Will Leeds United AFC survive ?

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It's 5.18pm and Leeds have just gone 6-1 down at Portsmouth, and will tonight stay bottom of the Premiership. They are around £70 million in debt, have sold virtually all their best players, can't sack the boss Peter Reid wiithout giving him a huge pay-off, and look set to be the highest-profile club to be relegated in the modern (ie: post-Sky Sports) era and thus lose the Prem money.

Three years ago they reached the Champions league semi-finals.

Can Leeds survive ? Will the club literally die and have to be relaunched in some Yorkshire local league ?

― darren (darren), Saturday, 8 November 2003 17:27 (twenty-one years ago)

And also - how can this be possible for such a well-supported, established club from a major city ? Whether you like Leeds United or not, could the city of Leeds really be without a senior football club ?

― darren (darren), Saturday, 8 November 2003 17:29 (twenty-one years ago)

it looks like Sheffield Utd - will be the major force in Yorkshire football at the start of next season !

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Saturday, 8 November 2003 17:45 (twenty-one years ago)

don't forget Manchester City - got double relegated and ended up playing in the 2nd division against Macclesfield !

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Saturday, 8 November 2003 17:48 (twenty-one years ago)

August 2005-2006 Leeds United Vs Sheff Wed - 2nd division fixture - could it happen?

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Saturday, 8 November 2003 17:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Hull City could be superior to Leeds soon.

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Saturday, 8 November 2003 17:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Leeds need an Ambramovich Mark 2

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Saturday, 8 November 2003 17:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Premiership Table..
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/tables/premiership.html

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Saturday, 8 November 2003 17:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Leeds' future could be far worse than Man City or Sheffield Weds if they actually went under rather than just went down. However much shit those clubs were in when they fell into the nationwide it's surely nothing compared to how Ridsdale left Leeds.

― darren (darren), Saturday, 8 November 2003 18:03 (twenty-one years ago)

I'd hate to see it happen, they seemed a great side for a time. Do you think they should have kept O'Leary Darren? Even just for stability's sake?

― Ronan (Ronan), Saturday, 8 November 2003 18:06 (twenty-one years ago)

though admittedly they were in such financial trouble it may not ever have been about the manager

― Ronan (Ronan), Saturday, 8 November 2003 18:07 (twenty-one years ago)

O'Leary's departure was most probably something Leeds had little control over - I think that he felt he had to be rid of Ridsdale (sorry). But yeah, they were a really exciting side for a while - virtually all young, talented and home-grown. It's unlikely we'll see that kind of team at the top again - certainly not at Chelsea, Liverpool or Arsenal.

― darren (darren), Saturday, 8 November 2003 18:10 (twenty-one years ago)

it woz Ridsdale acting like a Santa with no money to buy the presents !

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Saturday, 8 November 2003 18:13 (twenty-one years ago)

3 players that leeds didn't really need to buy: Fowler/ Seth Johnson/ Keane

how much did they cost combined?

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Saturday, 8 November 2003 18:16 (twenty-one years ago)

It's dumb to blame it on one thing, but Risdale has to take the brunt of the criticism.

Firstly, handing an untested manager £80 million is a stupid idea.
Secondly, forcing the same manager out of the club just as your club has achieved its best season yet because you need to make some of that £80 million back by selling your star player: also stupid.

Venables is not, and hasn't been for about 15 years, a manager suited to top flight football manager. He never had the dressing room, let alone lost it, and some of those signings... ouch.

And so on and so forth. The British Fiorentina? Will we be seeing Leeds Violets in the Ryman Premier next season?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Saturday, 8 November 2003 18:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Ronan: if Leeds still had O'Leary, I doubt they'd be anywhere near this position (positon wise, not financially).

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Saturday, 8 November 2003 18:31 (twenty-one years ago)

not ryman premier...for northerners its the UNIBOND

http://www.unibondleague.com/tables.htm

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Saturday, 8 November 2003 18:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Leeds vs. my beloved Burscough? The mind boggles.

― Lynskey (Lynskey), Saturday, 8 November 2003 19:42 (twenty-one years ago)

People moan about the media putting the focus of this kind of story onto the bigger club's failure rather than the achievement of a team like Portsmouth but look - ILE does the same thing! Give the public what they want etc.

― N. (nickdastoor), Saturday, 8 November 2003 19:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Maybe if England didn't have five national, professional divisions then Leeds could fall to a level not unlike Fiorentina and have a reasonable chance of a swift return through the ranks (aren't Fiorentina already up to Serie B, Dom ?). But as it is, there would be outcry if they went bankrupt and restarted at any level higher than, well, AFC Wimbledon I suppose.

