In English football, nobody does drama quite like Leeds United. The past four months, much like the best part of the past decade, have been a roller-coaster for the fallen Yorkshire giants.
Like any good drama, there have been heroes and villains and plot twists aplenty.
It all started with the deadline day sacking of manager Brian McDermott, in January, by new owner Massimo Cellino. A move that sparked angry scenes at Elland Road, with fans descending on the stadium to protest the decision and blocking the Italian’s attempts to leave by chasing his taxi.
The former Reading boss was reinstated 24 hours later, but has continued to work under threat of the axe.
Cellino’s protracted purchase of 75 per cent of the club rumbled on for almost two months and, briefly, saw the deal refused by the Football League after its board disqualified the 57-year-old under its owners’ and directors’ test, following the Italian’s recent conviction for unpaid tax on a luxury yacht, a conviction that Cellino is appealing. The decision was subsequently overturned on appeal by an Independent QC.
During this turbulent time, Leeds’ previous owners GFH Capital were either unable or unwilling to put money into the club, which recent accounts show was losing £1m a month, resulting in the players having to defer wages.
This ongoing uncertainly sparked a catastrophic collapse in Leeds’ form, taking them from a playoff place and a chance at promotion to the bottom half of the table and into a relegation dogfight.
In spite of all of this, the club’s long-suffering fans remained defiant, united in their loathing of GFH Capital and the Football League, the villains of the act, a feeling of desperation for McDermott and the players, in particular club captain Ross McCormack, and, for the most part, a sense of injustice for anti-hero Cellino, re-cast in the role of loveable rogue after his impassioned speeches and desire to restore Leeds to the top flight adhered him to fans’ hearts.
Fortunately for Leeds, following the independent QC’s ruling, Cellino’s takeover was ratified by the Football League and stability has returned both on and off the field, with two wins in two against fellow candidates for the drop Blackpool and Barnsley, securing team’s Championship status.
There is now an air of quiet optimism for next season, with Cellino vowing to take Leeds back to the Premier League inside two years, buy back the club’s Elland Road stadium and Thorp Arch training ground and a promise to invest in the playing squad.
Whether McDermott will be at the helm beyond the current campaign remains to be seen, but he will meet with Cellino in the coming weeks to finalise his retained squad list and no doubt discuss potential transfer targets.
McDermott is making all the right moves and is determined to prove that, when given a stable environment to work in, he can be the man to deliver promotion. He has also promised that, with Cellino running the show, there will be no lack of excitement.
It remains to be seen whether this latest chapter in Leeds’ history is yet another false dawn or the heralding of a new era. But one thing is for certain, it is likely that the drama will continue at Elland Road.
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