http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/419605/Leeds-United-s-new-chairman-speaks-exclusively-to-the-Daily-Express?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+daily-express-sport-news+%28Daily+Express+%3A%3A+Sport+Feed%29
SALAH NOORUDDIN is polished, engaging, diplomatic and unexcitable. But
the best way to describe him to Leeds fans in just four words is,
“Everything Ken Bates isn’t”.
By: Matthew Dunn
Published: Sun, August 4, 2013
Leeds-United-have-endured-some-rocky-times-over-the-past-few-years Leeds
United have endured some rocky times over the past few years
As a newspaper that has followed Leeds’ fortunes closer than many in the
turbulent recent past, the Daily Express was invited to be the first to
grill the latest incarnation of Leeds chairman on his vision as the club
enters its 10th season outside the top flight.
In 15 years covering events at Elland Road, I have seen close up the
varying approaches of Peter Ridsdale, Professor John McKenzie, Trevor
Birch, Gerald Krasner and Bates.
What struck me most after my first conversation with Nooruddin is that,
almost by design, he is the polar opposite of the latter.
During our long and wide-ranging chat, the Bahrain businessman put the
“charm” into “charm offensive”. For the majority of fans, Bates only
ever ticked the second box.
The controversial former owner has always known, and spoken, his mind.
The new regime seem determined to canvas opinion from everywhere before
committing to a plan of action.
Bates had lots of experience and little money. To preserve the contrast,
then, the inexperienced Nooruddin would need to be minted.
Sadly for Leeds fans, though, there are no mystery oil sheikhs hiding
away in his Middle East consortium.
There is enough in the coffers of the investment bankers, Nooruddin
insists, but there could always be more. That is why the group are
actively courting other potential investors.
Not, he is determined to point out, because after seven months in charge
they are already looking to sell up.
“GFH is a private equity firm and potentially they are looking to
achieve some return from their investment,” he said. “The notion that
the ownership of a football club is not a short-term project is very
important indeed.
“That has to be true for all the stakeholders, including the fans. It
has to be a medium and long term project. And the key objective is
promotion back to the Premier League.
“When I say we want all the stakeholders behind this, I mean the
community, the fans, shareholders, staff and players. They all need to
understand that we will reach our key objective but we have to do it in
a way that is sustainable and achievable.”
Should fans be put off by such a brazen admission that the owners are in
it for the money? Not really. Does the motivation really matter when
there is a concerted effort to make the club great again?
Nevertheless, it is reassuring to know that Nooruddin does at least have
some football in his soul.
“Leeds has a history,” he said. “It is a great club. It has a huge fan
base. When I was a child, I remember my parents used to follow Leeds. It
is not an unknown name. We know Leeds. We know its history. We know its
magnitude.
“You cannot disconnect yourself from your history. What you have to do
it learn from your mistakes and from the past. This is what we are
trying to do. We want to create a new history. We want to create a new era.
Leeds, United, Salah Nooruddin, ken Bates, Peter Risdale,
AdministrationMany Leeds fans were unhappy with Ken Bates' time at the
club and have welcomed the change
“But I think eventually Leeds should be in their rightful position high
in the Premier League. It is a great club and has to go back there. How
far all depends on the circumstances, but we are willing to take that
challenge. Eventually, eventually, this is a great club and will get back.“
Nooruddin genuinely seems in no rush. The path back to the Premier
League is a steady one and he fully expects current manager Brian
McDermott to lead them along it in good time.
“We are not expecting to get back into the Premier League overnight,” he
said. “We achieved a mid-table ranking last season and while we hope to
get promotion, let’s be realistic.
“We will try to push our ranking up to the top six and then the year
after we will hope to get through the play-offs to promotion. It should
be a staggered plan. This is exactly what we are doing. Brian especially
shares that view with us and he is a good manager.”
Moreover, Nooruddin wants the Leeds fans to March on Together behind the
former Reading manager. To that end, the new chairman has already been
courting the Leeds United Supporters’ Trust group generally ridiculed by
Bates and appealed to Yorkshiremen everywhere by lowering ticket prices
for the coming season.
As a result, more than 33,000 fans went along to Elland Road for
yesterday's 2-1 win over Brighton, the biggest opening day attendance
since the club dropped out of the Premier League a decade ago.
“I am getting calls from people connected to the fans saying that we
have done a number of things that have been received very, very
positively,” Nooruddin added.
“We have taken a number of initiatives. We have reduced ticket prices
and the message is we have new management, new manager, new era.”
Long-suffering Leeds fans are hoping they are all good “new”s.
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