> > The success of Leeds United’s summer to date can be judged on the group of > players who have trained at Thorp Arch during the past 10 days. > > In simple terms the club’s squad contains more transfer-listed members > than it does new signings; under-subscribed for pre-season and nowhere near > ready for the main event. > > There is time yet to remedy that but the periphery of the new Championship > season will soon be counted in days rather than weeks. The laboured trudge > towards supplying the club’s manager, Neil Warnock, with the squad he asked > for cannot continue much longer, not unless next season is to rest on a > wing, a prayer and the scramble that is the latter stages of the transfer > window. > > Beyond the obvious shortage of money at Elland Road – a shortage which > seems insurmountable without external investment – and a transfer market > which one agent called “painfully slow in general”, the pending takeover of > Leeds United is the cause of this. It is to be hoped that a takeover will > also be the solution. As and when they take their seats, the priority of > the club’s prospective new owners must be to give their manager a chance. > > There is a crackle of excitement in Leeds and rightly so. The time is > right for fresh funding, a fresh attitude, a fresh start. Nothing says that > more than Warnock’s struggle in the transfer market or a week of > speculation about the future of Robert Snodgrass. If the buyers in question > have a finger in the air or a proper handle on social media they will know > that they are wanted, regardless of their anonymity and the absence of any > vision statement. It should be clear too that they are needed with some > urgency. > > That is, of course, assuming that their intentions are honourable and > their colours don’t run. It is churlish to roll out the > be-careful-what-you-wish-for mantra when credible information about the > investors goes no further than strong links to the Middle East and Bahrain > in particular. Leeds seem convinced by their suitability and Warnock does > too. Warnock, you would think, has worked under too many loose cannons to > pander to any future employers. It is his view and his continuing > commitment to Leeds which engenders optimism. > > It is essential first that the takeover crosses the line; that the promise > of change comes to something meaningful. But with due patience, United’s > new owners will deserve the same careful scrutiny which Ken Bates and the > present board at Leeds have experienced. > > The natural assumption is that the buyers have riches or substantial > wealth. They will be expected to prove as much quickly. On the basis that > Leeds expect them to pass the Football League’s Owners and Directors Test, > their moral fibre ought not to be in doubt. What matters to Leeds and their > supporters in particular is their understanding of how English football > works and their creation of a coherent plan to enhance a fine club. It is a > heavy responsibility, as they will find out. > > Might the buyers, for example, look at Snodgrass’ situation and ask why he > has not been ring-fenced against all-but ludicrous offers to sign him. He > is Leeds’ most talented player and their most valuable. Moreover, he is the > player who United’s manager sought to retain above all others between April > and September. It is hard to see how he could countenance Snodgrass’ > departure with anything other than a desperately heavy heart. > > Leeds did their bit by rejecting a £1.5m offer from Norwich City on > Monday, but the fact the Canaries returned with an improved bid within 72 > hours suggests they believe a deal is there to be done. Far from coming to > life this week, it appears that Norwich’s intentions have been known for > much of the close season. They are set on making this transfer happen. And > if the incumbent regime at Elland Road are indeed preparing to vacate the > building, selling Snodgrass would be a fitting end to much of what has gone > before. > > Any sale will come with standard explanations – Snodgrass wanted Premier > League football, his contract is running down, it makes financial sense, as > it did with Jonathan Howson in January. But the doubt surrounding him is a > consequence of the way the summer has gone. It has failed to keep the wolf > from the door. > > Warnock admitted some time ago that the only motivation for Snodgrass to > sign a new and improved contract would be indisputable proof that Leeds > were building a squad capable of toppling the Championship next season. > Even allowing for four encouraging signings, that is still a promise rather > than a reality. The transformation has not been spectacular enough, not > with Warnock constrained by what virtually amounts to a one in, one out > policy. > > The purpose of any takeover – or any takeover involving a stable club – > should be to nurture the club over a period of years. The grand scheme of > United’s next owners is ultimately more important than what happens over > the course of a single season. But the season ahead matters, to Warnock, > his players, to potential signings and to the thousands who waded in to buy > season tickets on the back of a lame campaign. There is a risk amid heady > talk of new ownership that the task in hand is neglected or forgotten. > > It is why confirmation of a takeover will only be the start of all that > needs to happen. In four weeks’ time, Wolverhampton Wanderers come to > Elland Road for the first match of the Championship season. Before long > that fixture will be tomorrow - much like the buy-out of Leeds United has > been for several weeks. So close to completion yet not quite official; the > ultimate game of patience. As one supporter said yesterday: “It’s the hope > that kills you.” > > > <http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/latest-whites-news/a-slow-summer-has-left-warnock-playing-catch-up-at-leeds-1-4761602?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=dlvr.it#> > Dr Michael Benjamin, Community Psychiatrist ------------------------------- myRay: On-line Self-Help CBT http://www.myRay.com http://www.myRay.org ------------------------------ Mental Health: http//www.MyDoctorExplains.com -------------------------------- Auditing || Quality Control http://www.MyDoctorExplains.com/alamo/ -------------------------------- Blog: http://www.DrMichaelBenjamin.com _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email leedslist-unsubscr...@gn.apc.org
PETE CASS (1962 - 2011) Rest In Peace Mate
