As part one of the latest round of blame-game, Simon Grayson has spoken publicly about his time at Leeds during BBC’s Late Kickoff:

A few things have come out since I left the football club that I wasn’t too pleased with because I’ve kept my silence and my dignity.

[....]

I think finishing 7th the previous year we over-achieved. We got ourselves by, just missing out on the play-offs, but then that summer came along and we wanted to invest in players that would take us to the next level, and we didn’t manage to do that, we didn’t get the players that I would’ve liked to have got to really have a go for it and then results dictate eventually what happened, but we weren’t in a bad position when we left.

[....]

Every manager would [like more money] and I think if you get to a certain position you would like to think that you can go on and take the club to the next level. You look at Southampton and Reading, two teams who are probably going to go up, and they have spent money in the summer with the likes of Jack Cork who went to Southampton and Gorkss who went to Reading, and these were the players who we were trying to sign in the summer but they went elsewhere. There are big expectancy levels at Leeds and sometimes the expectancy levels aren’t matched elsewhere.

Grayson might wish he hadn’t said:

We’ve got a group here who we feel can get promoted but it’s all about succeeding in that.

And following the announcement on Monday that Ben Parker and Mika Väyrynen had been released, Ken Bates said on Wednesday:

[Ben Parker]’s a lovely fella, we just wish him all the best. We really do. Although we’ve finished with him, he’s going to carry on training with us until the end of the season to make sure he’s fit for next season.

He continued:

Vay-ry-en… I can never get his name right, I don’t know why we signed him. Nice guy but a complete was of money. Made two starts and cost us half a million quid in fees and salary. I just don’t know why he was signed. And I’m sorry for him but even more sorry for us. It’s better that he goes and seeks the rest of his career somewhere else.

Bates’ comments didn’t go down well with Väyrynen (i’m told it’s pronounced vie-rye-nun) who was none too pleased, tweeting:

Obviously money can’t buy class!!!Comments from an old man who don’t even no my name.I wanted to play but wasn’t used.My bad!!!!

Thanks for your support,you guys have been great n deserve big things. #LUFCfans

Like Simon Grayson, Ken Bates must be wishing he had never said:

I think we might have unearthed another hidden jewel. He’s 28-29, played 31 times or thereabouts for Finland and he’s a tough midfielder which is something we have been lacking.

Similarly Shaun Harvey must be feeling a bit silly for saying this:

Some very good players are available on free transfers. Forssell and Vayrynen for example – international footballers without a club. Sometimes I think people would be happy for us to spend £1million on a sack of potatoes just to see us spend £1million.

One thing’s for sure: the blame-game hasn’t done either side any favours at all.

Perhaps we should end on a positive note. Two, in fact.

1) Simon Grayson identified last summer:

The money was there to go and sign players, whether it was loan deals or permanent deals we were trying to sign players to make us better and increase the competition.We know we are still a few bodies short but saying that we still have good players here, some of which were enquired about but we managed to keep hold of them, something which is obviously good news.

One of the key things for Grayson was holding onto key players. You might think that Snodgrass was one who was enquired about  given his recent comments. This season Neil Warnock has managed to find what would seem a cushy contract for skipper Snodgrass. In that article Grayson also bemoaned the way players’ moves depended on other players arriving at their club and how he was gazumped on the proposed Puncheon deal. Warnock divulged after the Blackpool game that one player has all but signed and is expected to be announced in the first week of May, with others following soon after.

Whatever we think of past mistakes, and whoever we blame for them, the future is looking bright if these are the quality players that Warnock’s been promising.

2) As Ken Bates mentioned in his radio address, Don Revie’s statue will be unveiled soon:

just to remind everybody of the great event on May 5 when the Don Revie statue will be unveiled at 11am. He’s going to stand opposite the new entrance to the East Stand so he’ll be looking across and keeping his eye on who goes in and who goes out. It’ll be a great day. It’s been well organised. There’s functions in the Pavilion and elsewhere. Billy’s Bar will be open and so will Howard’s. So May 5th, if you’re not going anywhere in particular, forget about your shopping or your… 11 o’clock, May 5th, Lowfields Road outside the East Stand is the place to be.

I am amazed it hasn’t been done before. And I think it’s a tribute to the fans that they’ve done it. The club hasn’t done it. This is a fans tribute to a great man and I understand from Duncan Revie that he’ll be there with a party of family and friends. So they’re coming up for it. This is going to be a great occasion.

What was wrong? Well the obvious answer was of course that we weren’t progressing as a team. The message one would read onto both the timing of Grayson’s departure, immediately after the transfer window closed, and Shaun Harveys press release was that in their opinion Grayson wasn’t getting enough from the current squad. That they believed someone else could.

Step forward man-manager extraordinaire and promotion specialist Neil Warnock.

Following the script his mere presence at our home match versus Doncaster saw us overturn a 2 goal deficit and run out 3-2 winners.

