Leeds Banter Archive January 31 2014

31 Jan 2014 23:47:24
How about getting a petition together to ask the Football league to reject Mr Cellino and his associates on the basis of his murky background. Could this petition be started tomorrow? Thoughts please.

If the man has shelled out £25 million to buy us why don't we see what happens before we judge? It may, just may be a good thing that happens to LUFC. After all I don't even know the man - do you? PA

And then what.we don't get bought. That would leave use skint, without a manager, sponsor or any credibility.that's a really bad idea.

I might be sticking my neck out here, but a combination of the Italian (his name escapes me) will not be around for long due to the fact that he is not a "Fit and Proper Person" plus The chants of *&%£ *^$$ Festa tomorrow will dispatch them soon enough! If Festa hangs around too long I am hopeful that Redders will sort him out in the privacy of the showers one day after training!

31 Jan 2014 23:43:46
I hop those fans at eland road tonight are there to thank cellino for not accepting what they saying on football focus that according to ross agent, a bid of close to 6m was rejected :o something positive I guess

31 jan 2014 23:37:42
festa has already been sacked!!!

31 Jan 2014 23:23:22
The night of the long knives continues. Everyone's been fired. No updates on the Leeds official site, or twitter that Brian has gone. Last one out turn the lights off, it's been a full on Italian purge of all staff. Look out for a public lynching of Cellino outside Elland Rd tonight. Has a prospective new owner ever been more hated than this man?

31 Jan 2014 23:21:10
Good work today/tonight ed. You need to manage the LUFC comma team, they could learn a lot from you.

Danny LUFC

{Ed013's Note - Thanks mate, appreciate that. I, like most am frustrated and fuming with whats gone on. Banter is hard to come by tonight and I am sure tomorrow will somehow get to a new level of madness. When all this is done, I will still feel sorry for Brian McDermott}

I agree mate, he's a good man and deserved better.

I think this situation is unreal, they had an Italian football journalist on 5 live earlier who said us leeds fans should be very concerned.

I'll give the new owner/management a chance, they need to prove that this awful situation is worth going through in order for our club to move into better things. We will wait and see.

Danny LUFC

31 Jan 2014 23:05:47
Who will actually be in the dugout tomorrow?who is actually going to be our manager fir tomorrow?

{Ed013's Note - Festa and Redders I believe}

31 Jan 2014 23:24:06
Who bloody cares - we are a joke and a disgrace

31 Jan 2014 22:57:50
Leeds fans have Cellino cornered in a taxi at Elland Rd, Festa too. Police in attendance

Fawksey

Now they get their eyes opened when you piss Leeds fans off, don't think they know what they have taken on.

31 Jan 2014 23:25:05
i really hope so
Mafia go home

Any leeds fan out there that can get to elland road tomoz needs to be there we need to show the rest of the football world that we will not take cellino at our club we need to do what it takes to get him out the fans are the club.

31 Jan 2014 22:55:43
new owners are presently at the ground, fans blocking exists so they can't leave. police now in attendance. not a rumour!

{Ed013's Note - I have seen the pictures, this is brilliant. The Chicken s**t won't even face the fans}

Ed where can we see the photos please?

{Ed013's Note - I will try an upload them on the sightings page}

Just how is this brilliant Ed? That's why normal investors don't come forward and back us!

{Ed013's Note - They have hardly been honest with the fans, they have a right to go there and attempt to find out some information}

Ed were are the pics. Big MARK

{Ed013's Note - I am about to put them on the sightings page}

Ed where are the pictures?

{Ed013's Note - Leeds sightings, may take 10 minutes to upload}

31 Jan 2014 22:49:49
and to all those who thought bates was bad . gfh? haigh? these last two should hang their heads in shame for how u have treated our great club!!!! we are a laughing stock in our country now and worsed is yet to come!! nickybee

31 Jan 2014 22:46:30
Expecting carnage tomorrow total disorder over this:@

31 Jan 2014 22:44:46
Ross tweets let's be united and take this club forward see you tomorrow

31 Jan 2014 22:40:55
Ross McCormack ‏@Rossmccormack44 9m
Lets all be united tomorrow. An unreal atmosphere and 3 points and move this great club forward. See yous tomorrow!

31 Jan 2014 22:27:06
The game is all about money nowadays. Man city and chelsea were utter rubbish untill they got owners with millions to burn.If this italian guy has money to burn I'm all for it.

