Quote: <if it was being run commercially the evidence of its investments would
be clear for all to see. In effect we have a dwindling supporter base a low footballing profile and no clear idea of where we are going next.> No, I agree absoutely with the point about the dwindling supporter base and the low football profile. But that's an on-the-field problem. People are much less likely to come to a Div.3 game than a Premier League fixture. I would love it to have been Bates's fault (although he wouldn't gone, of course!), but he appointed a favourite son of the club who showed real signs of delivering great football. He just didn't deliver consistency, which is the true hallmark of professionalism in sport. I have no great love for Bates. But while we've had to live through the indignity of relegation and failure in the play-offs, that's a dressing-room issue, not a board-room one. And while the accounts may well inflate the value of players (intagibles are a sore point for lots of sectors, not just football, mind), the club I love is less likely today to wink out of existence than it was four or five years ago. And it's not like our managers haven't been able to bring in players. What worries me is that so many of them are then rejected - often on a free transfer - and them start doing well at other, lesser, clubs. Changing the subject slightly... Do any other Leeds Utd fans sometimes worry that the fervent support we offer is sometimes as much of a distraction to players as it is encouragement? You see tin-pot clubs with mediocre fans doing OK, and I wonder whether the players at our level find it a bit... overwhelming. (Poor dears.) Best, Richard -------------------- 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 Sorry Macca - it's the curse of Bates old lad