Sure enough after this performance the thumbscrews tightened 0-0 at Portsmouth, a narrow defeat at home to Southampton, a match we utterly dominated, and then 0-0 at Hull. So the defence was fixed right? All that was missing was for McCormack and Becchio to rediscover their confidence and start scoring again? Sure thing, at Middlesbrough we held off the playoff contenders, kept a clean sheet – and banged in 2 well made goals. Phew.

But that’s as good as it’s got.

Of the following 6 games we won one, drew one and lost four. And have conceded 14 goals. Grayson’s last 6 saw us lose 3, win 2, and draw one, and concede 12. Not a hell of a lot better but I know which I’d choose.

Many of us thought when Redfearns tortuous tenure ended that we’d written off any chance of the play offs throwing away 6 points, and as Simon Cowell might put it “you know what?…” we were right.

Warnock hasn’t made a blind bit of difference to the squad, so just what was the reason for firing our last manager? Are we now acknowledging that he was right? That we massively overachieved with a mediocre squad last year? That we sold what quality we did have, and were hoping by some miracle to go up on the cheap?

Our recent poll concerning the biggest mistakes of last year saw selling our best players come top of the poll, but closely followed by us not signing any good replacements.

The average fan (and 800 votes isn’t too bad for a random cross section ken before it’s dismissed) can see it – so why couldn’t the board? so how are either of those issues the manager’s fault?

Neil Warnock may well yet get us promoted next season, but the signs so far are not encouraging. A dreadful set of results, and unwillingness to accept any blame, and an immediate cap in hand for transfer funds. Now before anyone thinks this is Ken Bates writing under a nom de plume, it isn’t.

Why persist with players that it’s obvious aren’t going to get us anywhere? Why wait until now to try out Robbie Rogers, Ramon Nunez? Why even bother to bench Forssell, Paynter, Bruce – players you’ll probably sell in the summer? Why persist with Paul Connolly at right back after by his own admission his lack of discipline and poor performances?

Why not, (as many have suggested, myself included) try out some of our youth players? And see who can cut it next season?

Worst of all what the heck has happened to discipline generally? Connolly, Thomson and Brown three consecutive sendings off in three defeats. Discipline is totally the managers remit – and Pugh can count himself very very lucky too on that count.

Personally when I’ve had a bad day at the office I might well call it a bad one, and leave on the stroke of 5.30, but Warnock’s telling us he’s wishing it was May already? So are we officially giving up already? How on earth do you get players to play in that scenario?

Warnock’s already admitted he thinks the malaise is down to some players realising the games up, but whose fault is that – if not the managers? They might be bad players, but did Watford, Ipswich, Leicester, Cardiff give up when they went 6 points adrift? Of course not.

What worries me for point one is the total lack of direction here. Are we planning for next season, or are we on some kind of masochistic joyride to torture Leeds fans everywhere?

Lots of question marks on this page, and to be frank, just too many question marks generally over whats going on.

Warnock expects investment, but Ken wants a smaller squad. Warnock says he’ll walk if he doesn’t get what he wants, Kens put us £5m in hock to an unnamed (ahem) creditor for corporate boxes.

The signs are very ominous indeed.

Now Neil Warnock is one of the smartest cookies in football, part of me is saying that this is Warnock setting out his stall, he doesn’t want to `roll the dice’ on promotion. He knows the current squad needs to be moved on en masse. Perhaps he just couldn’t be doing with the play-offs this season, rather going out on a high with a top two finish next season. That the current squad needs to be shown to the board for what they are – useless. That whats needed is not consolidation and motivation, but termination and re-construction.

But this is too much supposition, I remain concerned

If the boards initial briefing was to use current resources to get us promoted, the brief seems to have changed wholesale. Rebuild for next season as the current squad wasn’t good enough. If Simon Grayson was refused this in December then it strikes you his biggest error was a 7^th placed finish last season, as opposed to a 15^th placed survival – perverse just doesn’t cover it.. It begs the question – just what does Ken Bates actually want? And does he actually want Promotion.

We start with injury news.

“Aidy White will probably train a little bit today and might be involved tomorrow, but nobody else will come in to the reckoning.

“We were hoping to get a game for Andy O’Brien this week, but that didn’t materialise – the physios don’t think he’s ready just yet. [Leigh] Bromby’s not ready yet and [Alex] Bruce is not ready yet”

Is it just a case of match fitness with O’Brien?

“Yeah, he’s had a couple of months without [playing] and the physio thinks it’s too early, so we’ll just have to go by his opinion”

Happy with Tuesday night’s 0-0 draw away to Hull?

“Yeah. The only disappointment for me was that we had so many opportunities, to make better opportunities in the last third. […] We got the ball in wonderful areas and never made the goalkeeper work. That’s the only disappointment for me.

“Unlike the other two games where I thought we made good chances (against Southampton and Portsmouth). But you have to give Hull credit for that [...] they’re a defensively solid unit that don’t give much away and you can see they’ve played together for a while.”

Do you think the team is close to what you’re looking for?

“The lads are giving me everything, 100%, I can’t ask any more than that.