31 Jan 2014 22:13:40
Italia italia italia come on cellino!

31 Jan 2014 22:11:03
gutted for brian gutted for our fans and gutted for our club.
Nottsbornleedsfan

31 Jan 2014 22:09:13
im absolutely shocked loss for words to be honest but we all know this game is based on results and the sizeof our club should never be where we are don't care what any1 says only plus I wanna get from this if there is any is maybe we can get some players now on loan from cagliari me hoping anyway they have always had good players as well as a good academy britain is full of foriegn players there days and we have none and all the great leeds teams had players from abroad so let's get some italians in could do no harm I say!
by the way heart goes out to BMc because I thought he should of had more time and was trying to change what was a dismal team with little or no confidence what a shame! MOT I guess
irish leeds fan! :(

My heart also goes out to you Irish Leeds fan, because you must be totally breathless after saying all that without one full stop or comma!

All the great Leeds teams, had players from abroad, such as Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Apart from Albert was there anyone else in the 60's 70's?

31 Jan 2014 22:08:29
Cannot understand what is going on

1.How can you be owned by somebody before they have gone through the fit and proper persons test for ownership.

2.We have always been told that nothing is official until it goes on the official site but nothing on there

3.Who is in charge tomorrow can't believe it would be Gibbs could be Redfearn I suppose

4.What is Haighs role at the moment is he employed by GFH or the new owners, surely he can't stay

5. Why are we being loaned a player is has no pedigree, that cane only be owner led

6.How much sponsorship are we going to lose now so far possibly 2 although I think enterprise will be under contract to whatever time they agreed.

7.Why are we getting potentially such a inexperienced manager

8. Who made the decision to sack Brian, he was well liked by Haigh so I am assuming can only be authorised by the Italian
And agreed by the other share holders.

I think that's enough problems for now what are the fans done in a previous life to deserve this, this really was an opportunity to move forwards at last but instead have made some of the worst decisions ever with even more to come by the look of things.

Good luck tomorrow lads please give us fans something to smile about

31 Jan 2014 21:59:18
Some of the worst performances I have ever seen and results have come under bmd .8 games without a win is unacceptable.His tactics and subs have been ridiculous at times.He was lucky to last this long.

Couldn't agree more

Yes I totally agree. Time for a change

I think people are blinded by the fact that he's a lovely guy! results performances are no better than previous two managers and they couldn't waste 1 mill on a useless midfielder that, not surprisingly, no one else had bothered with . Mccalister got shunted after the FA cup debacle but we were lower in league and didn't get pummelled like we did this year, Warnock was a tw*t and football was shocking but its is no better this season . and poor old Grayson .

31 Jan 2014 21:54:18
It's a great site, but there is some s**t on here.

In reality football is a brutal business!
The sacking of BMD has been handled very poorly and is probably unfair/unjust and I a personally sad to see him depart as I thought he would be good for the club - remember he was harshly sacked from Reading and that how we got him

We can't select our owners but it does look like that someone wants us and is prepared to do more than talk the talk - not saying that I am ecstatic about it but it is not going to be hard to show more commitment to the club than either Bates or GFH ( they brought LUFC with the sole intention of selling it on for profit )

As to all the calls for boycotting the game and protesting - with what aim we don't yet know who or what the intentions of the new owners will be - what if the invest millions in the summer - let's show them what they are investing in this is LEEDS UNITED surely this will show them more than any protest.

Yes by all means chant Brian McDermotts name as he at least deserves that but the players need us more than ever.

Looking at today now it seems to be a very dark day indeed, but we have to hope that this is something more and as long suffering Leeds fans we should at least be capable of hoping

Disappointed but Leeds till I die!

31 Jan 2014 21:22:04
On a lighter note!

We've just lost our 'uncle fester' lookalike for GL festa!

Not a particularly joyous coincidence I hasten to add :-(

Best wishes Brian and thank you for your work, I really thought that with a bit of real financial backing we could have built a prom winning side maybe not this season but next a real prospect.

Now that we've got ourselves a sack-aholic owner look fwd to an average of 2 managers per season of ownership.

Our only hope is that he gets bored with us and flips us to someone with serious intent to rebuild this great club and get us back to where we truly belong.

MOT 4 EVA

What worries me, tomorrow we could get absolutely hammered.

Well he's been in charge 15 minutes and already sacked one. JD

31 Jan 2014 21:17:06
whats the point in boycotting?! the team and the staff at eland road need the full support off the worlds best supporters, US! everyone needs to show how much brian and the team means to us!
MOT

You mean how much Brian MEANT to us, he's gone unless you didn't notice?

So you are going to turn up and condone this disgusting behaviour then?

Good luck with that then.

Support. the. f***ing . team . managers come and go fairly or unfairly, players come and go willingly or unwillingly. the club and the fans are constant. f***ing grow up!

31 Jan 2014 21:15:01
enterprise gone>>>
Does that mean have to play in pants an
d vest tomorrow

31 Jan 2014 21:13:43
I can not believe what is happening to the team I love, the ******* Bates will be laughing his twisted head off. Thank you Brian for the believe you brought to our club, you deserve much better than this, I wish you all the best in the future. GFH are a F***ing disgrace!

