By Mark Rasdall![]() United. Together. In agreement. One voice. One mission. I was thinking about what United meant in the context of Leeds United - our club - this morning, particularly amid rumours of a forthcoming announcement on the takeover (or not). There are two clues to the subject of this post in the first two paragraphs. While all of the words in the first might be synonyms of United, the last two could be ambiguous. We, the loyal supporters, sing and chant with one voice, home and away, passionately and with a single faith which is that we are going to see our team win. There is debate and criticism of course and we are entitled to enter into that too. If I don't think a player will run himself into the ground for Leeds United I am always going to say so. I do get behind the team at matches and I always want the team to win and for players to improve (if anyone can help to achieve this it is Neil Warnock). I tried to be optimistic about Jermaine Wright who just flattered to deceive and Tresor Kandol who was lazy, lumbering and possibly the worst centre forward ever to appear for Leeds. I may will them to get better and be key parts of a winning LUFC team (it is never, ever personal) but sometimes gut feelings are the ones to go with and no amount of support and encouragement can ultimately prove you wrong (sadly). Years ago I was encouraged to support Gary Sprake through his temperamental phases and I kept the faith until the very end but even the great Don Revie questioned his own judgement on choice of goalkeeper in the end. Sadly Don is no longer with us and this is the real point I am making. We are all running out of time. I can just remember the 1966 World Cup and, as England set off on the trail again on Friday I am already wondering whether I'll ever see us win it again. I first came into the Leeds United story in 1967 when we lost the FA Cup semi final to Chelsea, despite scoring two late 'goals' which were shamefully disallowed. Obviously 1970 (back to Gary!) cemented my conviction that Chelsea truly were the enemy, to be annihilated whenever possible ("wash your mouth out son..."). There have been many, many fabulous victories and great days since those early times but I don't know how many years I may have left to see Leeds United at the top of the pile once again. Faith and patience are always rewarded, but sometimes not in the ways we expect, or not in the timeframes we all live in. And so to Ken Bates. As you know I too worried about his Chelsea roots and, like Brian Clough before him, his criticism of Leeds in the past. I felt exactly the same about Dennis Wise. But Ken saved our club from financial ruin and his programme notes are fantastic. He has looked at non-matchday income generation and cut costs which were a legacy of previous 'keep the faith' financial regimes. He has looked after his investment, and rightly so. You or I would do exactly the same if in his lucky position. The problem is that the rescue phase has just morphed into a maintenance phase on the field when it should have included much more team development, as well as club infrastructure development. The balance has been insufficient in investment terms to give us the quality of player to take us to the next level. We are worrying already about injuries and a very small squad compared to many other Championship sides. If the takeover does not happen and Ken does not change this investment balance then we will not develop beyond a certain point in the Championship. The passion showed so far against teams like Blackburn and Blackpool (with their Premier League parachute payments and quality squads) has been fantastic and the organization of the team under Neil's guidance has, I think, given us a real foundation for success. It would be a real shame if that foundation is not built upon or, and this is a real worry too, an outside investor comes in and just saddles us with debt, buying in expensive reputation rather than commitment and reliability. Whatever happens today or next week or next year, I just want to see good players playing with passion and running themselves into the ground for Leeds United. I want to look forward to a winning FA Cup run, another league title and a European win to wipe out 1975 for ever and the cheating Italians of 1973. But I want to see it, experience it, be part of it. It doesn't have the same effect for me, knowing that corporate entertainment in a new East Stand box is for the greater good of the club. I know that it is hugely valuable and I welcome it but it's not why I joined. With a bit more financial and technical investment in the team itself I think we can go back to the very top and I'm actually quite optimistic despite all the uncertainty and you know why? Because the club already has investment - a huge investment every year until we can no longer walk down Elland Road. Because we are the investors and our passion and loyalty will always lead our hands into our pockets to help the team to move forward on the pitch where secretly we'd all like to be. We're Leeds United and we do give a f***. "
29 Comments
Richard Carter
5/9/2012 09:11:13 pm
Excellent balanced piece and a refreshing change from many blogs. MOT
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Rex
5/9/2012 09:20:06 pm
You are deluded,
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reddo
5/9/2012 09:49:34 pm
You son are spot on, pity not everyone sees it like us, i started well before 1967, my first match i could harly see cos i was too small and I've loved leeds since, but i wont be going again till Bates is out.
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kmcg1958
6/9/2012 04:32:42 am
here here mate, agree with you totally, the parasite stole our club by extortion, when it comes to business he is an absolute buffoon playing ''the big I am'' the sooner he admits he's out of his league the better for everyone
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Oztyke
6/9/2012 12:31:14 pm
well said! I was with Mark all the way, until the bit about Ken saving us from financial ruin and how fantastic his program notes are. Ken deliberately added to club debts and DROVE us into financial ruin, and his colourful program notes have landed him in Court on more than one very costly occasion (for the Club, not for Ken of course). And what "investment" is Bates protecting? He's never put a penny of his own money in, without getting a huge dividend (eg his cash liquidity loan in previous accounts), The only things Bates has protected these last seven long years are his convoluted, labyrinthine ownership smokescreen, and his right to broadcast any old cobblers via Yorks Radio and aforementioned matchday notes.
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steven latham
5/9/2012 09:34:41 pm
Very , very good and honest report, THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.!!!
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If Bates cared about Leeds United he would sell up. He does not have the means, financial or otherwise, to take us forward! . I think that he wants to continue his infrastructure projects with gate receipts for the next two years at least. So, you are right - some of the fans will never see Leeds in the top flight again! Bates will do OK when he moves on. He will have gained maximum financial benefit from us and in the meantime, bled the honest fans dry!!