“When I came I said ‘look, between now and the end of the season, as long as you give me everything and you come off the pitch knowing you’ve given me everything, you won’t hear me criticise you’, at the moment, [they are doing and] I can’t ask any more than that

“I think we do need a little bit of quality in certain areas, rather than quantity, you know, I think the squad has got the numbers. But I think there’s a little bit of quality missing in certain areas, and it’s up to us to try and bring that into the club”

Are you at the early stage of planning for next season already?

“Not really no, I think we’ve got to [stick with what we've got for now]. After the Doncaster game, if you’d told me we’d go to Portsmouth and Hull and not concede a goal, and the disappointment of Southampton, that we should have won that… If we can get a point away from home and win all our home games, then we’ll be very close and that’s how I’ve set my stall out, but we do have to win away and it’d be nice to start at Middlesbrough.”

You did say on Tuesday this was a must-win?

“I’m not sure it’s a ‘must win’ but it’s one we’d like to win. I think we have to win one of the five away games coming up and it’s an opportunity to put that to bed early doors if we can.”

How much do you know about Middlesbrough? They’ve had a good season by the looks of things?

“Yeah, I think they’ve calmed down haven’t they? Tony [Mowbray] is a steady manager and they’ve brought good signings in, steadied the ship and I think they’re looking like they’ll not be far away.

“I think consistency – listening to Tony’s comments – is probably missing here and there, but if that’s missing, they’re not doing bad really are they? If they do get consistent last couple of games, they’ve got hell of a chance”

They’re another play-off contender you’ve got to take points off?

“Yeah, we thought that at Hull, and Middlesbrough – with their current league position – will be expecting to beat us.

“But, it’s a derby and I’m sure we’ll be taking our full quota of supporters who’ll make themselves heard, so, it’d be nice for me to give them a little bit more to shout about going forward.

“We’ve sorted one or two problems at the back, and I don’t think that’s stopped us creating, I just think we made bad decisions in the Hull game, and that we were OK against Portsmouth and Southampton (going forward).”

You said after Tuesday you weren’t sure whether you’d be looking for a centre back, have certain players surprised you?

 “I’m not in a rush at the back now, I think they’ve listened and come on board with what we wanted and apart from the goal against Southampton, I don’t think they’ve really put a foot wrong in the three games.

“And even when they have done, Lonergan’s pulled a good save off so, that’s a good recipe for a back five really.

“I think Michael Brown’s playing his part, he’s probably been the unsung hero for me, since I’ve come to the club. I think he’s been instrumental both in the defensive and attacking side, he’s showed a cool head out there”

It’s interesting because he wasn’t really involved before you arrived?

 “I know, and yet if he got injured at the moment I think we’d struggle to replace him with the squad we have”

How do you think his game has changed since he played for you nine years ago?

“Back then, I just gave him the freedom to go forward. If I did that now, he wouldn’t get back [laughs]

“But he’s still got a lot to offer I think, his contribution since I’ve been here has been fantastic and I think he’s brought the best out of Adam [Clayton], although I think that was probably Adam’s poorest game against Hull, and he’ll be disappointed with his performance.

“That little bit of creativity he normally gives us wasn’t there and that might have been because he put so much into the Southampton game that he was maybe a little tired, so I’m hoping the extra day will see Adam back to normal for Sunday.”

Was Adam disappointed? Because when he plays with his head up, he’s some player, isn’t he?

“Yeah, he is and he’s got so much more to learn. He does need help at times, he tries things in the wrong areas but he’s a young lad and you’ve got to learn by your mistakes. Hopefully that doesn’t cost us.

“You look at what he’s good at, and not what he’s not good at. We’re trying to put elements in his game for discipline, and at the same time, not take away the creativity that he gives us. He’s got a lot to work on there.”

Is there a points tally you think we’ll need for play-offs? Last year it was 75…

“It’ll not be far away from that…”

Which is a big challenge?

“Yeah, we have to win every home game and get a point away from home but it won’t work like that, I do think we’ll have to win away from home to get anywhere near that sort of tally.”

If Leeds can’t make it, what’s the challenge for the players?

“I think you have to ask that when we can’t get there. First of all, we’ve got to try and step up to the challenge. We’ve got to do a little bit more positive decision making to create and score goals, whilst at the same time still keep concentration at the back.

“It would be nice, between now and the end of the season, to give the fans something to shout about. I think they see where we’re going, but we probably want to get there yesterday, not tomorrow. It’s frustrating at the minute.”

Bringing Paul Robinson in – is he one of these ‘leaders’ that you mentioned?

“Yeah. I look at the type of player I think we need and he fits that bill. There’s not many at this time of year that you can bring in so to get one like Paul was a plus for me.

“I will be using him shortly, he’s here for a number of games and we’ll play that by ear.”

“I think senior pros are important in certain areas, but it’s not just that, it’s being a leader and the attitude he’s got is what I want from my players – that little bit more than what’s necessary”

Have the team been a little more vocal?

“They seem to be talking well during the game. I thought we started the game against Hull very well, the first twenty minutes, there was only that period up to half time and late on they had a flurry.

“It’s so close the Championship, between success and failure, and you’ve only got to look at the top now – they’re all trying to help us get in the play-offs and we haven’t been able to take advantage of that, but it’s not been for a lack of trying.”

