Home > Football > Can Middle East money and homegrown kids restore Leeds United to greatness?
by William Anderson on 18 May 2007
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As the dust begins to settle after a catastrophic season, wild speculation encircles the club like a swarm of bluebottles on speed. Leeds United,The Movie continues with the directors ensuring the plot is never anything close to predictable. Administration arrived with a strange greeting of relief, confusion and derision (mainly from the ever-reliable Leeds-haters). Chairman Ken Bates continues to operate with all the openness of a professional poker player. However, for the first time since purchasing Robbie Blake from Birmingham City, he has moved to appease fans in the most effective way possible - through their wallets. The extreme pricing structure (necessary or not) of 2006-07 is history, as a realistic scheme is introduced, meaning the everyday Leodensian and Yorkshireman can more comfortably afford to watch the club they follow religiously.
A packed Elland Road can be a fearsome proposition - just ask Sir Alex Ferguson. Unfortunately, charging fans £36 of their hard-earned money to watch a disjointed outfit of loanees, has-beens and Stephen Crainey was too much to stomach for the Elland Road faithful. Realistic prices means League One could be an exciting prospect; a packed house cheering on a new breed of academy youngsters such as Danny Rose, Jonny Howson and Gavin Rothery, galvanised by old heads such as Shaun Derry and Blake.
Despite such false dawns, as an ardent Leeds fan, rumours of super rich Dubai businessmen attempting to wrestle - and with Bates it’s definitely a wrestle - control of the club make it difficult not to feel a slight pang of excitement. Details are leaking out on the Middle East tycoon who is clearly loaded and interested in this great institution of English football. The son of the late, great Don Revie has been making all the right noises about the Dubai consortium, returning the club to its rightful place, and his genetic credentials are second to none. So maybe all the hurt, pain and shame of the present decade will be worth it. Actually we knew that all along. The roller-coaster that is Leeds United is addictive, the drama is compelling and greatness is only just around the corner.
Comments (11)
by Richard on May 18, 2007
A nice positive balanced post for once.
by Paul Ford on May 18, 2007
I do honestly believe we're turning a corner. I'm an ardent realist and don't believe in false dawns. However, I do really sense that administration will clear the bulk of debt and place us in a prime position for major investment. And I think that investment will come. I can honestly see us back in the Premiership in three seasons. I think perhaps Bates planned for us not to go up this season and go into adminstration, hence starving us of investment. I don't think he planned us to be so bad that we'd get relegated but I think he planned for administration and the docking of ten points. I do sincerely believe that the phoenix is just starting to come to life and flap its wings! We'll be back soon to settle some scores! On on on!
by klaus on May 18, 2007
as a die hard chelsea supporter i can only say that if ken puts his money and time (lets face it he hast got that much left) he will get a result..why he does it, i cant imagine...is it power, money glory...probably a bit of all three..he will sell eventually, but only once he has created a saleble commodity and if he does that, all leeds supporters should buy him a drink...he most certainly wont buy one for anybody else...
by Gary on May 18, 2007
I can offer 2 scenarios that Ken B was working to: 1 Win promotion back to the Prem, attract Roman Abramovich Mk2 and make a killing as he sells up. 2. Go into administration on the back of the looming Tax demand and "wind-up" order. This would write off the debt and as he is trying to do now buy the club back for a pittance,then revert to plan a. Either way he wins, personally I think he should have stuck to frying chicken and left us alone!!!
by Owen Gleadall on May 18, 2007
No amount of money can save Leeds United if the basic sentiment is aimed at financial benefit. Any monies have to be invested in the team!! Potentially we have 30,000 vociferous fans willing to cheer on The Whites. Provide a winning team, at any level, and they will fill the ground and frighten any visiting team. Clearly, the club has to be financially stable and able to meet its obligations, but it has also to provide a developing centre of excellence on the pitch. With our academy this is quite possible but needs investment with sentiment not with acrimony or for purely financial gain. Ken Bates needs to recoup his losses - that doesn't baud well for the future in my opinion!
so whats wrong with that..either way if he achievs plan ,do u really care??it ll put your club back in the big timne and then i can start hating u again....1070 cupfinal replay ..wasnt that a great game
by Codebreaker on May 18, 2007
If recent reports are correct Ken Bates has connections with many of the companies that Leeds owe money to. But does Ken Bates have any connection with the company that have bought Elland Road and Thorp Arch? These sites must be worth an absolute fortune to developers. What happens to the buy back agreement of these sites now Leeds United is effectively run by a new company. Is the next step of this plan the demise of Leeds United to make the agreement the site owners null and void, allowing the greed certain people to destroy a family of loyal supporters. Ken Bates loves publicity, could his last wish be, to be eternally known for 'The Greatest Sting in Footballing History.'
by Taddywhites. on May 18, 2007
Well now the shock of relegation has sunk in why is it i feel it is time i returned to Elland Road on a regular basis and bought a season ticket 12 years after last having one. Why ! this club runs through my veins and i can not just walk away and suprisingly i am not the only one contamplating purchasing a season ticket after so long, the price is right in the Revie stand and i like many others feel a twinge of excitment of what may occor in the future referance take over bids. Indeed next season Elland Road will be full of true football fans and believe me when Leeds Utd fans are down we can make some noise and intimidate opposing teams both on and off the field. It is no good singing a song from the heart if you dont mean it and we are certainly going through it all together and having our downs ! However when Leeds United start having our Ups ! Elland Road will be like it was in the late 80s early 90s a rocking intimidating place to visit. My vote is for the Morris consortium with a promis
by Go-Bates_Go on May 19, 2007
Good article. When Papa Smurf took over I thought it was a good thing despite other peoples doubts. I have to say I now think I was wrong. It has all the looks of being a deliberate ploy on Bates' part. If as people say the main creditors other than the Inland Revenue, are in fact owned by Bates, he has saved himself millions. My question would be where did it all that money go? Earlier in the season he promised that Leeds would be debt free by the end of the season. The debt at that time was said to be about 10 million. Where did the other 25 miilion come from? Also if you want to get the fans behind you, the last thing you do is increase the ticket prices. Surely by dropping or maintaining prices you encourage the fans to get behind you. Imagine the differnce a full ER would have made to team spirit over the last two years. Ken, read my name.......
by John williams on May 19, 2007
Parker is crap. Ask any Bradford City fan.
by CHRIS on May 20, 2007
WE ARE LEEDS AND WE REFUSE TO DIE LETS GET BATES OUT AND BRING THE MONEY MEN IN.WITH THE SON OF THE LATE GREAT DON REVIE LEADING USBACK TO WERE WE BELONG.
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