31 Jan 2014 21:12:16
For the record, I would like to say that I liked Brian and thought despite spending on murphy he did have his hands tied.
He made lots of good changes IMO for the long term, pitch measurements the same as Elland Road (common sense but still), transparency between youth and first team at Thorp Arch, careful in ensuring the likes of mowatt and bryam don't burn out even though sam not quite the same at the moment. He was a manager who wasn't perfect ( I was at Derby and watched Wednesday 90 mins) but inherited a squad that needed a lot of work. Track record, really positive relations with most of the players (diouf it seems excluded) and could have got us up by 2015-16 I reckon. Goodbye and thank you Bmcd

31 Jan 2014 21:10:31
Hand on heart can any one say we've been any good since bmd took over . His signings have been as bad as warnocks . His tactics shocking .although I really wanted him to take us forward his team played with no heart or conviction no better or worse than warnocks posted a few week ago someone needs to take the bull by the horns and sort our great club out .not saying this was correct way to go about it but it had to be done.lets give new owner a chance drastic measures need to be taken because all we have is 2 or three decent players and a bunch of overpaid journey men who at the end of the day should be ashamed

Spot on

31 Jan 2014 21:07:26
I've never been more ashamed of Leeds United. I truly thought we were going in the right direction, albeit slowly. Very very naive of me.

31 Jan 2014 21:05:40
McDermott could of been the next don revie he knew what was wrong with the club and he knew how to sort it let's not turn up tomorrow

I won't be going, and I doubt I will be back at Elland Road again after this, despite supporting Leeds for over 40 years.

I just hope GFH can live with accepting 'soiled' money, just shows how two faced they are if you look at their 'ethics'

Get a grip, 40 years fan and not going ER again, seriously.

31 Jan 2014 21:03:52
Need your help folks. Just woke up from an operation and the first news I get is the utterly disgraceful action of GFH in their sacking of BMcD.
Due to poor signal in hospital I can only load txt pages so I'm asking for your help to keep up to date. Good or bad, still Leeds still want to know. MOT
Thanks.
Andyh.

31 Jan 2014 20:56:29
THE FA HAS GOT A LOT TO ANSWER.WHAT THE ###k is fit and proper? Oh I know sweet FA. I and we as leeds supporters, have had a belly full.Dirty and Dammed. That's how everybody in the football game considers us.We are the best supporters in the land, I know I've travelled it.I hoped this year was a turning point, sounds like it is now.Instead of the upward progress, I can see us going down down down.

31 Jan 2014 20:54:27
Brian McDermott has been a class act at the club. Dignity, pride, humility and professionalism oozed from every pore.

{Ed013's Note - Well copied from Adam Popes tweet}

Are you for real, crap football, crap signings and sliding down the league, nice guy yes but totally out of his depth as a manager!

Spot on
festa 1/3 with paddy power
lord give me strength

And you have been a Leeds supporter how long?

Do you not understand what 'we've been through it all together' means?

Obviously not.

31 Jan 2014 20:53:10
Not posted before but sat watching tv and pulling my hair out! Can't believe what I'm witnessing. An absolute disgrace this is! What the hell are we going to achieve tomorrow with no manager and no Rosco. All the best Brian, u didn't deserve it in my opinion. MOT!

31 Jan 2014 20:48:38
6 Yes 6! Clubs have inquired about Ross McCormack in the last 40mins. I say let him go, he's not happy anymore, take the money and PUT IT BACK INTO THE TRANSFER KITTY IN THE SUMMER which probably won't happen.

31 Jan 2014 20:47:17
this Italian has managed to destroy this club before his even walked into elland road as an owner

How can you say that?at the moment Gfh still own us, therefore they sack bmd!not saying I agree with the decsion, but surely they sacked him.is it true about the sponsorship?

31 Jan 2014 20:41:42
Well tea ladies have been promoted to coaches and manager!

31 Jan 2014 20:39:02
Its obvious why he's been sacked now, they want tp cash in on Ross and BMcD was blocking it, get rid of him will remove the block, pee Ross off ensuring he'll probably go. You watch he's be gone before 11pm.

31 Jan 2014 20:35:49
Bm record is poor. Badly treated but that's football. And Ross is club captain and should keep his mouth shut. Vinny.

As club captain, Ross is the person who SHOULD speak to us!

