Mighty Leeds Weblog

Yorkshire Post 29/6/12 By Phil Hay The update on investment issued by Leeds United on Tuesday predicted that due diligence carried out by prospective buyers of the club would be a “fairly straightforward process”. United’s board might foresee no obvious sticking points but their confidence under-played the nature of the work taken on by lawyers acting for the purchasers. According to one specialist, due diligence on a club and a company as large as Leeds amounts to a “painstaking root-and-branch review” of every ounce of paperwork at Elland Road. Richard Cramer, an expert in sports law with Front Row Legal, told the YEP earlier this week that confirmation of an exclusivity period granted to the unnamed party bidding to take control of Leeds implied that a deal had been agreed in principle and was perhaps as far forward as “90 per cent done”. But Cramer has played down the assumption that a takeover at Elland Road is effectively a formality with due diligence underway, describing

LUST Chairman Gary Cooper on Radio Leeds re the takeover Well that was a very positive interview. Gary was pushed on name twice but didn't budge however alluded to many rumours are most probably accurate re middle east take over. Could this be a take over of Man City proportions he was asked. When this comes of Leeds fans should/could dare to dream. When asked if it could be today he said he expects next week. Always has but it could be anytime now, he wouldn't be surprised so to speak!!! This is great great news and far too positive for any othe outcome but complete takeover and very very soon!

Tweets 13m Phil Hay ‏@PhilHayYEP At the moment I've got no firm indication of when #lufc takeover will be formally sealed and announced but it's very close. 56m Phil Hay ‏@PhilHayYEP The takeover at #lufc appears to be reaching its end-game. I understand that the deal with a group from the Middle East is all but done

The Scratching Shed 26/6/12 Takeover: Exclusivity Period Granted – Statement After almost a month of uncharacteristic radio silence, Leeds’ official website has today announced that it has granted a period of exclusivity for a potential “investor” to carry out due diligence: Further to our previous statement of the 29th May, Leeds United can confirm they have granted an exclusivity period to enable a potential investor to carry out the appropriate due diligence. It is anticipated this will be a fairly straightforward process. A confidentiality clause prevents the club from making any further comment. However, our discussions with them have left us very comfortable that they have the financial resources to support the club and that they will have no issues in satisfying the requirements of the Football League’s Owners and Directors Test, unlike many of the previous approaches we have had to endure. This comes a week after the Leeds United Supporters Trust called for fans to be kep

leedsunited.com 26/6/12 Further to our previous statement of the 29th May, Leeds United can confirm they have granted an exclusivity period to enable a potential investor to carry out the appropriate due diligence. It is anticipated this will be a fairly straightforward process. A confidentiality clause prevents the club from making any further comment. However, our discussions with them have left us very comfortable that they have the financial resources to support the club and that they will have no issues in satisfying the requirements of the Football League's Owners and Directors Test, unlike many of the previous approaches we have had to endure. We will not be making any further announcements in the near future.

The Scratching Shed 21/6/12 ...which was not as R-rated as you might imagine, though Gary Cooper’s eyes did light up momentarily at the mention of custard. The Leeds United Supporters Trust held another meeting on Wednesday evening and ended up discussing (predictably) mostly the proposed takeover of Leeds United. LUST revealed some basic information about the interested parties they have spoken to, explained their decision to agree to pass on players’ disillusionment to the fans, and updated members on the various legal proceedings currently leeching Leeds United of money. Brick Walls LUST were asked when the last time they had had meaningful contact with the Club’s board was. Gary Cooper responded: The last meaningful contact I had with the Leeds United Board was when Mr Harvey kindly told us he would only sell tickets to whoever he wished to. Other than that, was probably Mr. Bates’ last diatribe about the club where he called us “rude” “ignorant” and… “a camel”. I’m not sure

leedsunited.com 20/6/12 Paul Green joins up with United... Derby County midfielder Paul Green has agreed a deal to join Leeds United on July 1. The 29-year-old has agreed a two-year contract and will formally join up with the club at the start of next month. Paul follows Adam Drury and Jason Pearce into the club as Neil Warnock's summer recruitment drive steps up a gear and becomes the club's third signing of the summer. The Republic of Ireland international, Paul came on as a substitute in the Euro 2012 game against Spain last week, has a wealth of experience and joins the club after making over 140 appearances for Derby County following a four-year stint at Pride Park. Ironically, the Pontefract-born midfielder joined Derby from Doncaster, his final appearance for Rovers coming in the 2008 League One Play-Off final against Leeds at Wembley. United boss Neil Warnock said: "Paul is another player I've been after for a long time, but obviously he was called up