There are teams with games in hand on you?

“It’s not going to be down to other teams, it’s ourselves that decide whether we get in the play-offs, or anywhere near the play-offs. And that will be decided in the next 3-4 games I think. You don’t get much tougher than Middlesbrough away, West Ham at home.

So it’s still possible?

“I don’t think anyone is running away with sixth position, everyone is leaving up in the air. That’s why it’s disappointing not to have got more points when you look at the run of [previous] fixtures, even before I came, there’s 2-3 fixtures there where we’ve probably missed out on points, so it’s frustrating more than anything.

“Whether we’re good enough at the moment is another thing, you don’t let opportunities go if you can help it.”

All this bodes well for next season either way?

“The time I’m having now with the players, I can’t tell you how important it is to look at everyone at the club and see where we need to be.

“I can’t remember exactly how many, but I brought somewhere in the region of seven players in at QPR that summer, and I’d had two months to look at what we’d got. And I do feel we’re probably in that sort of mould.”

With that in mind, contract talks are still on hold until the summer?

“Well, we haven’t got enough time, but I’ve already spoken to 2-3 players and I will speak to their agents in the next few days, next week. You’ve got to look ahead to that. But at this moment in time, there’s not enough hours in the day.”

Tom Lees, has he pleased you so far?

“He has, he’s done really well Tom. He’s come out of his shell a little bit and his personality is coming through a lot more. He doesn’t talk a lot, but his desire and will to do what I want him to do has been very, very good. I’m very pleased with him.”

When you first came, did you feel he needed some protection?

“Well, I just thought he was a good player but that we needed leaders in those areas. That’s why we went after one or two players, but at the moment if he continues to play like that I don’t think I could bring anyone in to play better.

“I don’t see the point of bringing someone in if Tom can sustain the consistency that he’s shown me.”

Back to Robert Snodgrass, have you had any reaction from Scotland regarding his 4am arrival back in the UK?

“No, I’ve not had time. It’s all water under the bridge and we’ll move on quickly, but I will speak to Craig”

He didn’t look like he was suffering from exhaustion?

“No, he did well, didn’t he? I’ve no complaints really.”

Two weeks left in the loan market, will you be bringing any more in?

“If I can, I’d like to bring one or two more in with a view to looking towards next season. It would be great to bring in a couple and see if they’re what I’m looking for.”

Is Snodgrass’ contract one of those you’ve looked at?

“All the players that have a year or less I’ll be talking to, Robert is no different.”

The entire team was just incredible, an absolute credit to the shirt. A Southampton fan on Twitter described Leeds United as the best team they’ve played all season, and I can well believe it too. I’ve seen every team in this division and I doubt any of them could beat the Leeds United side we saw yesterday – there’d be Premier League sides that would struggle!

The biggest difference was that we defended from the front. Southampton were barely allowed to draw breath before a player in white was snapping at their heels, and I lost count of the amount of times we turned over possession in midfield.

The only goal of the game came courtesy of Rickie Lambert who volleyed home in style to give Saints the lead against the run of play. A quality finish but the defending will be brought into question. I don’t want to be too critical however as it was the only mistake we made all game and Lambert is a totally different class from any other striker in this division.

1-0 up and Southampton made two changes at half time which tells you everything really. They had to try and get a foothold in the game, but Leeds United continued to play them off the park.

On any other day, this would have ended 5-1 but it just wasn’t to be. Fate seemed to be conspiring against Leeds United. There were multiple chances for The Whites, like Aidy White failing to connect to a ball fired across the front of goal, but when the crossbar came to Southampton’s rescue twice in 5 seconds, you just knew it wasn’t going to be Leeds’ day.

To a man, the players were outstanding and there’s no real need to single anyone out but a quick note for Danny Webber who looks like he could be the signing of the season. He came on as a second half substitute and played sensationally well, giving all his doubters plenty of food for thought.

Defeated, but undeservedly so. To play so well and lose must be absolutely gutting for the players, but each and every one of them did Leeds United proud and deserve nothing but praise. I don’t know what Neil Warnock said to them at full time, but it must have been one of the hardest team talks he’s ever had to give – what can you say to a team that’s given absolutely everything, dominated completely and somehow lost?

The NSFW video below sums things up perfectly.

We last met on the opening day of the season when Southampton were 3-1 winners. Has much changed for you since then?

Not too much. We’ve recovered from our recent blip and now look as strong as we did at the start of the season. We still play the same exciting brand of football that you saw on the opening day, but we’ve since added more strength in depth to the squad. The likes of Jos Hooiveld, Danny Fox, Billy Sharp and Tadanari Lee give us different options that we didn’t have back then. Expectations are definitely greater now however. Most fans would have been happy with a top half finish at the beginning of season, but after such a superb start, many aren’t satisfied now unless we’re beating teams out of sight every week.

You’re currently sat at the top of the Championship table, are you confident Southampton will hold on and achieve back to back promotion to the Premier League?

