Official 2013-14 Football League Thread

[UK0wnag3]

Re: Official 2013-14 Football League Thread

We had 3 years in League 1, so I know how weird that league is. Looking back, I still don't know how we didn't get promoted earlier. Our front 6 in our promotion season was this:

Beckford - Becchio

Gradel - Howson - Johnson - Snodgrass

And the year before that we sold Fabian Delph. Such an awkward league.

I'd say the feeling round Leeds would be one of the FA not really caring. I have huge amounts of sympathy for teams like Coventry and Portsmouth, but they're being sacrificed for the "greatest league in the world". Add to that sacrifice being the national team. There's one of the better articles here about Cellino and the whole goings on.

If the FA really did care, they'd come out and say there's no way Cellino can be a fit and proper person and nip his bid in the bud. But I imagine they've had some £££ thrown their way and they're happy to turn a blind eye.

[Anners]

Re: Official 2013-14 Football League Thread

If the FA really did care, they'd come out and say there's no way Cellino can be a fit and proper person and nip his bid in the bud. But I imagine they've had some £££ thrown their way and they're happy to turn a blind eye.

This may (and probably will) come across as arrogant, but in a way the FA may be happy there's a guy with cash throwing his money at Leeds. We're the biggest club in Yorkshire and that's a huge market that hasn't been tested properly in the "new era" of sorts (I'm defining this as post 2005 or 2006).

I give McDermott a month in the job though. Which will piss Leeds fans off again as although we were on a bad run of form, he buys into what is being Leeds. Probably the best club manager we've had for a long time.

[UK0wnag3]

Re: Official 2013-14 Football League Thread

This may (and probably will) come across as arrogant, but in a way the FA may be happy there's a guy with cash throwing his money at Leeds. We're the biggest club in Yorkshire and that's a huge market that hasn't been tested properly in the "new era" of sorts (I'm defining this as post 2005 or 2006).

I give McDermott a month in the job though. Which will piss Leeds fans off again as although we were on a bad run of form, he buys into what is being Leeds. Probably the best club manager we've had for a long time.

Arrogance from a Leeds fan? Say it ain't so! (JK).

You've probably got a point, but when a fraudster is allowed to buy a club then I'm left wondering how you could ever fail a fit and proper person test.

I've always liked McDermott as well, good championship manager. Not convinced he's any good at Premier League level though.

[UK0wnag3]

Re: Official 2013-14 Football League Thread

Up bright and early to get a coach down to Oldham.

First away day in a while, let's do it!

[Anners]

Re: Official 2013-14 Football League Thread

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...even-keel.html

Leeds’ finances are complicated but if the club could be bought from GFH and Cellino for, say, almost £30 million, the new owners would then need at least £25 million to reclaim Elland Road and Thorp Arch.

Although rising every October, a figure of around £15 million is the current buy-back fee for Elland Road under the agreement with Teak Commercial Limited, the ground’s ownersbased in the British Virgin Islands.

The exclusivity of the Thorp Arch buyback arrangement for £6 million expired in 2009, so a price anywhere north of £10 million could be commanded by the owner Jacob Adler, the Manchester businessman.

The sums become more confusing. Losses are reported at around £1 million a month. Then throw in a £10 million summer transfer budget, perhaps making savings with some of the older, better-paid players on an annual wage bill of £15 million

Any new owner is looking at an outlay of up to £90 million in the first year to take over a 13th-placed Championship club and give it a chance of promotion next season.

[orion523]

Re: Official 2013-14 Football League Thread

Haven't posted here in a while, but I can't say enough about the job Stuart Gray has done since taking over Sheffield Wednesday back in early December. When Dave Jones was sacked after the loss to Blackpool we were bottom of the table with 11 points, since then we've gone 10-4-7 in the league, bringing us up to 15th, 13 points clear of relegation. We smashed Leeds 6-0, and had a nice FA Cup run falling one game shy of a trip to Wembley(and a Steel City derby). We need to keep it going though, Brighton today, Watford Saturday both at Hillsborough followed by trips to Leicester City and Forest will be stern tests.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: Official 2013-14 Football League Thread

I see that Pompey's manager has left with 5 matches remaining and the club 2 points above dropping out of the Football League altogether. This is a club that finished 14th in the EPL in 08-09. Sad what happens to some of these clubs when they are taken over by an owner whose finances are a house of cards.

[Anners]

Re: Official 2013-14 Football League Thread

Haven't posted here in a while, but I can't say enough about the job Stuart Gray has done since taking over Sheffield Wednesday back in early December. When Dave Jones was sacked after the loss to Blackpool we were bottom of the table with 11 points, since then we've gone 10-4-7 in the league, bringing us up to 15th, 13 points clear of relegation. We smashed Leeds 6-0, and had a nice FA Cup run falling one game shy of a trip to Wembley(and a Steel City derby). We need to keep it going though, Brighton today, Watford Saturday both at Hillsborough followed by trips to Leicester City and Forest will be stern tests.