― darren (darren), Saturday, 8 November 2003 19:58 (twenty-one years ago)

But Nick - this isn't a thread about Portsmouth. Their performance today was evidently superb and I'm looking forward to seeing it on the Prem (after I've cried my eyes out at the crime at Highbury), but the wider issue here is Leeds. This is hardly Des, Robbie and Andy ignoring the 'smaller' clubs on Saturday night, is it ?

― darren (darren), Saturday, 8 November 2003 20:03 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't think it's dumb to blame it all on Ridsdale as he was living in la-la land as far as finances went, which must be among the most profligate in football.

Apparently when they signed Seth Johnson he was on £9,000 a week at Derby, at the interview Ridsdale's pitch was that he'd be getting £37,000 a week, no negotiation, nothing. No doubt young Seth didn't take too long agreeing to it. I can't imgaine Man U, Arsenal or Chelsea offering those kind of terms to a middling player without performance agreements and other checks and balances.

As for their future, if they manage to survive to the end of the season it'll be an achievent. Only then if they avoid relegation, which looks increasingly unlikely.

If I was a Barnsley fan I'd be very, very nervous indeed about my teams future.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Saturday, 8 November 2003 20:26 (twenty-one years ago)

It looks like Reid will be sacked in the next day or two and Paul Hart will be persuaded to leave Forest to take over.

― darren (darren), Sunday, 9 November 2003 15:04 (twenty-one years ago)

We are Leeds, we are Leeds, oh wait a minute, we're not Leeds any more. Oh. Ah. Uhm. Right.

― Alex K (Alex K), Monday, 10 November 2003 11:17 (twenty-one years ago)

I really do hope they will survive & I really don't think sacking Peter Reid is the way to go.

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Monday, 10 November 2003 11:26 (twenty-one years ago)

What is to be gained by sacking Peter Reid - I mean... what self-respecting manager is going to touch Leeds with a bargepole in their current state?

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Monday, 10 November 2003 11:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Newcastle lost 5-0 yesterday after a pretty bad start to their season & yet nobody will call for Bobby Robson's sacking. I know leeds are in a slightly different situ, but it is not of peter reid's making.

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Monday, 10 November 2003 11:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Fiorentina are in serie B, mid table lost 3-2 to Ternana yesterday.

― Ed (dali), Monday, 10 November 2003 11:29 (twenty-one years ago)

I said it way back when but Reid is the wrong man for the job. "I know, lets appoint the chap who got his last club relagated." Err, good one lads. However, since he's in the job, sacking him is just going to rock the boat (not that the good ship Leeds Utd it isn't already pitching and rolling nearly to capsizement), but I mean if he can’t even avoid a thrashing at the hands of Portsmouth, what hope is there?

― Alex K (Alex K), Monday, 10 November 2003 11:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Ed's reinvention as Statto-esque footballing anorak from full-on hata a mere matter of months ago is quite spectacular.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Monday, 10 November 2003 11:33 (twenty-one years ago)

I just know where to go for info, gazzetta.it

― Ed (dali), Monday, 10 November 2003 11:37 (twenty-one years ago)

I said it way back when but Reid is the wrong man for the job. "I know, lets appoint the chap who got his last club relagated

hey, it seems to have worked for Southampton, Strachan is doing pretty well there, and he joined them just after sending Coventry on their merry way

― chris (chris), Monday, 10 November 2003 11:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Aye but the context differs in that Reid has had no money, inherited a decimated squad with no confidence, loaded with players anxious to jump ship, and joined a club that is still one step away form financial extinction. Considering his mediocre record, and the circumstances I don't see why people had such confidence in the man.

― Alex K (Alex K), Monday, 10 November 2003 11:45 (twenty-one years ago)

fair point. the problem with Reid is he's seen as some dort of magic motivator, someone nearly able to polish a turd, unfortunately Leeds may be a turd too far.

― chris (chris), Monday, 10 November 2003 11:50 (twenty-one years ago)

I really don't think they would be in the predicament if David O'Leary was still in charge.

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Monday, 10 November 2003 12:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Bring back the glory days! Reinstate Howard Wilkinson!

― Mikey G (Mikey G), Monday, 10 November 2003 12:05 (twenty-one years ago)

"a turd too far" - now hold on a minute pardner...

