Former Leeds United striker, Gary McSheffrey has performed a miraculous u-turn on his opinions of Leeds United following the boo’s he received during his return to Elland Road this weekend.

“I didn’t really say anything to offend anyone. I was asked the question ‘why didn’t you stay?’ and I said I didn’t really know because I hadn’t been told. It was misinterpreted and I’ve never said anything bad about Leeds. Little things can become a silly headline.

“I was expecting (the reception) but this is a decent club with good fans, and when it’s going good they’re great fans. I’ve always said that, so I don’t really know why they were booing me.”

After leaving Leeds United, McSheffrey told how he felt Simon Grayson’s decision to cut him loose was ‘unfair’ claiming that the Whites boss never gave him ‘a fair chance’, before going on to question the gaffer’s man management skills.

Ten appearances for the club would suggest Grayson gave him a very fair chance (even if he was used as sub for the majority of them). We have international players sitting on our bench that would kill for the amount of time McSheffrey had to prove himself.

Unfortunately for poor Gary, you either sink or swim at Elland Road. His début started well enough with a man of the match display against Colchester United, but it all went down hill thereafter with the 28-year-old failing to make the desired impression. So sink he did, and at the end of the season Simon Grayson cut him loose as he looked to build a squad capable of winning promotion to the Premier League.

The comments that followed his departure angered Leeds United fans who felt the striker had an incredibly unrealistic opinion of his own abilities. Simon Grayson meanwhile refused to get drawn into a war of words with McSheffrey, but the Whites boss was clearly unimpressed and refused to shake hands with the striker at the Ricoh late last year.

Whilst Gary McSheffrey’s own memory may be failing in his old age, the Leeds United fans don’t forget (or forgive) easily. You can back-track and use all the excuses you like Gary, but it won’t change a thing – aside from making you look like more of an idiot than you already did.