Is it time for change? ‏

By Keith Ingham

The season is over, thank god!. Another mid table finish and more embarrassing events off the field that sometimes make you wonder why season after season we continue to support a football team that although has wonderful young players, an honest bloke working under not the best circumstances and some of the most loyal supporters in the entire football league, still to the outside world looks like a 'car crash' lurching from one bad owner to another.

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With the likes of AFC Wimbledon and FC United doing quite well I ask is it time for Leeds to get back to basics and the city of Leeds to have a second football team. Crazy, idiotic etc I hear you say but with the success of other fans dreams becoming reality is it time that if we, the supporters can't buy into the club they so love then is it time to think about starting a new club with supporters and not businessmen in suits at the fore.

I understand that if you look at the team at the moment there is talent aplenty, with the likes of Lewis Cook, Alex Mowatt, Sam Byram, Charlie Taylor and Kalvin Phillips to mention a few and more underneath ready to claim the cherished white shirt. But if these young stars are sold and we are left with foreign players with no real idea what it's like to be Leeds. The youngster's do understand it and where do you go if this continues year after year, player after player. Do we continue to go in our thousands like lemmings in the hope that one year it eventually stops happening.

When the fans initiative started it asked fans to contribute at £100 per person so that they could raise ten million to buy a part of the club from the current holders of a rumoured twenty five percent from GFH or whoever holds part shares. Would it not be better to try as Leeds Ladies have,  a secure base and see if with public support they can build something their fans can be proud of. It may be a far fetched ambition but if it's the only way forward maybe it's worth a moment of thought.

The main obstacle is whether fans like myself would walk away from the present club and not return, it would be hard to imagine not walking down Revie Way anymore. There is nothing in life that is like supporting a team as we feel duty bound to stick by them through good times and bad. I've seen the good and enjoyed it but I need to see a future I actually believe in. If Leeds United are to be successful they need at the highest level to show the people that pay their money that they will protect and nurture talent instead of selling it to the highest bidder. A little respect from them wouldn't go amiss too.

I love my club but there comes a point when your affection is tested and to be honest the time is drawing near. Another mid table finish or worse beckons if no 'quality' signings are made this summer and the inspirational youth sold on before they blossom into players this club could build a team around. I've seen David Batty, Alan Smith, James Milner, Fabian Delph to mention a few, developed into extremely good players and play for country but all moved to pastures new when money offers came in for them. This trend has to end.

This isn't a 'rant' it's a honest look on how I see the future and a possible alternative, other clubs fans have said 'enough is enough' and although it must have taken brave people to do it, their labours are there for all to see. Leeds deserves a team to be proud as a peacock about.