― Alex K (Alex K), Monday, 10 November 2003 12:11 (twenty-one years ago)

*sigh* Bilko is probably the only man in the land desperate enough to take over at Leeds tho. *Brightening* but did anyone hear about my home town Chelteham's attempts to recruit a new manager? They receieved applications from three computer games addicts, who cited their skill on Championship Manager 3 as evidence of their suitability, and from a Cheltonian housewife who reckoned the players would benefit from doing her housework. Unfortunatley the Robins elected not to go for something a little left field and got in John 'Who?' Ward .

― Alex K (Alex K), Monday, 10 November 2003 12:20 (twenty-one years ago)

sorry Alex, would you rather I referred to Leeds as the sow's ear?

― chris (chris), Monday, 10 November 2003 12:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Come on now Chris. I've had it for months.

― Alex K (Alex K), Monday, 10 November 2003 12:23 (twenty-one years ago)

I have nothing against Leeds at all I have to stress. In fact they're doing tremendously well for me in my latest champ man game (mind you I haven't signed Seth Johnson)

― chris (chris), Monday, 10 November 2003 12:25 (twenty-one years ago)

What a buy he turned out to be.

― Alex K (Alex K), Monday, 10 November 2003 12:26 (twenty-one years ago)

There's a great photo of Whadden Road in the new Football Days book. The stadium (term used laughingly) contrasted with a genteel game of bowls next door.

― Mikey G (Mikey G), Monday, 10 November 2003 12:27 (twenty-one years ago)

stadium (term used laughingly) - Hull weren't laughing.

― Alex K (Alex K), Monday, 10 November 2003 12:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Couldn't Steve Cotterill be pursuaded to come back? I miss his accent.

― Mikey G (Mikey G), Monday, 10 November 2003 12:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah what happened to him after his spectacular failure to make any impact whatsoever at Sunderland? He reminded me of Fungus the Bogeyman.

― Alex K (Alex K), Monday, 10 November 2003 12:33 (twenty-one years ago)

i hope they wait til after tomorrow to sack him (if they are going to) as we've got tickets to see Cambridge vs Leeds tomorrow night. :-(

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Monday, 10 November 2003 12:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Who are you cheering for Pink?

― Alex K (Alex K), Monday, 10 November 2003 13:01 (twenty-one years ago)

We are Leeds, we are leeds, repeat to fade.

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Monday, 10 November 2003 13:04 (twenty-one years ago)

(even thought the abbey is about 10-15 mins from my house!)

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Monday, 10 November 2003 13:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Skipping 165 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

a club has apparently bid 5.75 Million for Alan Smith

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Wednesday, 28 April 2004 17:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Is that low cause they know Leeds wants the money fast or because that's what he's really worth?

― Michael White (Hereward), Wednesday, 28 April 2004 17:25 (twenty-one years ago)

How long has got left on his contract?

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 28 April 2004 17:26 (twenty-one years ago)

I think they should pay him 5.75 million to appear as Captain Sensible in the forthcoming Johnny Rotten biopic.

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 28 April 2004 17:28 (twenty-one years ago)

He said Smithy
I said wot

He said Smithy
I said wot d'ya want

― Michael White (Hereward), Wednesday, 28 April 2004 17:35 (twenty-one years ago)

mark viduka scores a penalty.
mark viduka gets sent off.
oh fuck.

― matthew james (matthew james), Sunday, 2 May 2004 12:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Leeds are 3-1 down at Bolton.

Enjoy playing Watford next season, boys.

― James Mitchell (James Mitchell), Sunday, 2 May 2004 13:19 (twenty-one years ago)

maybe we can snooker man city. take the piss out of them wildly and hope keegan launches flying kicks at opposing managers, starting a huge barney and the fa docking them 10 points.

leeds fans are singing matteos and amith and radebe's name. singing, "we going down but we're gonna be back. bolton fans applauding. this is fucking dismal. i'm upset for fucks sake, jesus.

― matthew james (matthew james), Sunday, 2 May 2004 13:50 (twenty-one years ago)

True, they were singing. But they were singing "We're going down in a minute, we're going down in a minute, we're going down in a miiiiiiiiiiiiiinute, we're going down in a minute". Hardly supportive. But what else could they do, except hope those useless players could win their last three games in a row.

Bugger. This does, of course, mean that Spurs are staying up.

― James Mitchell (James Mitchell), Sunday, 2 May 2004 13:59 (twenty-one years ago)

game ended 10 minutes since and they're still there, belting it out.

― matthew james (matthew james), Sunday, 2 May 2004 14:03 (twenty-one years ago)

4-1 and it's all over, not just for the afternoon but for Leeds in the Premier League.

