Leeds United

Gray urges fans to back Blackwell
Leeds legend Eddie Gray has called on the club's fans to give Kevin Blackwell time as pressure mounts on the manager after a lacklustre start to the season. Supporters are already calling for Blackwell's sacking, but Gray says there are mitigating circumstances. Gray told Sir Stanley: \"Important players are injured and it's difficult when you budget for them being fit and once the season starts they're unavailable. \"But there's no doubt they can perform a lot better, particularly at home.\" Calls for a sacking five games into a season and three months after a play-off final may seem preposterous, but Gray says it is ever thus at Leeds because of expectation. And the 58-year-old should know. Gray, who starred for Leeds in the club's glory days in the 60s and 70s, has twice managed the club and is a denizen of Elland Road. \"The expectations at the club are very high and managers at Leeds have always had to live with that - it's par for the course,\" the Scot said. \"That will never change because Leeds supporters feel they should be up there in the top flight. \"Fans are not fickle, they are just desperate for success and that puts pressure on everyone at the club. \"It puts pressure on the chairman, the manager and the players. It's a big city with one football club and they want success and success at the highest level.\" Following their last league outing - \"it was a poor game and it wasn't entertaining,\" is Gray's verdict of the defeat to Cardiff - Blackwell's popularity hit a new low. Glenn Hoddle was mentioned in the Sunday newspapers as a replacement, and on the 606 messageboards names such as Alex McLeish, Alan Curbishley and Claudio Ranieri were mentioned. It looks as if Blackwell is the successor to Ranieri's self-proclaimed title of being a dead-man walking. But Gray does not see it that way and says there is a strong bond between the manager and his boss, Ken Bates. \"Everyone assumed when the chairman came in he would do his own thing, but they seem to have struck up a good relationship, he's given Kevin the power to bring players in and things have just gone a bit wrong with the injuries. \"Richard Cresswell got injured when Rob Hulse left the club and Kevin Nicholls got injured as soon as he came to the club. \"Plus Steve Stone's injured and there's Geoff Horsfield, who has been suspended. \"The key is to get the players back and get a settled side, and they need to approach matches at home with more confidence. \"In the Carling Cup against Chester, Blackwell's assistant John Carver said the point they made to the players at half-time was that they needed to be courageous, they needed to make things happen. SO FAR THIS SEASON... Champ: Leeds 1-0 Norwich Champ: QPR 2-2 Leeds Champ: C Palace 1-0 Leeds Champ: Leeds 0-1 Cardiff CC: Leeds 1-0 Chester \"Sometimes that's easier said than done, especially at home when you've got to be able to stand up if you make a mistake and accept it, but it's vital they keep trying to do the right things.\" And it's vital they stay within striking distance of the business end of the table until things settle down and a win at Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday would help on both fronts. Gray always expected Leeds to find it hard this season because of the strength of the teams that came down but he sees no reason why they cannot challenge again. \"You don't want them to get too far adrift of the teams at the top and they are still perfectly capable of getting into the top six,\" he added. \"The fans have a right to express their opinion, the game is all about opinions, but they've played four league games, won one, should have won at QPR and were unfortunate at Crystal Palace where they coped well with 10 men until the last minute. \"There maybe something in the fact that the team are struggling with the pressure of playing at home, but that's part of the make up of the club. \"It's expectation again and you've got to go out and perform there because basically if you're going to go up you're going to do it at home. \"You'll pick points up away from home but that won't get you promoted, you have to win the majority of your home games and that's what the players have to learn to live with. \"The football has not been great, attendances have been average, but it's not all doom and gloom.\"