leedsunited.com 19/6/12 Norwich City defender Adam Drury has agreed a deal to join Leeds United from July 1. The experienced left back will join on a two-year contract next month after agreeing a deal to become Neil Warnock's second signing of the summer. The 33-year-old, who was rewarded with a testimonial match against Celtic at Carrow Road in May, arrives with a wealth of experience, having made over 350 appearances for the Canaries. Adam was a member of the Norwich side which won back to back promotions from League One to the Premier League and he made 16 appearances last term, the majority coming in the second half of the campaign. Adam is out of contract at Norwich this summer and the United manager says he is delighted to welcome the left back to his squad. "From July 1 he will be our player and he's a player I've looked at for many years," said the boss. "He's a very good professional. I think he's a good defender, he's quick and I

Yorkshire Evening Post 19/6/12 By Leon Wobschall Neil Warnock was back at his desk at Leeds United today and has reiterated his desire to press ahead with his recruitment programme – with the start of pre-season just over a fortnight away. The United chief flew into Yorkshire from the south-west yesterday with a stack of business to attend to between now and the big kick-off, with United having signed just one player, Jason Pearce, since the end of last term. Warnock is keen to get moving on the transfer front and is working this week on getting a couple of potential Bosman signings finalised. He also wants to bring in at least four signings who would cost fees to bolster his squad ahead of the new Championship campaign and is keen to make progress on that front. Warnock said: “I’m going along working as hard as I can now and we know we need players. I think the club know I need help and they are trying to do it. Only time will tell. “I know I’ve got to do a lot of work betwee

Yorkshire Evening Post 15/6/12 By Gary Walker First, the good news. Neil Warnock is back from holiday and, despite plenty of rumours and counter rumours to the contrary, is still manager of Leeds United. And that fact, set alongside the Elland Road club’s confirmation that “talks were taking place regarding investment for the long-term future”, may just offer Whites fans the greatest encouragement yet that this summer could herald a brave new dawn for their club. The silence, as I said last week, since United’s May 29 announcement may well have been deafening but the eternal optimist in me, bolstered it must be said by Warnock’s actions, gets the feeling that it may yet prove to be golden. Why hasn’t the club put out a follow-up statement? Is it a Canadian, American or Kuwaiti takeover? Or is it, as I suggested last week, just a multi-million pound stadium rights naming? Another week and the same questions keep pouring in from Leeds supporters anxious for some news, any news about

The Scratching Shed 15/6/12 The already giant financial gulf between Premier League and The Championship will get a whole lot bigger when the new Premier League TV deal comes into effect at the start of the 2013-14 season. With most analysts predicting a levelling-off of the fee paid for English football, the 70% price rise for domestic broadcasting rights came as a huge shock to many. Under the current deal, Sky and ESPN pay £1.8bn to show Premier League football from 2010-2013. This time around, Sky & BT will pay an incredible £3bn to show three seasons of top flight action. The FA Premier League chairman Richard Scudamore put this into context as he revealed an extra £14m per season would be the absolute minimum each club could expect to receive. All this, and the sale of overseas rights is still to come. Sporting Intelligence predicts that the overall figure could reach £6bn and that the winners of the Premier League in 2013-14 could be looking at a windfall of £120m – almo

Yorkshire Post 15/6/12 LEEDS manager Neil Warnock today brushed aside fresh speculation on his future at Elland Road. Warnock moved to squash rumours that were circulating yesterday morning that he would leave the club this week. But his plans to dramatically shake up United’s squad are effectively on hold as discussions take place on possible injections of funding. Warnock is thought to be frustrated after failing to transfer in more players. so far his haul totals only Jason Pearce in early May. He flew out to Monaco for lengthy discussions with Leeds chairman Ken Bates on Wednesday. Warnock said: “The main thing I’m concentrating on is the squad and what we can do to strengthen. “I know what I’m looking to achieve before the start of the season to give us the opportunity of finishing as high as we can and that process is ongoing.” Leeds are in the market for QPR goalkeeper Paddy Kenny, Derby’s Paul Green and Leicester full-back Lee Peltier.

