After nearly two months of silence, in which we all dared to hope of a future without Ken Bates, it now looks like he will be with us for the start of the season and probably beyond. Foolish of us to think otherwise; this is a man that seems to be clinging on with everything he’s got to try and stay in football, why I do not know. We all know Ken Bates loves to be hated but one thing he loves more than that is money; the takeover was a chance for him to run off with the cash and live a life of stress-free, luxury. A statement from the club was vague but did say that it wanted Leeds to be in “safe hands” which seems to be an indirect dig at the potential buyers who they seem to think are unsuitable and not well placed to take Leeds forward.My guess and probably the most universally popular one, is that Ken Bates tried to swing a bit more money in his direction, I am no takeover expert, I don’t have a clue what goes on behind the scenes but what I do know is that our Ken must have done something to upset our overseas buyers as I am almost certain they had the funds otherwise this wouldn’t have been dragged out as long as it has been.
From what I have read, they are still willing to negotiate which is good but how for how long they stay willing is anyone’s guess. What concerned me the most though is Warnock transfer listing two players who have featured regularly through pre-season, hours after the takeover was rumoured to have collapsed. This is worrying because Warnock has said recently his squad is very small and that he needs more squad players, so why transfer list two a few days later!? This is no coincidence in my eyes, the collapse of the takeover has left Warnock stranded in regards to bringing in new players and that he needs to sell squad players to improve his first team. Billy Paynter is rumoured to be close to leaving and a few clubs are said to be tracking Paul Connolly, albeit on loan, however this doesn’t seem to be enough for Warnock to be able to purchase who he wants.
Rumours that we were trying to sign Craig Mackail-Smith were probably impeding on the takeover as Brighton were very unlikely to sell him cheap. Put it this way; Warnock thought Lee Peltier was out of his price range, he was signed for a rumoured 700-800k. There is no chance of us paying 1 possibly 2 million for a player now!!
I do feel sorry for Pugh and especially Rogers. Rogers has had little chance to impress initially with injuries and seemed to get a full pre-season in and days before the season is set to start him and Pugh have been told they can find a new club! If they were not in Warnock’s plans then surely they would have been transfer listed at the end of last season like the rest!? Time and time again the Leeds United board always seem to find new ways of damaging the clubs reputation, annoying the fans, frustrating the manager and messing around the players.
With Warnock now desperate for a couple of new players he has been forced to transfer list and no doubt, unsettle two current players. This news has not come at a good time for Leeds with their first competitive game only a couple of days away, it looks like our new signings first experience of playing for Leeds at Elland Road will be greeted with a few choruses of “Bates Out”.
Article by Daniel Howard