Everyone's smashed us since January. I've just read this tweet:

"In 2014 <s>#</s>lufc have lost to Rochdale, been whacked 6-0, 5-1, 4-2 & 4-1, sacked & restored a manager and had two failed takeovers. It's March."

I've always had a lot of sympathy for Pompey because we are still pretty much in the same position. However, at this point, I'd take their ownership structure (fan owned) and position instead of what is going on at Leeds now. We've got a good chance of going into administration before the end of the season, so relegation is a real possibility.

[gerg1234]

Re: Official 2013-14 Football League Thread

Leeds only paying 50% of wages now. I didn't realize it was that bad there.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

[Anners]

Re: Official 2013-14 Football League Thread

Leeds only paying 50% of wages now. I didn't realize it was that bad there.

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None of the staff have been paid, only players. And as you said, only 50% of that. We're ****ed. Again!

Over the past 15 or so years, we've gone from bad owner to bad owner. Leeds and stability will be two words you will never see used in a sentence, apart from this one!

We will most likely be going into administration at some point this season, which will take us down to 37 points, 5 clear of the relegation zone. Our current form is 3 wins in the past 18, so if we do get points deducted, I wouldn't be surprised if we get relegated.

[Suntan Superman]

Re: Official 2013-14 Football League Thread

None of the staff have been paid, only players. And as you said, only 50% of that. We're ****ed. Again!

Over the past 15 or so years, we've gone from bad owner to bad owner. Leeds and stability will be two words you will never see used in a sentence, apart from this one!

We will most likely be going into administration at some point this season, which will take us down to 37 points, 5 clear of the relegation zone. Our current form is 3 wins in the past 18, so if we do get points deducted, I wouldn't be surprised if we get relegated.

Here's to hoping you don't end up like Portsmouth.

[Anners]

Re: Official 2013-14 Football League Thread

Following on from a phonecall with Ken Bates he broadcast live on air Saturday night, a user of the Leeds United messageboard WACCOE managed to get hold of Massimo Cellino’s phone number, recording a 22 minute conversation with the Italian in which the prospective Leeds United owner labelled David Haigh “the devil” and accused him of attempted blackmail, described the current Leeds United side as the worst football team he’s ever seen and criticised Brian McDermott for spending too much time moaning and not enough time coaching.

On David Haigh, Cellino said “he’s a son of a b***h, dangerous, a f***ing devil” adding claims that he’s working in cahoots with Ken Bates, who still maintains some control over Leeds United Football Club.

Read more: http://www.thescratchingshed.com/201...#ixzz2xWtViPky

We should be a reality tv show. I honestly don't know what to expect next, I thought I'd seen it all! All this came out at about 11.30pm last night. It doesn't even matter what day or what time it is with Leeds United these days, it's all going on!

[Anners]

Re: Official 2013-14 Football League Thread

This week on Leeds TV:

- An appeal from Cellino for his takeover has been heard (Monday), but the result hasn't yet been given. This is vital for our future, yet the result keeps being delayed. Few journalists saying the result could come during our game tomorrow v Wigan. Seriously, reality TV show stuff.

- Cellino and another consortium have now decided to work together. Together Leeds, who GFH (current owners) seem to hate, and Cellino are now together.

- We have not paid our tax today, which is roughly £600k-£800k (over $1m). We've been given 2 weeks to pay or we will face a winding up petition, which for those who don't know, would mean we would face liquidation.

If the result is given during the game tomorrow it should be "fun". I might take a few pictures on my phone if that happens, as I imagine it could get quite interesting. It's on TV tomorrow, but it's a 12.15pm kick off here.

[orion523]

Re: Official 2013-14 Football League Thread

Congrats on the decision Anners. Hopefully you guys can get your house in order.

[Anners]

Re: Official 2013-14 Football League Thread

Congrats on the decision Anners. Hopefully you guys can get your house in order.

It's not over yet. This was a quote from one of the journalists in Leeds that covers the club:

What is important to note is that it is not clear whether Cellino was dishonest or reckless because the reasoned judgement of the Italian court has not yet been published. What that means is that Cellino could be subject to a disqualifying condition when the judgement is published and the judge's reasons are discovered.

That leaves it open for the Football League to come back in a few months time and kick Cellino out again. Counsel for the Football League indicated that they would do this. They argued this was one reason to deny the appeal.

A lot of Leeds fans are celebrating but this is far from over. I'm just relieved we're not going into administration. All I've known supporting Leeds is financial trouble and very dodgy owners. I just wish we had a year that didn't have some sort of scandal or not selling off one of our best players.