LUFC Bates explains reasons for sacking Grayson
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Leeds United chairman Ken Bates has explained the reason for sacking Simon
Grayson today after three years at the club.
Bates spoke on Yorkshire Radio this afternoon and said that Grayson had spent
plenty of money on player wages and has one of the largest squads in the
championship.
He also called a section of supporters 'nutters` makes a change from morons,
for criticising the lack of investment in players.
Bates also states that Grayson had promised to win the club promotion this
season when they chatted in November and with the club currently in tenth place
in the championship and he could not understand why they are where they are.
Bates now feels the club need a fresh approach if they are to have any chance
of making the end of season play offs with eighteen games remaining.
This is what the chairman had to say today whilst speaking on Yorkshire Radio:
"First of all we have to acknowledge that in the previous three seasons Simon
got us to the play-off semi-finals, won us promotion the next year and last
year we finished seventh.
"Contrary to some of the nutters on twitter we backed him all the way. The
first time I said no to a player that Simon wanted to buy was last Thursday
when he wanted to sign a player who was going to cost us £600,000 a year. I
said, 'you`ve already got six centre backs` all of whom he has signed.
"At 30, we have probably got one of the largest squads in the championship and
a bigger squad than many clubs in the Premiership. Our wage budget was £9.5
million this year and we have spent over £12 million. So these people who are
blaming me for the results do not know what they are talking about.
"Every penny we have made from transfer fees as gone back into team on transfer
fees or wages.
"If you sign a player on a free transfer on £500,000 a year on a three year
contract you are committing up to £1.5 million, which is a tremendous amount of
money.
"We have six strikers and six centre backs and all of a sudden I cannot
understand why any of them are not good enough. We have three teenagers in the
back four.
"He is the manager and he decides who he wanted to buy. We as a club and me as
chairman just authorise it. We just pay for it. The facts of the matter are we
have conceded more goals than almost any other club in the championship has.
Therefore we have reached as far as we can and the present system isn`t
working.
"We have got eighteen games to go, nine at home and nine away. We can still get
into the play offs. I think automatic promotion is looking a bit remote. I
think we need a fresh start, fresh attitude and we will move on."
Simon told me in November we were going to win promotion. These players have
not become bad players overnight.
"There is a problem somewhere and we do not know what it is. I am a little bit
disappointed what Simon said after last night, when he said he was working
within financial constraints, Jesus, he has spent nearly 30% over budget on
players wages. Some people are banging on about loan players. Who scored the
winner against us when played at the Emirates? It was a loan player wasn`t it.
Thierry Henry.
"It is not a question of money we spend on transfer fees, it is the quality of
player you get. He is a free player, free transfer. Do we pay £35 million for
Carroll or £50 million for Torres? So money itself doesn`t mean anything. The
important thing is the quality and value for money. What I do not understand is
why we are where we are with what we have spent.
"Don`t forget, when we were beaten by Barnsley 4-1. Their wage bill was £4.5
million and ours was £11.5 million, so we were clearly not getting value for
money are we. So seeing as the present system is not working we need a fresh
look. Having said that, thank you to Simon for what he has done and his two
assistants but we have to move on."
Read
more: http://www.leeds.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=271415#ixzz1lADQegHU
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PETE CASS (1962 - 2011) Rest In Peace Mate