Oh please. Ross has just gone out and told every leeds fan what is going on here. Fair play Ross. Captain or not. Like us he has Been lied to. I will respect him whatever happens

Totally agree on all points

31 Jan 2014 20:34:32
Absolutely gutted! Games should be boycotted until BMD reinstated!

31 Jan 2014 20:32:24
I have not posted in ages but have to get this said, all the best Brian no way to be treated. By the look of things we have now got bates x1000. Sad day

31 Jan 2014 20:31:39
What a farce I believed Bmd would have got the whites together think he as been treated real bad and we should let our feelings known tomorrow at the game

31 Jan 2014 20:30:35
90 minutes of singing 'what the f*ck is going on?' tomorrow boys and girls? Let's make it happen.

31 Jan 2014 20:28:03
Brian sacked - disgrace and what makes it worse, nothing on official site as I post this

31 Jan 2014 20:26:33
I am not only gutted, I am very worried for our future. Ross just been on phone to ssn more or less saying he will reconsider his position. Apparently all players loved BMCD so won't want to play for festa. Division 1 here we come. JD

31 Jan 2014 20:25:55
Wouldn't be suprized if Enterprise Insurance removed their sponsorship! Cannot see them agreeing with this ludicrous decision. Hope I am wrong.

They have already announced their withdrawal and have announced they're trying to recover their money since recent events have brought the club into disrepute.

Already happened!

31 Jan 2014 20:23:21
believe it or not, associate close to ross states ", in view of latest re sacking, he's reviewing his options and may well jump ship". turmoil at club

31 Jan 2014 20:19:44
warning to all who deal with gfh in any sort of business don't expect any truth, honesty, or commitment to anything else but gfh, what a bunch of wkrs hope they get there's with a bad business deal and get taken to the cleaners and left with nothing now please pack your suitcase and do one, you make me sick.

31 Jan 2014 20:17:53
Bitterly disappointed. Honestly thought brian was the right man to take us up and give us a stable competitive team in the prem over the next few years! hope he gets another job soon and beats us because he deserved a chance!
MOT

Well the lunatics have finally taken over, what about Haigh? So much for the best for Leeds etc
What do we do now, boycott? Or do what we always do and keep supporting Ken Bates on acid!

31 Jan 2014 20:16:23
BMcD Sacked which is disgraceful. Unfortunately Uncle Festa was a ruse. We're getting Paulo Di Cannio!

That's not funny!

31 Jan 2014 20:15:47
Ross has just been on ssn. And said he's gutted obviously and said the new owners want to take the club in a different direction oh dear

Different direction, thank god for that someone who actually wants to really make changes to a great club festering in the championship

31 Jan 2014 20:13:38
All the best Brian. Hope your next club teaches Uncle Festa a lesson or 2. Not a good way for anyone to loose their job.
In McD I trust (or I used to)
MOT(ish).

31 Jan 2014 20:11:40
IHave been watching the gods for almost 50 years and I can honestly say the betrayal of Bmd has to be the lowest most despicable act this club has committed. I know he will walk away with a nice sum but football and the people who run it is now a total disgrace.

31 Jan 2014 20:06:40
A sad day at leeds. Regardless of what the new owners do, I think its a terrible way to treat brian.

Good luck with whatever the future brings. Mot.

31 Jan 2014 20:03:08
Hi all I just wanted to share my thoughts.

I am finding this situation at our very upsetting and it's simply not fair on us fans. I'm beginning to question the whole meaning of supporting leeds. Of course I will never give up on leeds, how could I. Just the mention of the words leeds united or seeing them in print makes my heart race. I'm a devoted leeds fan, but one that just wants to know that our clubs future is safe and prosperous.

I don't really mind who takes control as long as they are fair and have the clubs interests at heart.

We will get through this, we are united, we are LEEDS

Danny LUFC

31 Jan 2014 20:01:59
Bad day for Leeds

And what will happen if a new manager comes in and wins 9 on the trot and gets us up, everyone will be singing his praises and saying the new owners are gods,, how fickle fans are!

31 Jan 2014 20:01:02
Bye bye Brian he's been sacked and so he should be 8 games without a win

31 Jan 2014 20:18:29
How shallow r u, 8 games without a win and we have to change the management? Some people are clueless!

Looks like your view is in the minority. Mainly because you're wrong. No manager could succeed with the sh1t that McD has had to put up with this last month. Up until then we were flying under him. Hope you enjoy supporting your Italian crook.

31 Jan 2014 19:58:01
We've sacked Brian. Look forward to league one again lads!
SuffolkWhites

31 Jan 2014 19:57:29
Brian McD gone? That is shocking. We've become a basket case and Bates must be laughing his socks off at the legacy he's left us with GFH and the subsequent"new owner". Will Ross reconsider his announcement of barely an hour ago now? I'm not going to ER tomorrow now, despite being a ST holder, I just don't have the heart anymore. They can forget their season tickets for next season too, I've got better things to spend my money on, the Cub has lost its soul.