Yorkshire Evening Post 13/6/12 By Leon Wobschall Leeds United are in pole position to sign Leicester City defender Lee Peltier – and could finalise the deal later this month. Bringing in a new right-back is a big priority for United boss Neil Warnock, after missing out on the signing of Joel Ward, who joined Championship rivals Crystal Palace for £400,000 at the end of May. Despite being a regular for City last term and playing in all but six of their Championship fixtures, the East Midlands outfit are willing to sell Peltier, who only joined the club for £750,000 from Huddersfield Town last summer. Sources close to the player suggest a deal could even be completed as early as next week, although it is more likely that United won’t complete any move until towards the end of this month. Peltier’s former club Huddersfield have also been linked with a move, but it appears Leeds are winning the race to sign him. Earlier this month, it was reported that Leicester would be seeking to

Yorkshire Evening Post 11/6/12 By Phil Hay Aidan White will request a final meeting with Leeds United in a bid to clarify his future as interest in the winger’s signature grows. Representatives of the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international are to push for a decision on White’s fate with his contract at Elland Road due to expire in less than three weeks’ time. Negotiations over a new deal have reached an impasse, with White unlikely to accept Leeds’ most recent proposal and United reluctant to improve their offer to him, and he is poised to push ahead with the search for a new club. German side Werder Bremen and French outfit Lille were strongly linked with White last week and the YEP understands that other overseas clubs have expressed an interest in him. Leeds will receive compensation if White leaves Elland Road but clubs outside England have the security of incurring a fixed sum decided by a clear FIFA formula. English sides would be forced to agree compensation through a

LUST 8/6/12 Leeds United Supporters' Trust have been speaking with sources close to the players at Leeds United, as frustration grows among fans over the lack of progress on transfers, the current takeover talks, and yesterday's embarrassing court case. They have told us that the players are as disillusioned and disheartened as the fans at the moment, feeling undervalued by the club and totally frustrated by the lack of ambition Leeds United are showing. Many players have read and fully agree with the aims of L.U.S.T.'s Vision Statement, and want us to get their views out on their behalf. Our sources say that players fear if they speak their minds openly and publicly at the moment they could be left to rot in the reserves, or be sold to clubs they have no interest in playing for. They are anxious, however, that Leeds supporters should know how they are feeling. We've been told that the players are passionate and committed about bringing success to Leeds United. They

The Square Ball 7/6/12 As soon as we heard the appeal on Yorkshire Radio for fans to contact the club if they knew the whereabouts of Melvyn Levi, we knew we were heading for trouble. Ken Bates had already lost a libel case to Levi, costing £50,000 in damages and an estimated £1.5million in costs. It was no surprise that the ‘Levi-watch’ bulletin – which, it has been revealed in the judgement, Yorkshire Radio considered broadcasting along with the Crimewatch theme – along with comments in Ken’s programme notes, ended up with a court case against Bates, Leeds United and Yorkshire Radio for harassment of Melvyn Levi and his wife, Carole. It was no real surprise, either, that Ken Bates substantially lost the case. His Honour Judge Gosnell has ruled that Bates, LUFC, and Yorkshire Radio’s actions did constitute harassment of Melvyn Levi but not of Carole Levi. The judge ruled that Mrs Levi, while clearly affected by the harassment of her husband, was not its target. They were targete

Yorkshire Post 6/6/12 LEEDS United chairman Ken Bates has been ordered to pay £10,000 to ex-director Melvyn Levi who sued him for harassment. Mr Bates has also been gagged for two years from speaking about Mr Levi’s personal life. Mr Levi and his wife Carole claimed they suffered stress as a result of announcements on the club radio station allegedly likening Mr Levi to a criminal on the run. They also claimed comments made by Mr Bates in his match day programme notes amounted to speculation over the state of their marriage. Mr Levi was awarded £10,000 in compensation at Leeds County Court but his wife’s claim failed. Judge Mark Gosnell said: “Mr Levi has succeeded in his claim and has been awarded £10,000 and Mrs Levi’s claim has failed.” The judge issued an injunction restraining Mr Bates from commenting on Mr and Mrs Levi’s private and personal life, for two years. But the Leeds chairman is allowed to mention the on-going commercial dispute between the two, known as the “Jers

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