Fairly confident yes. We’ve probably got the best run in out of all the promotion chasing sides. Apart from Reading, all our remaining home games are against teams towards the bottom. Our away form remains a slight concern however, although we should just about have enough to see out the season in the top two. We’ve always scored goals, but over the past few weeks we’ve also really tightened up defensively. Nigel Adkins’s team really peaked towards the end of last season, so I’m hoping the same will happen again this term. Only a huge spate of injuries can cost us now.

Do you think Leeds may have an outside chance of making the play-offs under Neil Warnock?

There’s always a chance with Leeds, although I wouldn’t bet on it. From what I’ve seen most of the teams above you at the moment are slightly better equipped. I think they’ll stand a much better chance next season once Warnock has a proper pre-season under his belt. There seems to have been too much turmoil at the club this season.

Who should we be looking out for in your side on Saturday?

Well the obvious names like Rickie Lambert and Adam Lallana (If fit) immediately come to mind. Lambert scores goals for fun, but his game is so much more than that. He brings others into play with great movement and link up play. Lallana is a bag of tricks, and can unlock any defence with his quick feet. You should also look out for our new Japanese signing Tadanari Lee, who has already made quite an impact. He possesses great technique and work rate, and already has a good on-pitch relationship with his strike partner Lambert. Cork and Schneiderlin probably won’t look particularly fancy in midfield, but do a vital job of keeping things ticking over. Schneiderlin in particular likes to set the tempo of the game in his role just in front of the back four.

If you could sign one current Leeds player for Southampton, who would it be?

I won’t pretend to be an expert on Leeds players, so I’m honestly not sure. Snodgrass has caught the eye a few times, and Becchio has looked impressive in the past against us, but we’re pretty well stocked for forward players so I probably wouldn’t sign either of them. Centre back is the only area we need strengthening, so maybe someone like O’Dea?

Finally, what’s your prediction for the game?

It’s a difficult one to call. We’ve been slightly disappointing on the road this season, but Leeds are also hit and miss at home. The smart money would be on the draw. I’ll say 1-1.

The move comes after Ken Bates claimed Leeds United Supporters Trust‘s Campaign For Change was having “no effect at all”.

Leeds United CEO Shaun Harvey refused to explain the club’s reasoning, stating only that;

“In simple terms we are exercising our right only to sell tickets to those who we wish to do so.”

You have to wonder how Neil Warnock feels about this whole situation. After pleading with everyone involved to put all the squabbling behind them, and focus solely on supporting the club for the remaining fixtures, LUST released a statement cancelling planned support for a protest ahead of Southampton and offered their full support to Leeds United’s new manager.

While LUST took a mature and sensible approach, Ken Bates has been busy spying on the protests he allegedly doesn’t care about, spending most of his weekly radio address taking shots at anyone connected with LUST and then banning their board members from the stadium.

As the Yorkshire Evening Post pointed out earlier today, Ken Bates seems “set on a divide and rule policy” which isn’t helping matters at all. It’s petty, unproductive and not what I expect from the leader of my football club.

It’s not as if anyone is asking for the unreasonable either, it’s just simple little things; better communication, more dignified responses to the fans concerns, prioritising the squad over off-field matters and less of the pathetic stunts he insists on pulling whenever someone raises an objection to his leadership.

Ken Bates is acting like a child who has spat his dummy out, incapable of responding with the dignity and respect of all good leaders.

He has also sabotaged one of his favourite arguments. How can he argue that he’s acting in the best business interests of the club now that he’s publicly refusing custom? I know of no other business that would do that, regardless of how much they dislike the people they’re serving.

There’s a good reason for that too. Because such business plans fail.

1. Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire, which is a bit like being the biggest fan at a James Blunt concert. The locals like to consider themselves to be trendy, metropolitan types, which is why mass marketed faux-fashion brands and diluted (or “skimmed”) milk thrive there. Gullible people are essential for the success of such products.

2. Most of Southampton’s residents are bastard children, and are quite often born with horrific disfigurements, primarily because of the sailors that stopped off for a few days to do their “business”, spread tropical STD’s then jump back aboard their vessels and sail off into the sunset, never to be seen again – no one visits Southampton twice. The lack of father figures has resulted in a higher than average crime rate.

3. With an imbalance between permanent female and male residents in Southampton, most women are the sole bread-winners in their households. The number one occupation is prostitution, and the highest earners tend to be those with the least amount of bodily defects.

4. Real estate for working girls to patrol isn’t hard to come by, although there was fury in the late 1990′s when Southampton FC turfed out a large amount of prostitutes to build St. Mary’s stadium. A little known fact is that St. Mary’s stadium was named after Madame Mary. the head of the prostitution ring that previously served the area. This was a gesture of goodwill forced by the Conservative council who didn’t want to lose their exclusive discount cards. Since the prostitutes were replaced by a football team, attendances have dropped more than 600%.

5. Shortly before Southampton moved from their previous stadium The Dell, the club’s trophy room was robbed. To this day, Police are still searching tirelessly for the red and white striped carpet that a club source described as “our pride and joy”.