Unless of course Leeds practically outscore Brian Lara in each of their last two games, one of which just happens to be Chelsea at the Bridge....

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Sunday, 2 May 2004 14:10 (twenty-one years ago)

on aire fm, which i masochistically can't turn off, they'rer replaying the final goals from our 4-5-6 goal defeats over 'everybody hurts'. oh, fucking god.

― matthew james (matthew james), Sunday, 2 May 2004 14:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Part of me thinks "thank fuck for that", even though I never realistically thought Tottenham would go down. God knows where Leeds will go from here - I can kind of forsee a Nottingham Forest situation where they sit in the 1st Division for years, but Sheffield Wednesday is another possibility.

Its worth pointing out what an escape this is for Man City, who are right royally fucked if and when they go down (next season a definite possibility) with a massive wage bill and no stadium to their name. I think The Leeds Effect will stick around in football for years to come, no one will shell out big money to try and compete with the big boys ever again.

What are the odds of both Smith AND Viduka lining up for Man U next season, then?

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Sunday, 2 May 2004 14:24 (twenty-one years ago)

In other news, if results stay as they are today, VILLA ARE IN FOURTH! How the fuck did that happen?

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Sunday, 2 May 2004 14:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Bolton are flying quite high too.

― N. (nickdastoor), Sunday, 2 May 2004 14:28 (twenty-one years ago)

OK, so we've already flogged Smith and Viduka off to Manooted. Whither Robinson?

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Sunday, 2 May 2004 14:29 (twenty-one years ago)

SPURS!

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Sunday, 2 May 2004 14:42 (twenty-one years ago)

If Man City lose their last two games 0-8, and Leeds win their last two 8-0, Leeds can stay up.

I would love to see Leeds beat Chelsea by eight goals, whether they got to stay up or not.

― James Mitchell (James Mitchell), Sunday, 2 May 2004 14:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Actually James it's even worse than that, by my calcs Man C have to lose 9-0 twice and Leeds win 9-0 twice to put them level.

Could somebody please look at the League Table at www.premierleague.com, and tell me what the up and down arrows and the dashes in the far left column mean?

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Sunday, 2 May 2004 14:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Don't worry thanks fellas, I've worked it out I think.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Sunday, 2 May 2004 14:58 (twenty-one years ago)

new releases out this week include 'The Canary Flies Again' and 'Op Da Baggays'

― stevem (blueski), Sunday, 2 May 2004 15:24 (twenty-one years ago)

how soon before Sheffield United are the top Yorkshire club?

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Sunday, 2 May 2004 15:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Next season...Leeds United Vs Rotherham - Yorkshire derby

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Sunday, 2 May 2004 15:32 (twenty-one years ago)

:-(

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Sunday, 2 May 2004 15:55 (twenty-one years ago)

I can only giggle insanely at the notion of Villa being fourth, even if it's only for a few minutes.

― ferg (Ferg), Sunday, 2 May 2004 16:06 (twenty-one years ago)

I can see Viduka going to somewhere like Everton.

I can see Smith going to Newcastle.

I guess maybe Robinson and Milner will go to Spurs, once the Phantom Menace is finally revealed.

― jel -- (jel), Sunday, 2 May 2004 17:05 (twenty-one years ago)

i'm still amazed there's no talk of robinson to arsenal. read somewhere smith'd prefer to go to europe, but i see newcastle as the most likely, leeds and newcastle are reasonably friendly clubs. they also already have bridges, woodgate and bowyer.
the new leds kit was unveiled the other day, with radebe and milner in the photos, so maybe he's staying.

― matthew james (matthew james), Sunday, 2 May 2004 17:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Robinson to the Arse is a definite possiblity - Lehmann appears to have Liability written all over him. Otherwise I can't see where else he'd go - if Villa do nicely wrt Europe then that's a possibility but most of the other Premiership clubs seem pretty well covered as far as keepers go. Except Spurs. Maybe Chelsea will sign him just for the hell of it.

I think Smith would be mental to go to Newcastle when there's a chance of Manyoo or even Chelsea signing him. I suppose it all depends on that elusive 4th place... It's definitely too early in his career to risk all on a European club.

But then again rumours are circulating of Beckham to Arsenal (!!! Like they can afford him), so nothing is impossible...

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Sunday, 2 May 2004 23:19 (twenty-one years ago)

If I were Man U or Chelsea, I would have little interest in Smith. A good player, but if you're aiming to be the best club in the world, which they surely are, he isn't that good. The nice Bobby Robson at Newcastle has a taste for the nastiest players, especially if they come from Leeds, so Smith seems a natural.