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5/9/2012 10:48:21 pm
Good article. Not the usual Bates Out rubbish. Yes, it's time for Bates to move on ( or start investing significant money in the squad), but Bates is creating a stable financial model for Leeds instead of short term glory. I can't wait for new owners who have serious money to invest in the team. If Bates cannot or will not invest in the team it is time for him to move on even if he has done a lot of good for Leeds.
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Rex
5/9/2012 11:25:57 pm
Clive - 'Bates is creating a stable financial model' - you couldn't be more wrong!
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Tare
5/9/2012 10:54:18 pm
This is really LEEDS UNITED and will be as long as I live. As I have written in these sites top four dogs in British football are gunners, pool, scum and the Mighty Whites. We will get there this very season to challenge these wanna bees. I have never lost my faith because when you support the Whites there has always up and downs literally. Tare
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Sunnyleeds
5/9/2012 11:06:57 pm
Good article and good comments. Leeds support should speak with one voice.
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Bubionwhite
5/9/2012 11:50:02 pm
Unfortunately Sunnyleeds that will never happen ... you only need to read the few comments posted so far to realise that. For the extremist anti-Bates brigade, anyone who dares to disagree with their opinions are "from another planet", "deluded", "on something or other". For those of opposing opinions, who probably want Mr Bates to leave as much as anyone else does, their opinions are different but still fairly entrenched.
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Rex
6/9/2012 12:02:07 am
I don't think I'm extremist anti-Bates, and I do think everyone has a right to there own opinion.
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dave ibbetson
6/9/2012 12:31:37 am
its easy to show a united stand against bates. all fans who no longer go to games because of bates select a home game and all stand outide the ground to show just how much money is lost by the club due to the idiot in charge.the takeover that never was should be used as the chance for us all to say we have had enough.
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Mikey
6/9/2012 12:35:32 am
As much as I hate Bates, I love Leeds alot more and couldn't bare to not support the team... Thats what it is all about. I really don't get the boycotting games things... It may slightly hurt bates in the pocket, but the atmosphere and the team will suffer far more... MOT
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sniffershorts
6/9/2012 12:55:12 am
by far a well balanced artical as others state, not the regular stab at Bates, yes its time to go and we all dispair, I would hope although he wants the best for himself, he wants the best for the club, after all he could all to easily think sod this, easy buck, and sell us up the river.. but we survive in what is probably the best league in the world, we get out this time around under the Warlocks guidance, it will be a due to a master tactition, we have a good squad, get behind em, I see to many empty seats, Ive said it before we do not have a devine right to be in the premiership, with some more cash we can get better players, but look at Wilco 10 million he did it with, but invest and build on this, use the youth, and I to may see the glory days return, I too started following the white in 68/69 its long over due. MOT
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Rex
6/9/2012 01:19:34 am
I watched my first game from the back of the stand at Leeds Road, Huddersfield in 1962 or 3, (can't remember) and I've seen LUFC shoot themselves in the foot so many times, I've lost count.
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Chat rose
6/9/2012 03:48:02 am
Again so many fans argue against boycotting..... Protests won't get rid of bated, going to games and financing him wont. Boycotting will drive leeds into admin which means bates loses the ownership of Leeds united!!'
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John
6/9/2012 04:21:03 am
Give your head a shake, so your plan is to put the club into adminstration by not going to games.. And thats a better option than what we have? Look at Portsmouth having to sell every senior player.. Is that the way we are going to move forward???
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Shane
6/9/2012 04:27:08 am
Portsmouth are being liquidated due to completely different circumstances. Leeds survive 2 admins, one of which Bates put us through himself. Whats your plan then mate ? Wait till Ken bates dies in 20 years ?
John
6/9/2012 04:31:29 am
He's a tight old git who is only interested in profit yes, but I dont beleive for one second that he has some vendetta against the club. My plan is to support the team and not suggest ridiculous things like a mass boycott. Why would he employ Warnock if he wanted us ruined?
reddo
6/9/2012 05:35:39 am
No mate you need to give your head a shake, we are not portsmouth we are leeds, if we go into admin we have buyers there ready and waiting, we are not portsmouth, we boycot it brings it on sooner than later.Bates is an evil man and I still cannot belive there are some on here who think he saved the club, but one day you'll find out the truth, and you'll wonder how you ever fell for it all
John
6/9/2012 05:53:49 am
So we should stop supporting our team and Warnock, boycott the games, get deducted points and possibly get relegated again? Great idea... I am no bates fan, and can't wait for him to go... But surely any true leeds fan would not do this... I would be interested to see how many of these fans suggesting we boycott games actually go to them in the first place
Mark.
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Trev
6/9/2012 04:59:16 am
Erm... It says we do give a f***
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Trev
6/9/2012 05:58:49 am
I think we're all agreed that Bates is a wrong un and nobody wants him here, it's just a matter of biding our time and supporting the team and Warnock the best we can after the magnificent job he has done so far with his hands tied
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Ash
6/9/2012 06:05:59 am
Why is it when people don't agree with the anti bates brigade about boycotting games and other things we all of a sudden become bates lovers. Everyone wants Bates out, all of us!!! It's just some of us love the team more than we hate Bates... For me, my support for the manager and the team won't change.. I will be there every week singing my heart out for the lads and back them every step of the way. That has to be the most important thing, otherwise whats the point? I know I'll probably get slated by a few but when it comes down to it, whats more important? Your love for Leeds or your hatred for Bates?
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Macca
6/9/2012 06:10:18 am
Here here ash. Everyone saying bates wants to destroy the club, by boycotting games we will do that. We're known for our support through up and downs, through thick and thin.. We boycott games he has taken that away from us... Support Warnock and the team, when we all unite we can make the difference... In Warnock and the team I trust.... Stuff Bates...MOT. Nice piece Mark
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