31 Jan 2014 19:55:30
BBC saying macdermott no longer manager!wtf!

31 Jan 2014 19:52:21
sorry to see brian go oohh brian mccdermott forever leeds

31 Jan 2014 19:34:28
Be very careful what you wish for. BMd has potential to be our best manager in years and you want to replace him with someone with no experience. But then you read the Express so that tells us everything about you anyway ;)

31 Jan 2014 19:12:30
If Cellino takes over it will be disaterous with an inexperienced unproven manager. The players who like MCD won't want to play for him and we will slip down the league. We're doomed I tell ya we're doomed. Cpl Wilson.

Where is it actually stated that he intends to bring in Festa as manager, and hoof Mc D. I can't find it written anywhere? Is it fact about the dug out scenario??? I can't find it actually stated anywhere. Its all stupid rumours. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong///

{Ed013's Note - McDermott has been sacked}

31 Jan 2014 18:57:25
If this bent control freak takes over our club then u can kiss any return to the prem league goodbye and say hello to league one . He will bring in yes man festa but he will only be the front man for this person Cellino . Cellino will pick the team, choose the tactics and decide which players leave and which players will come in . We will never have a decent manager I mean come on any manager with an ounce of dignity or pride would not want to work for this clown and any manager who is made false promises will quickly realise what is going on and get the f##k out of there as fast as they can hence the 36 managers in 20 years ( almost 2 per year) what an absolute joke this has turned out to be . I feel sick

31 Jan 2014 18:55:04
Ross just tweeted, 'stay tuned to tv for my statement'. I hope this isn't going where I think its going. Disaster. MOT? Only the fans are together. F@@k you gfh if its true

'Im happy at leeds' was his statement

31 Jan 2014 18:48:28
Check RM twitter. What's that about?

{Ed013's Note - He has pledged his future to Leeds}

31 Jan 2014 18:21:35
ha

Whats up with people on here? They even click unbelievable when it's in black and white or on ssn . GIVE YOUR HEADS A SHAKE and get ride of your negativity

Ross is about to be sold, how do you get rid of that negativity?

Really? Check ssnews

31 Jan 2014 18:13:34
I'd also like to add why people are against this new potential owner already? We don't not the FACTS about him yet and what's the worst that can happen? Ken bates his right hand man!

As for our manager BMD I like him as much as the next supporter but others managers have been sacked for less and if we lose tomorrow IMO new owners or not I think he should be sacked, I could totally understand if the team was playing well and losing but there not, the football is poor to average at times . We all loved the appoint of NW 2 years ago but end also ended up a pants!

Just always remember managers players owners will always come and go but you the fans are here for life!

I'll probably get another 39 unbelievable ticks just like my Paul green Ipswich move on Wednesday ;)


ON and ON!

I agree with you mate. People are using the Italian as an excuse to exercise the same old rubbish they used too say about Bates. Get him in, at least HE WILL spend, even if he's a bit wacky . Never know. He might not be planning to get rid of McDermott anyway. Maybe he just asked his mate to have a look at how we are as a team etc. Bit cheeky, but what's really so bad about that?

I think you'll find the FACTS about him are very much in the public domain and very well known.

He's a convicted fraudster for which he was given a suspended prison sentence. FACT.

He's facing further embezzlement charges. FACT.

He's sacked 36 managers in 2 years. FACT.

Need any more FACTS to know what kind of person we're dealing with here?

32 managers in 2 years FACT? Lol you best do more research

Correction - 36 managers in 20 years.

Clearly a typo mate!

31 Jan 2014 18:06:45
We need Harry Redknapp as manager. Whoever he's in charge if always have an exciting transfer deadline day.

31 Jan 2014 17:53:20
if cellino does takeover and end up sacking mcdermott I will still back him as long as he brig in qaulity in summer and doesn't sell all decent players if he spends money fans will like him no matter who the manager is


leeds 2k14

31 Jan 2014 17:18:52
If we don't sign anyone decent this evening then we all need to start looking south rather than north as far as the league is concerned! We can't rely on getting any quality in via loan signings.

31 Jan 2014 17:03:10
Sogc9d I loved your post.Thanks Again. Great.

31 Jan 2014 16:44:07
as usual sports capital takeover callapses because investers take the talk but have no money so its notdavid haighs fault or gfh like we all though just investers with no money getting some press now we need to back the farnam bid and not the italian one. MOT

31 Jan 2014 16:25:47
i can't see any loan players coming in either . before we had sports capital funding things now we have no one other than gfh who have no money . even though we are moving players out at minute there still won't be funds

Cagliari players would be able to move after the transfer window closes if the Italians win the takeover.