Sheffield Wed 0-1 Leeds
Leeds beat 10-man Sheffield Wednesday thanks to a David Healy penalty. On-loan goalkeeper Brad Jones was sent off for bringing down Healy, who got up to place a precise shot past substitute keeper Chris Adamson. Leeds were the better side after the break, but the Owls, with better luck, might have been ahead at half-time. Deon Burton missed two good chances, Chris Brunt had a free-kick that was well saved by Tony Warner, while Lloyd Sam hit the post from a cross. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Leeds manager Kevin Blackwell: \"It was a clear penalty. \"The minute the keeper goes to ground he is asking for trouble. \"We had some great chances, we've put in a solid performance and we deserved to win. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sheff Wed: Jones, Coughlan, Simek, Bougherra, Spurr, Hills (Adamson 68), Whelan, O'Brien, Brunt (Lunt 82), Sam (Bullen 76), Burton. Subs Not Used: McClements, McAllister. Sent Off: Jones (67). Booked: Sam, Lunt, Bullen. Leeds: Warner, Kelly, Crainey, Butler, Kilgallon, Westlake, Lewis, Carole (Foxe 81), Derry, Healy, Moore. Subs Not Used: Sullivan, Richardson, Blake, Beckford. Goals: Healy 70 pen. Att: 23,792. Ref: S Bennett (Kent).

Bakke faced with Elland Road exit
Midfielder Eirik Bakke believes that Leeds do not want him to play for the Elland Road club again because of \"financial circumstances\". The 28-year-old, said to be earning £23,000 per week, was absent from the squad that faced Sheffield Wednesday. \"My agent was told that, because of financial circumstances, I wouldn't be playing for Leeds again,\" Bakke told the Yorkshire Evening Post. \"I want to stay. I'm coming back from injury and I need games.\"

Leeds duo face hernia operations
Leeds midfielders Shaun Derry and Steve Stone are in Germany to see a specialist about their injuries - which are believed to be hernia problems. Derry sustained the injury against Crystal Palace on 13 August. \"It has not been too bad for Shaun in games but it has stopped him doing certain things,\" Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell said. \"Steve does not have a torn groin but he has some pain in the region which suggests he has a hernia as well.\" Meanwhile, Leeds have confirmed that goalkeeper Tony Warner will return to Fulham when his loan at Elland Road ends on 4 September.

Inquiry to look into Leeds claim
Leeds United have succeeded in getting an inquiry into their allegation that Chelsea illegally approached three of their Academy players last season. The Football Association and the Premier League announced on Wednesday that they will hold a joint inquiry. \"The inquiry will be carried out by both the FA and the FAPL as the allegations relate to both FA and FAPL rules,\" said a statement. Leeds made their complaint to the Football League on 3 August. Ken Bates, who owns Leeds, claims his former club signed youngsters Michael Woods and Tom Taiwo after making illegal approaches. He said a third teenager, Danny Rose, was approached but did not sign for the Premiership champions. Chelsea have offered £200,000 compensation for Woods and Taiwo, but Bates called it \"insulting\". The Stamford Bridge club deny making illegal approaches. Club spokesman Simon Greenberg said earlier in August: \"We've always denied that an illegal approach was made for Woods, Taiwo and Rose. \"We made an approach to Leeds at the end of last year which they rejected. There was then a window of opportunity where the club could come in and make offers. Two of the players joined Chelsea.\" Chelsea have even filed a complaint with the Football Association against Bates, who they say has made \"rude, insulting and inappropriate comments\" during this dispute. This issue is serious for Chelsea, though, because in 2005 they were found to have illegally approached Arsenal's Ashley Cole, and given a suspended sentence on the condition they did not commit the offence again within the 2005-2006 season. That means they could be docked three points if they are found guilty of illegal approaches to the Leeds youngsters.

Rovers' Douglas signs for Leeds
Leeds have signed midfielder Jonathon Douglas from Blackburn for an undisclosed fee. The Republic of Ireland international spent last season on loan at Elland Road and has signed a three-year deal with the Yorkshire club. Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell had been keen to boost his squad. Shaun Derry is set to miss four weeks after an operation on a hernia, while Steve Stone and Kevin Nicholls are also out injured. Douglas signed for Blackburn as a trainee in 2000 and has also had loan spells with Chesterfield, Blackpool and Gillingham.