If I were Arsenal, however, I would be keen to sign Robinson. No offence to Spurs fans, but if the option existed, I'd think it very surprising to decline Arsenal. I'm unclear why Spurs would want to spend money on Milner - it seems to me that the attacking area is the one area that doesn't need strengthening at Spurs.

I was in my local for the Bolton game yesterday, and got talking to, among others, a Leeds fan. He wasn't at all cheerful, obviously, but he disagreed with my view that once they had got rid of everyone for whom they could get a half-decent fee, and offloaded the others also on big money, they would struggle in the 1st - he thinks they have a crop of very good youngsters to come through, which will make them secure and give them something to build on. Anyone know anything about their youth team?

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Monday, 3 May 2004 09:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Lehmann for Spurs!!! It'd make the North London derbies even more interesting.

― jel -- (jel), Monday, 3 May 2004 09:48 (twenty-one years ago)

rumours are circulating of Beckham to Arsenal

So they can afford a new £300 million stadium but can't afford a £25 million player and £20 million for his wages spread over a few years? Absolute rubbish. Most clubs are smart enough to know that admitting interest in a player in public pushes his price up.

― James Mitchell (James Mitchell), Monday, 3 May 2004 11:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Isn't that like saying "I've bought a house mortgaged to the hilt so surely I can also afford a brand new Audi TT"?

― Markelby (Mark C), Monday, 3 May 2004 11:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Mark C OTM. Arsenal have borrowed 300M, as they cannot get the cash together in one go. Most of their spare cash goes into debt servicing of that loan. Beckham no go for the Arse.

― Dave B (daveb), Monday, 3 May 2004 11:50 (twenty-one years ago)

I was wrong about Leeds.

― the bluefox, Tuesday, 4 May 2004 11:46 (twenty-one years ago)

I blame, anyway. Certainly for Smiffy's tears, at least.

― Japanese Giraffe (Japanese Giraffe), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 11:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Bet there's no white flag upon her door now.

― Japanese Giraffe (Japanese Giraffe), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 11:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Alan Smith is disappointed in Man Utd's 'No Dido' contract clause

― Mikey G (Mikey G), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 11:52 (twenty-one years ago)

I blame Dido, of course. (three posts up) (careless!)

― Japanese Giraffe (Japanese Giraffe), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 11:52 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/celebrity/dido_smith.php

According to that, it is not true about Smith and Dido.

I am disappointed.

― the bluefox, Tuesday, 4 May 2004 13:46 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.leedsunited.com/article.asp?article=201299&blnFeedback=&Title=Show+Us+The+Money&navlid=newsroom

is this part of one of those 'civil ceremonies' i've been hearing so much about?

― matthew james (matthew james), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 09:44 (twenty-one years ago)

one year passes...

seth johnson (remember him?) finally released

which leaves bakke as the only player remaining from the o'leary years? still only 27! apparent interest from birmingham and villa

― charltonlido (gareth), Saturday, 6 August 2005 08:23 (twenty years ago)

Gary Kelly's still there. Mind, he pre-dates DO'L.

I'm looking forward to seeing some football today. Nice to start the season with a game where I really don't mind who wins.

― Tim (Tim), Saturday, 6 August 2005 08:37 (twenty years ago)

You just want both to lose!

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 6 August 2005 08:42 (twenty years ago)

I'd be pleased with a goal or two, a big fight (on-pitch, of course)and perhaps some sendings-off.

― Tim (Tim), Saturday, 6 August 2005 08:43 (twenty years ago)

(BTW MS I'm trying to contact another friend of mine wo I think will be going today so will be in phone contact about where to meet. Gareth - and anyone else reading - you should come to Barnet!)

― Tim (Tim), Saturday, 6 August 2005 08:45 (twenty years ago)

Pete and I have a pub arranged - the Mitre at 2.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 6 August 2005 09:16 (twenty years ago)

That's The Mitre. What with meeting Ailsa in The Cardinal on Thursday, this is obviously Catholic Propaganda Week on ILX.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 6 August 2005 09:19 (twenty years ago)

Perhaps Pete should be burnt at the stake as a precautionary measure, he's been to spain which verillee is a neste of poperee.

― Ed (dali), Saturday, 6 August 2005 10:50 (twenty years ago)

two months pass...

anyone remember stephen mcphail? is he still at barnsley?

― terry lennox. (gareth), Monday, 17 October 2005 22:41 (nineteen years ago)

three years pass...

― country matters, Tuesday, 9 December 2008 04:20 (sixteen years ago)

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