I agree with many of Betty's points, and they apply more or less to every club in the land. Chelsea will soon be smarting from Abramovich's losses in the financial markets; Liverpool and ManUre face real uncertainty about the massive debts attached to the club; even Man City can't be sure that their benefactor will be in there for longer than a few months. None of those clubs are run by fans; none of them really have a clear plan for the future. (How many, for instance, could survive if Sky went bust like ITV Digital?)
Point being, whatever else happens at a football club, ultimately what happens on the field is the key. Had we won at Wembley in May, we might be able to turn our eyes away from Bates a little more easily - and just because we are underperforming in the table, I see no reason to enter into a period of self-flagellation and recriminations. I'm very sad that Macca didn't work out, but every recovery starts somewhere and we need to focus on team performances now. My fear is that we might be about to enter a John Carver-type period between managers. (Actually, I'd settle for a win in the next game...) So, yes, our chairman needs to address his management team very quickly and effectively - and on that his record is decidedly mixed. To re-iterate: I share many of Betty's concerns. But I think our plan is pretty straightforward: win promotion. I see nothing to suggest that Bates doesn't want that to happen, and his decision over Macca shows he's prepared to act when that plan is in jeoprady. While on-the-field solutions are imperative, off the field I'm pleased the club is being run commercially. It should be trying to sell us things. What else shores up a club? Securitising future gate receipts? Player trading? I'll reserve judgment about Bates's promises on that score until 1st Feb, but ultimately I'd rather we were a club living off its supporters than playing feeder to "big" clubs. And over the next two years, being a club that lives off its gate receipts and merchandise will be a massive advantage. We're going to see a group of Premier League and Championship clubs get into real trouble during the recession with wage bills far higher than income. We are the best supported club in the division. We have more fans than most clubs in the top tier. We're not a pale imitation of Peterborough or MK Dons, not a bit. We're Leeds United and while it's frustrating that our size is not translating into a promotion push, it will eventually. Unless, of course, we all f*** off and stop supporting the club. So... I'm reflective and depressed, but not despondent. Bates is what he is - chairman, like managers, come and go. If he can get a decent management team in place to exploit our support and win promotion, he has my vote. And when he goes, so long as the club is in a better position than when he arrived - admittedly, at the moment, a big "if" - then he'll have done OK by me. -------------------- Richard Young Freelance writer and editor _______________________________________________ the Leeds List is an unmoderated mailing list and the list administrators accept no liability for the personal views and opinions of contributors. Leedslist mailing list [email protected] http://list.zetnet.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist is Michel Kitabdjian dead yet?