Charlton keeper criticises Leeds
Charlton goalkeeper Stephan Andersen has criticised Leeds for pulling the plug on his proposed transfer deadline day loan switch. Leeds looked set to sign the Addicks number two choice, but claimed late in the day that they were unhappy with a recall clause in the deal. \"It is simply not right,\" explained the 24-year-old Denmark international. \"The clubs had agreed, but I think they wanted Fulham's Tony Warner and used the clause as an excuse.\"

Derry back after hernia operation
Shaun Derry has returned to training with Leeds after undergoing a hernia operation in Germany. The midfielder had surgery last week and is now working to build up his fitness with a view to returning to the first team by the end of September. Derry's team-mate Steve Stone is also on the mend after his groin problem and could be fit to face Wolves on Sunday. Kevin Nicholls could also feature after recovering quicker than expected from his knee ligament injury.

Leeds 0-1 Wolverhampton
Wolves stole all three points at Elland Road thanks to a thunderous drive from Jay Bothroyd deep into injury time. Substitute Bothroyd cracked a fizzing effort from 25 yards, which rifled into the top right corner and gave Wolves their first win at Leeds for 25 years. It was harsh on the hosts who had a Steve stone header cleared off the line by the outstanding Gary Breen. And in the first half, keeper Matt Murray produced a superb save to turn away Seb Carole's close-range effort.

Leeds may be debt-free in a year
Leeds manager Kevin Blackwell has revealed that the club will be almost debt-free within a year. Blackwell told Sir Stanley: \"It is only 18 months since the club was relegated and in £121m worth of debt. \"We have had to deal with that millstone around our necks and still try to win games - and despite having lost so many players. \"But this time next year the club will not be in any debt whatsoever.\" As a result of Leeds' crippling debt - and drop into the Championship - they were forced to sell many of their biggest players. Robbie Fowler, Harry Kewell, Jonathan Woodgate, Aaron Lennon, Paul Robinson, Danny Mills and Olivier Dacourt are just some who departed. Not all of those who left the club left the payroll. Fowler and Nicky Barmby were being paid by Leeds up until this summer. And BBC Sport understands that Mills and Paul Okon are still receiving a salary - and will do so until the end of this season. According to Blackwell there are more than half a dozen ex-Leeds players still drawing money from the club. Blackwell said: \"We have not invested in players this year but that has helped to pay the players - seven of them - who are not at this football club anymore. \"That situation ends at the end of the season and the club will move on quite quickly and have actually dealt with its debts. \"Whereas other clubs are still carrying £40-50m worth of debt, we will be right down to maybe £4-5m. \"My understanding is that this time next year the club will be well off in terms of finances - in the top six or seven clubs in the country.\"

Leeds 0-1 Wolves
Wolves stole all three points at Elland Road thanks to a thunderous drive from Jay Bothroyd deep into injury time. Substitute Bothroyd cracked a fizzing effort from 25 yards, which rifled into the top right corner and gave Wolves their first win at Leeds for 25 years. It was harsh on the hosts who had a Steve Stone header cleared off the goalline by the outstanding Gary Breen. And in the first half, keeper Matt Murray produced a superb save to turn away Seb Carole's close-range effort. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Leeds manager Kevin Blackwell: \"I think that's the fifth goal we've conceded in the 90th minute this season. \"It's galling to lose, but that's life, and you have to take it on the chin and move forward. \"To come across a wonder goal in the last kick of the game, it rubs salt into the wound really.\" Wolves boss Mick McCarthy: \"Our goalkeeper Matt Murray kept us in the game. \"And if you take an overview of the match, had one of Leeds' first-half chances gone in I might have been sat here like a sourpuss. \"It's not like we were all over Leeds. In the first half they were the better team but in the second half it was us - and we scored.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Leeds: Warner, Kelly, Butler, Kilgallon, Crainey, Carole, Douglas, Westlake, Lewis (Stone 83), Moore (Beckford 78), Healy. Subs Not Used: Sullivan, Gregan, Blake. Wolverhampton: Murray, Edwards, Breen, Craddock, Mulgrew (Little 44), Potter, Olofinjana, Henry, Jones, Johnson (Clarke 76), Cort (Bothroyd 45). Subs Not Used: Ikeme, Ricketts. Booked: Breen, Mulgrew, Edwards. Goals: Bothroyd 90. Att: 16,268 Ref: L Mason (Lancashire).

