract this summer. However,
the Leeds chairman is planning to sue over the article and said: “I want
to reassure all Leeds fans that we have no intention of moving anywhere
else at all and intend to stay at Elland Road, certainly as long as I
am chairman. “Another allegation made was that we would redevelop Elland
Road for property, implying we would make a lot of money out of it. “It’s
no secret that we want to redevelop around the edges to give us a seven-day-a-week,
52-weeks-a-year off-field income, and that’s what we intend to do in due
course.”Barring a small miracle, Leeds’ relegation will be mathematically
confirmed on Sunday when they fall into the third tier for the first time
in their history. Speculation persists that Leeds’ darkest day on the
pitch could be followed by administration – and a subsequent 10-point
deduction – despite Bates’ attempts to attract new investment. Leeds defender
Gary Kelly has been linked to a possible Irish takeover bid for the club.
But, according to a leading football finance expert, administration need
not necessarily sound the death knell for the fallen Premiership giants
.Professor Tom Cannon, of Kingston Business School, told PA Sport: “It
would be no surprise to see Leeds driven into administration, simply to
call a halt to the financial demands currently on them and to restructure
their debt. Ken Bates was hard hitting at Yorkshire business people who
failed or refused to invest in Leeds United. I wonder if that has more
to do with the gentleman at the helm currently rather than the lack of
faith business people have in Leeds United one of the world's biggest
one club cities and one of the fastest growing and richest cities in the
UK. More than coincidence I suggest. We'll soon see.