31 Jan 2014 16:09:16
not so much a rumour as a statement, please GFH, do not sell to the Italians, if the club and supporters are your priority as you claim, hear what Mr. Farnan has to offer # LEEDS THRU AND THRU

He had his chance and they apparently offeted 7mil, laughable, I actually think ghf won't entertain them anymore after that pretty disrespectfull offer

31 Jan 2014 15:58:20
McDermott was asked if he thought tomorrow's game might be his last. Said you never know in management but plans to "really enjoy it" Doesn't look good for Brain

31 Jan 2014 15:30:09
Just saw this via LUST and thought it of interest - Leeds United Supporters Trust, as representatives of over 9,000 LUFC supporters, have been asked to publish the following statement by the group led by Mike Farnan to our members and the wider fans base:-
_________________________________________________________________________

Together Leeds, led by Mike Farnan, issued an offer for the share capital of Leeds United on the 14th November 2013. The value offered was significantly in excess of the amount publicly reported.

Our bid remains fully funded, and our strategy involves credible Yorkshire and football people, with Leeds and the community at their heart, rebuilding this great club. We think that our consortium is the best future custodian of the club and represents the best way forward.

In recent days, before and since the collapse of the Sport Capital bid, we have re-engaged with GFH, and offered significant investment into the club.

We are hopeful of those discussions being allowed to progress to a successful conclusion.

We thank everyone for the huge support shown to us, particularly this week.

Ends
ollowing all the speculation. Shame Sports Capital wasted all the transfer window before admitting lack of sufficient funds.

If there offer was significantly more then the reported 7mil(and it would need to have been considerably more) why was is rejected
Sound like they blew their chance when they had it and ghf have turned to otheresinstead

31 Jan 2014 14:44:14
Start of next season

Only calimari to be served at ER on march days
Gianluca Festa new manager
ER to be renamed Hadrian's Wall
Statue of BB to be accompanied by another but of Benito Mussolini
Free DVD of the Italian Job in souvenir shop
Finally, some excitement on transfer deadline day

31 Jan 2014 14:35:28
Flowers should join the Farnan consortium if he is a true Leeds fan as he says. They all are too, and if they don't quite have enough, he might have the funds required to push it through.

Not sure how much financial clout Mr Flowers brings to the party

31 Jan 2014 14:18:31
OHHHHHH BRIAN MCDERMOTT!

im all in favour off cellino pumping some well needed £'s into leeds, but this is a promise to him, if he sacks our beloved brian, then he won't have no supporters come to watch the club.

IN BRIAN WE TRUST

Italian press saying the deal is done, will it be Pizza and a pint for a fiver tomorrow.

I like Brian but I've lost my trust in his signings. Tactics aren't much better.

of course personality and niceness is the number 1 trait in a football manager

I can't find the poll or blog page anywhere . Can you help?

{Ed013's Note - On the left hand side mate, under rumours, banter etc}

Id be willing to bet attendances will be higher then ever if the to happen, I think the majoriry of fans know this guy means business

31 Jan 2014 13:59:41
on the yorkshire post, at 8.00 as of this morning.

A BRITISH consortium bidding to buy a majority stake in Leeds United is hoping to be granted a period of exclusivity to conclude a deal after talks resumed with owners Gulf Finance House earlier this week, the Yorkshire Post understands.

Yesterday brought a further twist to an ownership saga that has now moved into a third month as Sport Capital, a group led by current managing director David Haigh, withdrew from the race to take charge at Elland Road.

It means an interested party led by ex-Sunderland marketing chief Mike Farnan - which also includes former Hull City chairman Adam Pearson and Gary Verity, chief executive of 'Welcome to Yorkshire' - is now involved in a straight fight with controversial Italian football figure Massimo Cellino.

Sources in Italy have suggested that Cellino, owner of Serie A side Cagliari since 1992, is in pole position to take charge, having spent time at Elland Road last week with the club's hierarchy.

Cellino's trusted associate Gianluca Festa, a former Middlesbrough defender, has also been keeping a watching brief on events at Leeds's Thorp Arch training ground.

A request for Festa, seen as a potential candidate to become manager if Cellino takes charge, to watch Tuesday night's Championship encounter with Ipswich Town from the home dugout was rejected.

Despite the apparent confidence in the Italian camp that a deal can be done, Farnan's group is believed to be equally hopeful of successfully purchasing a controlling interest.

Talks are understood to have resumed earlier this week between Farnan and the Bahrain investment bank that bought Leeds from Ken Bates when it became clear that Sport Capital's own bid was teetering on the brink of collapse.

The two parties had not spoken since late last year when a bid by Farnan was rejected and a period of exclusivity handed to Haigh's consortium, which also included Andrew Flowers, the managing director of current shirt sponsors, Enterprise Insurance.

