Leeds United: The Sound Of Silence
Article by Jeremy TaylorAnd so anticipation builds into concern, then frustration, before intensifying further into anger until finally we descend into sheer farce. It’s becoming the Leeds United way. Just over three weeks ago Sport Capital was on the verge of moving in to the boardroom and Brian McDermott was eagerly eyeing the transfer window like a hungry predator, waiting to pounce.
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Who’d have thought that as we approach the last week of January we’d in fact be in the midst of yet another takeover based media-fog, where the only shred of credible information comes in the form of a bizarre cross between Silvio Berlusconi and Tom Jones; an Italian businessman with a reputation for building dodgy stadiums, sacking coaches quicker that he smokes a packet of fags and serenading the fans of Cagliari FC with his guitar. You literally couldn’t write it.
If reports are correct, we’ll have gone from a deranged, narcissistic megalomaniac to an Islamist bank to an Italian known as the King of Corn all in the space of two years. Regardless of what is truly happening behind the scenes, as usual the silence is deafening at Elland Road. There has been no official word for nearly two weeks on what conversations are happening, what the problem is and what’s being done towards a solution. As fans we literally have no idea what kind of football club we’ll be by February 1st.
There are different theories being suggested as to what is actually going on and it’s easy to speculate when there are very little clues. However, looking at the present morsels of information we have, the potential scenario that makes the most sense is the prospect of Cellino’s interest being a part of Sport Capital’s consortium as opposed to an alternative to it. I’ll explain…
It’s been reported that Cellino and his assistant have met with Mr Haigh and Mr Flowers in London for talks; something that has been confirmed by both parties. Why would rival bidders meet for talks? Surely the only people they’d want to talk to would be GFH if they were entering the bidding independently? Whatever the spanner in the works was, it seemed to happen sometime around the end of last week, around the time that reports of Mr Cellino first surfaced. Is he the reason the takeover has stalled?
There are different possibilities as to why GFH would be unhappy with his involvement, but I suspect they would be financial rather than anything fundamental to do with the Banks ethical codes. Or is he the reason the Football League are dragging their heels? Others have suggested the dispute is over the £6m that Sport Capital invested but I can’t imagine this is the case. Who hands over £6m to a club that doesn’t belong to them without watertight conditions, agreed terms and firm guidelines in place?
Whatever the truth is, and it will come out in the end for sure, someone needs to come out and make a statement. Whether it’s David Haigh, Salah Nooruddin, or even Mr Cellino himself; it doesn’t matter. Brian McDermott must be beyond bewildered at what is happening. Let’s forget reports suggesting Cellino’s second move (the first being to replace Paddy Kenny) is to show him the door. We can only hope this is a fabrication from the media, as removing Brian McDermott from his post would be incredibly harsh and foolish in equal measure.
The only clear fact in this shambles of a situation is that the silence cannot be allowed continue much longer. The team and the performances on the pitch are what matter most right now and they need support, solidarity and focus. We’ve been through a very tough month and if we’re going to come out of it and get back to positive performances then this needs putting to bed. I’m hoping, like the rest of us, that there is news sooner rather than later. Us Leeds fans can take just about any eventuality – we’ve seen it all before. The only thing that cannot be washed down with a pint or two is unadulterated silence.
To echo Gary Cooper’s comments, it must stop now.
@jezaldinho
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It is interesting that a statement can be released quickly to reject the offer for Ross but nothing on the status of the takeover. The sceptic in me believes that this was so Wet Spam could up the ante and offer a price that was acceptable to the bean counters rather than a statement of intent that we would never sell our best asset at a time when we need him most. All in all the fans are being taken for mugs once more and there will come a time very soon when most will have had enough and vote with their feet. The end of the transfer window will no doubt come and go with no signings but we will be expected to be rally to the cause. I for one have just about come to the limit of my disillusionment.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely agree Leeds fan for nearly 50 years and the club treats us with contempt while expecting us to be loyal forever
DeleteAgree with the above. 'Long suffering' doesn't even begin to describe the average Leeds fan, Its the same old same old come every transfer window - shit signings (if any) and smoke screen and mirrors around the complete lack of serious investment needed to get us even a sniff of promotion. Every transfer window comes and goes and we watch all the other clubs around us with promotion as a prospect, buying up the half decent available players. while we sit on our hands blinded by spin and bollocks as another takeover saga gets blamed for our lack of ambition. We seem to be stuck in a tailspin of bollocks that we can't or won't remove ourselves from. It's boring.
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