Stone to undergo hernia operation
Leeds veteran midfielder Steve Stone is set to have a hernia operation at the start of next month. The surgery is scheduled to coincide with the next international break to solve a persistent problem. Stone, 35, will continue to play on despite the injury until he has the corrective procedure. Manager Kevin Blackwell told the club website: \"He can play because it's not dilated, but he does need the operation and it's a case of injury management.\"

Leeds v Sunderland
Leeds trio Ian Moore, Seb Carole and Paul Butler are all face a fitness tests but midfielder Kevin Nicholls' (thigh) debut will be further delayed. Striker Moore, winger Carole and skipper Butler are all nursing knocks. Sunderland boss Roy Keane feels the match has come too soon for new striker Dwight Yorke. Fellow forward Jon Stead (thigh) could miss out again, while Steve Caldwell (knee), Stephen Wright (ankle) and Kevin Smith (knee) will be absent.

Leeds 0-3 Sunderland
Roy Keane watched impassively as his Sunderland side's revival continued. The visitors took the lead after a flowing move involving Robbie Elliott and Ross Wallace set up Liam Miller, who scored with a low diagonal shot. Just before the break Graham Kavanagh latched on to Daryl Murphy's flick to thump home a tremendous volley past Leeds goalkeeper Tony Warner. Early in the second another Murphy flick released Stephen Elliott, who beat Warner with another superb volley. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Leeds manager Kevin Blackwell: \"I'm going to keep on doing my job and I've already turned this club around from nothing. \"If you look where we've come from, with no players, then I think I can turn this around - no problem. \"I think the fans are fed-up with what has happened at Leeds. They can see a situation at Sunderland, where someone comes along and pumps millions into the club - and they think 'why can't it be us?' \"They've had four or five years of being kicked where it hurts and they've seen their best players being sold. \"I think the fans need to know the real truth about this football club - but I don't think it will ever come out in the short term. \"I think in the long term people will realise what a good job has been done at this football club. \"As a manager, it frustrates me - but I have to accept it. We've been trying to bring in loan signings. But the chairman (Ken Bates) says the finances at the moment are quite tight.\" Sunderland manager Roy Keane: \"It's the best thing in the world when you win football games. But for me looking at the bigger picture, we'll get ready for the next one. \"It's fantastic and if the fans are going home happy we've done something right. If the fans are happy I'm happy. \"I was expecting to come to Leeds and win, I'm not in a state of shock or surprise. We've got all the same aims.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Leeds: Warner, Kelly, Butler, Kilgallon, Crainey, Stone (Carole 54), Douglas, Westlake, Lewis (Nicholls 45), Horsfield, Healy (Blake 63). Subs Not Used: Gregan, Moore. Booked: Westlake, Butler, Nicholls, Kelly, Douglas. Sunderland: Alnwick, Neill Collins, Varga, Cunningham, Robbie Elliott, Liam Miller, Whitehead (Lawrence 80), Kavanagh, Wallace, Murphy, Connolly (Stephen Elliott 43), Stephen Elliott (Leadbitter 60). Subs Not Used: Ward, Danny Collins. Booked: Kavanagh, Liam Miller. Goals: Liam Miller 28, Kavanagh 45, Stephen Elliott 48. Att: 23,037. Ref: A Marriner (W Midlands).

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