Now discussions have resumed, Farnan's group is believed to be pressing for its own period of exclusivity in which to push through a deal.

Whether GFH is open to such a request remains to be seen, but United's owners did confirm yesterday that talks are on-going with a number of parties and that any deal would be "in the best interests of Leeds United".

A spokesman said: "Since acquiring ownership of the club in December 2012, we have supported the club financially, supported the manager, and worked hard to forge closer links with both the fans and the local community.

"We have never made any secret about the fact that our aim has always been to attract investment partners, and we are currently speaking to a number of parties regarding the acquisition of shares."

Farnan's group - backed by former Leeds captain Lucas Radebe - has been forced to play a patient waiting game after initially being locked out of any possible talks by an exclusivity period granted to Sport Capital.

Now, though, the consortium are hoping to make up for lost time and push through a deal following yesterday's news that the Haigh-Flowers group is officially out of the running.

The news about Sport Capital, while hardly surprising considering Flowers's criticism of GFH on Tuesday ahead of the 1-1 draw with Ipswich, has nevertheless added to the air of uncertainty surrounding Elland Road.

During their attempts to buy a stake, Haigh and Flowers put around £6m in loans into United to help with running costs. It is not clear when the loans can be called in.

A further potential headache for United's owners could come today when Sunderland could make a move for Ross McCormack.

The Scot, recently made captain by Brian McDermott, was the subject of a rejected £3.5m bid from West Ham United a week ago.

However, should Sunderland move Steven Fletcher out of the Stadium of Light - Celtic and Stoke are among those interested - sources in the North East have indicated that they will make a move for McCormack.

Gus Poyet believes a bid of £3.5m up front with another £1m based on add-ons may be enough to tempt Leeds into selling their 19-goal top scorer.

As for Haigh, his future role remains unclear following the collapse of Sport Capital's bid.

He said: "Last year what I believed was the right opportunity presented itself in the shape of a chance for me to lead a consortium of investors, under the name of Sport Capital, to acquire a major stake-holding in the club.

"As fans know, we signed a share acquisition agreement with GFH Capital at the end of last year. I personally assure every supporter every public statement made regarding the acquisition was made in the utmost good faith.

"Unfortunately, however, some of the consortium's backers ultimately didn't feel able to deliver the financial backing we had hoped was agreed to take the club forward."

It's been on Tv local news that Farnan group expect Cellino to take over as they feel he is GFH's preffered bidder.

31 Jan 2014 13:09:48
Some people that post on this site are absolutely ridiculous. All everyone does is slate players, slate the manager, or slate the board. They do the footballing business, we are the fans, let them get on with it. Sometimes there will be sticky times, but better times to come with stability. Thought we was Marching on TOGETHER?

We pay our money, quite a lot of it, and when we see ourselves as fans (season ticket, going for 44 years in my case), our players and our manager being abused, we have a right to voice our opinion. Businesses are not always well run and those who are affected have every right to make their views known, irrespective of the business.

You feel free to ignore what is happening if you like, that is your prerogative, but please don't tell the rest of us what we can and cannot hold and express an opinion about.

31 Jan 2014 12:35:53
Spagbol on the menu from today

31 Jan 2014 10:33:22
I think people need to STOP slating the Italian. Lots of people moan when we slate managers and players, but this is the prospective owner and/or chairman, so he should get some respect.
The calgliari fans are happy with him, he has not meddle with their history and he has brought stability by being there 20 years.
What has he done to deserve this anger? Oooh he's changed the manager about 30 times in 20 years, big deal. When you get money to spend as a manager, owners tend to want to see more return on that money than what freebie signing managers are expected to produce give.
We've changed our manager 8 times in 20 years, and we are have gone backwards since Grayson left. Maybe it is time for a major shake up with an owner who isn't looking to jump ship asap like GFH. Or would you rather have a: Vincent Tan or Assem Allam who would change and meddle with our badges, colours and History or maybe a Bill Kenwright, who does not have a pot to p**s in? The choice is yours. but I say: Buon Giorno Massimo Cellino, Benvenuti Leeds!

Well stated, mate! We probably need the italian much more than he need us! So stop moaning!

Some fans also judged Festa a bad choice of manager before even started. As far as I can see he`s a bit more experienced the Guardiola was when taking over Barcelona. As well as I would prefer to keep BmD, and feel very sorry for him in this mess, I fully understand that an italian owner, buying a club he has no former connection to, will want to have "his own man" in charge!

As alternatives stand today, I think the remainding consortium at best represents a status qua in funds and developement - the italian option seems a bit more uncertain, but may offer a real opportunity for radical change in attitude, funds and progress! Isn`t this what we`re all been parying for these last ten years?

Don`t slate the italian! We should be thankful for beeing attractive for foreign investment!

