Struggling Leeds weighed down by a sinking feeling When the Leeds coaches discussed relegation at the beginning of the season, their chairman, Ken Bates, dismissed the conversation. Now, however, Leeds are staring down the barrel, again.
Stuart James March 1, 2007 12:27 AM Two days before the season started Leeds United's coaching staff told Ken Bates that the club could be facing a relegation battle. Kevin Blackwell, the former manager, Dave Hancock, Neil Thompson, Gwyn Williams, David Geddis, John Carver, Martin Hodge and Dean Riddle were all present when the chairman invited their thoughts at an Elland Road meeting. When Bates heard their responses he got up and left. The 75-year-old might not have liked the prediction but it proved prophetic. With 11 matches remaining Leeds are anchored to the foot of the Championship, four points adrift of safety and facing the sobering and embarrassing prospect of starting next season outside of the top two divisions for the first time in their history. Indeed it is difficult to believe that six years ago next week Leeds, blazing a trail across Europe, lost by the odd goal in five to Real Madrid at the Bernabéu. The days when the club reached the Champions League semi-final and challenged for the Premiership continue to cast a shadow over Elland Road, with former players still being paid courtesy of Peter Ridsdale's crass generosity. That financial burden weighed heavily even before the parachute payments came to an end last summer, although Ridsdale cannot carry the can for all the failings since. Leeds, after all, appeared in the throes of recovery before this season. Blackwell's side were 90 minutes from the Premiership last May until Watford triumphed 3-0. "We got to the play-off [final], seemed settled and were looking forward to a couple of additions but it hasn't developed and you can't blame Ridsdale for that," said Ray Fell, the chairman of the Leeds United supporters' club. "We have got over that stage. The finances, whether they are right or wrong, is not what's keeping us at the bottom." Fell praises Bates for "saving the club" when he took over 13 months ago but admits he had hoped for more investment last summer. Some 13 players departed in the wake of the Watford defeat, including the club's talisman, Rob Hulse. It was that exodus, together with the lack of replacements, which prompted Blackwell's backroom team to express concerns about this season. When Dennis Wise was appointed in October it was no longer their problem. Bates' decision to turn to Wise was no surprise given their long-term friendship - he is godfather to his son - but there has been little change in the results. Wise took over with Leeds in 23rd position and goes into the Yorkshire derby against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday one place lower. "I knew it would be difficult," he said following Tuesday's defeat at Birmingham. "You go into it knowing that there were a lot of things that needed to be changed." Like Blackwell he has enjoyed little funding. Wise was forced to wheel and deal in the January transfer window but three of his recruits - Tore Andre Flo, Alan Thompson and Robbie Elliott - have all succumbed to injury. That has made a difficult task even harder although Eddie Gray, the former Leeds manager and player, points out that many supporters believe there remains enough talent in the squad to be much higher in the table. Those sentiments might also have applied to the team that was relegated from the Premiership when Gray was caretaker manager in 2004, suggesting failure has become part of the culture at Elland Road. That side included Mark Viduka, Paul Robinson, Alan Smith, Gary Kelly, Jermaine Pennant and James Milner although Peter Lorimer, Gray's former team-mate and now a director at the club, believes there are no comparisons to be made with their contemporaries. "I look at the team that went down [in 2004] and then we had a lot of highly paid players who were under-achieving and their attitude wasn't right," said Lorimer. "There's no question about the attitude of these guys. They are trying like hell. I haven't missed a game and [the players] are coming off the field every week shattered, having giving us their lot. I don't think these lads are under-achieving, I just think the pressure of the situation makes life very difficult for them." It is understood that Wise did not help the mood a few weeks ago when he caused a furore after the Crystal Palace match with his claims that a player had leaked the line-up. Instead of celebrating a much needed win, the players arrived at the training ground the following Monday to be greeted with a team meeting aimed at finding the culprit, despite the manager earlier suggesting he knew the identity. Leeds have neither won nor scored in any of the four games since. Not that Wise can be held solely responsible. Gray believes "there was a hangover from the Watford game" because of the manner of the defeat and that a slow start to the campaign set the tone for the alarming slide that has ensued. He will not listen to any excuses, though. "We are not bottom of the league for nothing. People can bemoan bad luck and injuries but all clubs suffer from that. We have just not performed well enough." Some could see it coming. _______________________________________________ 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 maybe if I can work out a reason I can get home
