And the band played belief it of you like. Sent from my iPhone. D"r Michael Benjamin. Community Psychiatrist.
On 21 Jan 2012, at 19:06, John Boocock IFA <[email protected]> wrote: > http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/leeds_exit_door_will_close_after_howson_bates_faces_critics_1_4166444 > > Published on Friday 20 January 2012 22:49 > > EMBATTLED Leeds United manager Simon Grayson last night moved to assure fans > that no other key players will be following captain Jonny Howson out of > Elland Road during the transfer window. > > The Championship club have had a difficult week with the £2m sale of the > Leeds-born midfielder to Norwich City having left supporters furious and > accusing the board of lacking ambition. > > An impromptu protest was held by around 150 disgruntled fans on Thursday > night at the Billy Bremner statue and it is expected that chairman Ken Bates > will come in for further criticism today when Ipswich Town visit West > Yorkshire. > > Grayson, however, insists Howson’s departure, which was last night edging > closer as the England Under-21 international underwent a medical at Carrow > Road, was in the club’s best interests due to the midfielder being able to > leave on a free transfer in the summer when his contract runs out. > > The Leeds manager said: “I can understand everyone’s frustration and I am as > frustrated as everyone else. > > “Jonny has done very well for us but, ultimately, when the offer came in, I > spoke to Jonny and he confirmed his desire to play in the Premier League. > > “I am sure he would have liked to have done that with us but no one knows > what the future holds. He felt it was too good an opportunity to turn down > and we thought it was a good opportunity in a business sense. We can utilise > the money to bring players in during this window. > > “If the bid had been half as much then we wouldn’t even have considered it > but we decided it was in the best interests of everyone to sell Jonny.” > > Norwich’s interest first emerged last Monday and came as a major surprise to > everyone at Elland Road, including Howson, who has been out for almost six > weeks with a knee injury. > > Grayson added: “We had a long meeting on Monday and we couldn’t afford the > luxury of him getting out of contract and walking on a free. We have tried to > tie Jonny down but this is what happens with the Bosman rule. > > “We have chipped away in trying to get something done but Jonny has made it > clear he wants to play in the Premier League. > > “It was a difficult decision for Jonny but he had to weigh up many things. He > felt the best opportunity was to secure Premier League football now. > > “Nobody likes to lose their best players, especially on free transfers. > > “It is difficult in this day and age with the Bosman ruling. (Gary) Cahill at > Bolton is an example of players who have to be sold in the last year of their > contracts. They have had to take half the money they were offered in the > summer. > > “Sometimes you can’t extend contracts because of the finances involved in it > all. You never know if a player might get injured, then you would be stuck > with someone on a lot of money who is not contributing to the team.” > > Howson’s imminent departure comes two years on from the transfer window that > saw Leeds turn down a £2m bid from Newcastle United for Jermaine Beckford due > to their belief that the striker’s goals would help secure promotion from > League One. > > Asked by the Yorkshire Post if the decision to let the club captain leave was > a sign that United had resigned themselves to not going up this time around, > Grayson replied: “No, not at all. The money we have got in will go back in to > bring players here. With Jermaine, we were a League One team, Newcastle were > a Championship team and he didn’t want to go to the Championship. > > “He was always going to hold out until a Premier League club came knocking to > sign him on a free transfer. He didn’t have to move there and then to fulfil > his ambition of going to a better league. > > “We felt that the money could be utilised in a way that would give us a > better chance of promotion and that was how it turned out. He was one who got > us to the Championship. > > “Would Jonny have got us to the Premier League? That is a difficult question > to answer because he is still injured. > > “He could be back in two weeks, a month or six weeks. It is still in the > balance. That was a factor when we looked at it. > > “We can use the money to bring in three or four players to make us stronger > and that is what we are trying to do.” > > With Howson on his way out, speculation as to whether Robert Snodgrass, Ross > McCormack, Tom Lees and Adam Clayton could also be on their way has been a > major talking point in Leeds over recent days. > > Grayson, however, insists that no one else will be leaving this month as > United look to bounce back from a disappointing run of just one win in six > league outings. > > He said: “Jonny’s deal suited us and him. But any other deal has to suit us, > not the individual, because all the other players apart from Aidy White are > all under contract for at least 18 months. We don’t have to do anything. If > they want to leave then tough. They have got enough time on their contracts > to make sure they are not going anywhere. > > “We have got a group here who we feel can get promoted but it is all about > succeeding in that. It is not a sign of a lack of ambition that a club is > signing one of our players. > > “Our ambition will be shown by speculation linking three or four of our > others players with other clubs. But that won’t be happening and they won’t > be leaving. It is utter nonsense.” > > [email protected] > > _______________________________________________ > Leedslist mailing list > Info and options: http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist > To unsubscribe, email [email protected] > > PETE CASS (1962 - 2011) Rest In Peace Mate > _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email [email protected] PETE CASS (1962 - 2011) Rest In Peace Mate