6. Southampton FC have often been considered cannon-fodder for proper teams like Leeds United. Every once in a while they’ll produce a half-decent team (I’m sure you all remember 1984?), but this is soon stripped apart by bigger clubs and Southampton sink back into their role as an easy six points for the rest of the division. Most neutrals consider Southampton to be the most charitable team in football, for all the points they’ve donated to their own team over the years.

7. Southampton has a proud history of producing incredibly crap musicians. The locals claim the drummer from Coldplay comes from Southampton, but as I’ve yet to hear any evidence of anything but computer generated noise on a Coldplay record I’m somewhat sceptical. Other “musicians” include Craig David and the winner of the nations biggest karaoke contest, Matt Cardle. Need I say more?

8.  Jane Austen lived briefly in Southampton until she’d earned enough money to escape (you can draw your own conclusions as to what her career was at this time). The title of her first published work Sense & Sensibility describes her decision to leave. By the time that was published in 1811, she’d already spent two years trying to forget the place existed.

9. Despite the crime-ridden, vice-heavy culture in which they live, Southampton is made up of wannabe middle-class types, who like to think they’re well-educated, high-earning members of society. However, their true nature soon comes to the surface when their whole fanbase grumbles about £36 for a ticket to Elland Road. Unfortunately, with more working girls and boys (we’re all for sexual equality!) than ever and less sailors to “service” them, the price per [ahem]-job has dropped and many locals are on the brink of poverty. Craig David is believed to be in talks about an ‘Aid For Southampton’ concert, but has yet to convince anyone that people will pay to attend.

10. The name Southampton has the word ‘South’ in it, which comes from the French and translates into ‘soft’ or in some cases ‘pansy’.

I have a deadline to meet so let’s keep this short: I’ll take the bottom three clubs, the three mid-table clubs (which includes Leeds), and the top three clubs who aren’t newly demoted.

Bear in mind players signed and not yet played will not show on these stats. So Kenneth has the benefit of the doubt on each club.

Doncaster Rovers – 33
43 players have been named on matchday this season.
10 players have since left the club.
33 players in the squad.

Nottingham Forest – 25
34 players have been named on matchday this season.
05 players have since left the club.
30 players in the squad.

Coventry City – 26
30 players have been named on matchday this season.
04 players have since left the club.
26 players in the squad.

Derby County – 28
30 players have been named on matchday this season.
02 players have since left the club.
28 players in the squad.

Leicester – 30
30 players have been named on matchday this season.
00 players have since left the club.
30 players in the squad.

Leeds United – 28
33 players have been named on matchday this season.
05 players have since left the club.
28 players in the squad.

Southampton – 27
28 players have been named on matchday thsi season.
01 players have since left the club.
27 players in the squad.

Cardiff – 27
27 players have been named on matchday this season.
00 players have left the club.
27 players in the squad.

Reading – 30
30 players have been named on matchday this season.
00 players have left the club.
30 players in the squad.

So what do these stats tell us? They tell us that it doesn’t matter whether you have a squad of 25 or 33; if you’re players aren’t good enough you will be relegated. They also tell us that those clubs who go on to reach the playoffs or promotion are far less likely to sell players and have to bed new ones in place of old. Reading have kept their players; Cardiff have kept their players; Southampton have offloaded one player. Even the mid-table teams have not chopped and changed to the extent forced upon Leeds United by our inability to sign our best players to new contracts.

One extra factor that may explain why one or two are scratching their heads, is that young players will show up on the more frequented pages like Wikipedia. And this again reflects teams’ budgets. Big-spending clubs like Leicester have 8 unused young players in the senior squad. Relegation-embattled clubs like Doncaster Rovers are using every player at their disposal. Leeds falls into the latter category. We have only Will Turner of all our youngsters who is yet to make an appearance for us this season.

But even that does not tell the whole story. Teams like Leicester and Southampton have paid to get experienced players as well as young stars, and keep them. Leeds have youngsters (Aidy White, 20; Tom Lees, 21; Zac Thompson, 19) and young loanees (20 year old Smith to come in for 19 year old Thompson, 20 year old Townsend to give competition to 20 year old White on the wing). At 24, Robert Snodgrass is one of the most experienced players in the Leeds team and the one we’re looking to for leadership. Beside him is 34 year old Michael Brown, 40 year old Maik Taylor, 32 year old Andy O’Brien, 30 year old Paddy Kisnorbo.

This is where it goes wrong for Leeds. The oldies get injuries, or struggle to keep up with the rigours of a 46 game season. The youngsters make mistakes, and when the game goes the wrong way they’re more prone than experienced heads to panicking. Yet on the wages offered by Leeds, the only experienced heads we can afford are the cast-offs from other Championship clubs. Players who are too old or injury-prone to be considered worthwhile for other clubs to employ.

We have a larger squad Southampton – technically – and a similar squad to Leicester – technically – yet the numbers cloud the clear problems for Leeds. Run your eye over our squad, and try to name half a team who are good enough for promotion who have more than two years’ first team experience at a decent level. We’re relying on youngsters to do it all for us. Our young players deserve a chance, but it’s unfair on them to place the pressures of promotion on their still developing shoulders. Of course they’ll come out saying the believe they can do it: who didn’t at that age? But the old hands on our Board – including Peter Lorimer – should surely understand that it’s not a good idea to place all our hopes on them. They’ve shown under “Redders” that when the going gets tough, they’re nowhere to be found. Even if they have talent and skill.