I totally agree well said

If the Italian tried to put his own man on the bench at a league game and this was before the deal was signed then we don't need the Italian. (That would be a nasty selfish and disruptive act)

If he is guilty of financial misdealings then we don't need the Italian.

So far. he has a long way to go till he proves himself "fit and proper" to run Leeds United.

IMHO

Toronto White

Agreed buddy I', of the opinion a total clear-out is needed from the top down including the playing and backroom staff

I read this the other day when I first heard about him. He has managed to keep a club with no actual decent club that dosn't really have a fan base afloat and in the Seria A. can't be doing that bad a job. And the fraud stuff was all because of ome political rift. let's face it italy don't really have a justice system its all bout bribes and pay offs

Why should we stop slating the 'convicted fraudster, currently serving a suspended prison sentence and facing further charges of embezzlement, sacking 36 managers in 20 years' Italian?

Some of us happen to think that having a man with that background at the helm of our club would be a VERY BAD thing.

I don't, in any case, believe he'll pass the fit and proper person's test so even if GFH accept his money it will simply leave GFH weakened in their negotiating position with other interested parties. It will also leave our club rudderless.

I think some people need a reality check on here. I'd rather watch second division football than have a convicted crook at the helm. Perhaps that doesn't make me a 'proper fan'.

Funny this guy sayin he'd rather watch lower league football then taie the itallian, if your soo concernrd about his personal life, why didn't you jump ship while bates was here, he was hardly an angel

Bates was unpleasant but he wasn't a convicted criminal with more charges pending. Big difference. If you have no moral compass, fine, your choice. I do, thanks, and the Italian is not a guarantee of premier league football.

31 Jan 2014 10:14:39
this could be a very sad day for leeds.
i don't know or pretend to know anything but i'm sure sports capital need there money back, and i'm sure there in no mood to help gfh out.
players out today is the worry,
i like varney for his effort but not great and blackburn look like they will get him,
green looks potentially to ipswich, I prefer him to murphy.
and the biggest risk is ross still.i didn't think he really wanted west ham even if we accepted bid.
but sunderland is very drivable from his home and his new business venture.will gfh accept and blame the sports capital lot?
either way we are in big trouble, I mean festa becoming the manager if italian gets in. get real.
what a sad state of affairs. shrew leeds

I agree with everything you state. Varney not the best, but we missed him on Tuesday. Green for me has more to offer than Murphy and Austin, yet he was surplus to McD before he got injured. If we do have to recover costs then it's twitchy bum time. Ross and Sam are our prized assets and selling them would be a massive blow. The board said they weren't selling Ross and we were all thinking that is a statement of intent, but that was before they SC dropped out.

31 Jan 2014 08:46:30
Im in two minds about this italian guy, I mean maybe we need an person who will throw a lot of cash at the team and get us out of this league, look a cagliari a well established club and fans seem to be happy. I mean i'd be very disappointed if he got rid of BMD because I think he is a class manager and the exact kind of person we need. What does everyone else think?
Either way ill be there saturday supporting my team. MOT!

I'm open minded about the Italian's interest. I just want us to concentrate on football for a change and not the circus of proposed takeovers. For me the jury is still out on Brian. Being a nice guy doesn't make you a great manager. To be fair he has had a lot to put up with and of course he is going to say he will not leave, but it doesn't take away the fact that his signings to date have been below average to say the least.

31 Jan 2014 07:34:29
players to sell on

Jamie Ashdown

Adam Drury
Marius �aliūkas

Paul Green
David Norris
Michael Brown
Danny Pugh
Michael Tonge
Zac Thompson
Aidan White

El-Hadji Ousseynou Diouf
Noel Hunt
Luke Varney
-------------------------------------------------

players that could probably be able to hack prem in some way

Paddy Kenny
Sam Byram
Jason Pearce
Stephen Warnock
Rodolph Austin
Alex Mowatt
Cameron Stewart
Ross McCormack
------------------------------------------
players left that should turn out to be good championship players

Tom Lees
Scott Wootton
Lee Peltier
Jimmy K�b�
Luke Murphy


who knows never see them play

Alex Cairns
Gboly Ariyibi
Christopher Dawson
Simon Lenighan
Luke Parkin

I like your players that could hack it in prem list
i mean as if they will ever get a chance with lufc

Sell on to who? If the past year has told us anything is that clubs don't want our sh**. We might be able to give them away but get money for them? Don't think so

A very accurate analysis!

Maybe, the list of players who could play in the prem are currently playing in this league and can't hack it so i'm not so sure ( certainly not in the same team together)

31 Jan 2014 05:03:48
for me the problems go back to gfh saying they were selling 75% steak, it should have been 95% donkey meat