Ken Bates laughed at Simon Grayson’s attempts to sign a new player:

“The first time I said ‘no’ to a player that Simon wanted to buy was last Thursday when he wanted to sign a player who was going to cost us £600,000 a year. I said ‘but you’ve already got six centre-backs, all of who you signed’.”

He was, in fact, being misleading, as the player Grayson had wanted to sign was a central midfielder. Not to mention that O’Dea had been signed as much as cover for left-back.

The player would have cost ££600,000 per annum. That’s roughly £11.5k per week. Reasonably expensive, but about on a par for a good midfielder who will help gain promotion. Don’t forget, it’s only a season since Bates was laughing at one club’s signing of an unproven product of a top Premiership academy on £10k per week – widely thought to be Jay Simpson for Hull City. Yes, £10k was laughable – because it was going towards an unproven player. That suggests £10k to a proven player is acceptable. Yet Bates is now laughing at Grayson’s attempt to sign a player on £11.5k?

Is £1,500 per week really that much in the mind of Leeds United’s chairman? It’s about the equivalent of 50 fans (well less actually) paying £36 for an away ticket. Yet Bates was happy to charge ridiculous prices, pull them away from the Cheese Wedge, stick them into the crappy West Stand, and has thus seen regular boycots of Leeds matches by visiting fans.

He says our squad is too big. We have 6 central defenders. Does he suggest we play Alex Bruce in midfield? Or O’Dea? He says our squad is too big: but it’s the same size as mid-table, unambitious Derby County. And who do we have in central midfield? A 34 year old who will almost certainly be leaving at the end of the season, a youngster who will leave in the next month, and Vayrynen and Clayton. Zac Thompson as cover. Hardly a promotion winning squad that you’re paying for Mr. Bates.

And this is what’s so strange. Ken Bates flip-flops on just about every issue. He first laughed at spending £10k p/w on an inexperienced player, and now laughs at spending £11.5k p/w on any player whatsoever. Remember Max Gradel?

“Ken Bates sensationally reveals that Max Gradel was told he could leave at the end of last season after spending the summer reassuring Leeds United fans we wouldn’t be selling our star winger.”

That’s a quote from this site as Ken Bates revealed all on transfer deadline day this autumn. And Simon Grayson on the same day? “The most frustrating day I have had as a manager”. I’m not surprised, Simon.

And then, as The Square Ball’s latest podcast pointed out, Ken Bates spent half of a radio address expounding the expense of loanees, before using Arsenal’s Henry as an example of why loanees work: “He’s a free player, free transfer.” No he’s not, Ken. You just said, loanees are bloody expensive!

It’s this confusion of contradictory statements that makes Ken Bates such a strange man to consider. Either he’s utterly thick, or he’s massively out of touch. Given his willingness to quote figures at us as if they will absolve him of all wrongdoing, when in fact they prove his double-standards and ill-considered strategies, I’d suggest the latter. Which is worrying.

Written by TimPM.

Appearance data: Stat Bunker. Photo Credit: Alex Knight Photography. 

2. Paul Connolly 

Season so far: Inconsistent would be the word to sum up Paul Connolly thus far, making the opening day starting line-up that was thoroughly outclassed by Southampton.

A spell out of the team followed after Tom Lees came on against Bradford City and made an instant impression on fans and manager alike. By the start of October however, Leeds were reshuffling the defence almost every game and Connolly re-emerged at right-back in a line-up that saw Tom Lees moved to his favoured centre back position.

From thereon in, Connolly has been relatively consistent despite a couple of dodgy games where the entire defence has capitulated. Connolly tends to perform best when he’s played behind Robert Snodgrass, the recent injury of whom coincided with another dodgy patch of form for the right back.

On a good day, Connolly can be a major asset to Leeds’ defence, but during a season where Leeds’ backline has suffered constant injury problems and lacked any kind of stability, Connolly’s form has been similarly inconsistent.

Effort – C: Prone to the same dropped head syndrome our entire defence seem to be passing back and forth, but for the most part, his effort has been satisfactory.

Performance – D: Too inconsistent to receive anything higher.

Attendance – B: No injuries to speak of, although he has spent some time out of the team due to poor performance.

Overall – C: The bad performances tend to overshadow the games where he’s been pretty solid, which is harsh since a lot of those poor performances have been the collective effort of the entire defence. In the right line-up, Paul is as reliable as anyone, but he’s also guilty of letting his head drop when things aren’t going to plan. Definitely room for improvement.

28. Aidy White

Season so far: Young Aidan White has been on the fringes of first team selection for a couple of seasons now with injury putting end to any hopes in 2010/11 before he was loaned out to Oldham Athletic for the remainder of the campaign.

With games under his belt, Aidy returned determined to kick on and make 2011/12 his season. 24 appearances so far and he’s done just that. Now considered Leeds United’s first choice left back, although he has been pushing for a spot further up the field since Robert Snodgrass was ruled out through injury.

Effort – A: Everything you expect of a quality youngster, White has shown the kind of determined enthusiasm Leeds United fans love.

Performance – B: Plenty of kinks still to work out, but White is improving game on game with bursting runs down the wing becoming somewhat of a signature.

Attendance – A: No real injury problems to speak of, an ever-present in Simon Grayson’s team thus far and long may it continue.

Overall – A-: If the second half of Aidy White’s season is anything close to the first, I suspect he’ll be in the running for an end of year award.

And the rest…? 

That’s pretty much it really. Ben Parker is of course, injured – as is the norm. Tom Lees started at RB but is now considered a central defender and it’s the same story with Darren O’Dea and to a lesser extent Alex Bruce, who hasn’t featured enough to merit inclusion anyway.

The Broken Business Model Driving Leeds United

So it’s January again, and as in July the Ken Bates pre-packed clichés are already flowing. We won’t `break the bank’ in the transfer market, or risk the clubs financial stability now we can spend some money on players.

We’ll also hear about those clubs who foolishly spent money in the summer on players, not performing as well as we are (Leicester, Notts Forest etc) conversely we’ll also hear how our players need to buck their ideas up, perform better and get us promoted – or else, ditto the incumbent manager.

Finally as certain key players reach the end of the current contracts we’ll hear how unreasonable they are in their demands – asking for pay rises, add-ons contracts for more than 2 years, and so it’s gone for the past three seasons with Bates.

Core to all of this is that Bates is running a tight ship, on sound business principles, and that while we as `morons’ simply want him to spend some of his multi-million pound fortune, he will not be swayed – I forgot he may also mention something repulsive about intercourse or foreplay at this point, to really repel anyone still interested in the detail of what hes saying.. apologies, just threw up a bit.

So it’s blame the manager, blame the players – even blame the fans, but never blame Ken Bates or Shaun Harvey for us being in the second division, the business model’s rock solid, we must never criticise it.. is it? Let’s break it down. Firstly why the model is strong

Positives & Potential

1. A loyal and numerous client and customer base

On average over 20,000 fans turning up to any home game – even in Division Three – and prepared to pay Premier League ticket prices to watch the likes of Yeovil, Brighton & Walsall.

2. A worldwide historic brand

A fan base which the likes of West Brom, Fulham and Bolton would kill for, and achievements in living memory like winning the last first division title and the oft discussed champions league semi.

Sky can sell ours and probably only West Hams games around the world in the Championship. Movies are made about Leeds United and best selling books sold.

3. A profitable business for the past 3 years (into the millions)

A rarity in football, full stop. And this a business which was in administration no more than 4 years ago (but see points 1 &2)

4. A manager who can find decent players for low fees and sell for much more

Part of the above, we have very little in the debit column when it comes to fees or salaries as a proportion of our revenue (as per the football league). Our manager and our scouts do seem to be able to find them (Gradel, Somma, Beckford)  – and like Arsenal – sell them well, (generally). Since relegation note a few of our key ‘outs’ – Gradel (£2M), Schmeicel (£1M), Delph (£6M), Lennon (£4M), Milner (£5M).

5. A strong production line of home-grown talent

How much do we think the likes of Howson, Lees, White would go for? More recently look at the likes of Garbutt, Kebbie, Taiwo, Woods – who were coveted even before an appearance was made in a white shirt. Much of our potential financially comes from this; moreover many of our match winning players are home-grown. We seem to excel here, with not enough investment it seems.

6. Large potential catchment area 

As per point one, in League One, and Championship regular attendances over 20k, are in stark contrast to over 30-35,000 while in the top flight. Leeds were big then, and they could be again. Its often trotted out that we’re a one club city (apologies to Farsley Celtic).

7. Readymade facilities for purchase at below market price

The club could buy back Elland Road and Thorp Arch for under £30M. The facilities are already purpose built for the training and development of soccer players, and for the playing of football (no one said good football…)

8. Support of Local Council

The council, even in these rarefied times offered to loan Bates & Harvey, a loan to buy the ground (despite us having turned a profit for the last 3 years) because they see it as critical to the success of the city that the club has that security.

But for the intractable issue of who exactly FSF were Leeds would have secured that loan. Any property developer will tell you such support is like Rocking Horse Poo from a city council, moreover that it is vital if you have ideas about building casinos, hotels, shopping centres and erm… a football team maybe Ken?

So just like Craig David… (I could think of no other), Leeds are ‘Born to do it’ – so why aren’t we? Well here’s the rub – his name’s Ken Bates, and his business model stinks like Boxing Day Stilton left next to the oven overnight.

Key blockers and disadvantages (or Ken as we know him)

1. Minimal investment in core business 

Why do people (including the non-moronic businessmen) turn up to LS11 every other Saturday? To watch football, at best they used to get their business contacts down to see the best football in Europe – and it followed that the better the offering – the more investors you got, the more tv money you got, and the more profits you made.

So you need to win games right? To get out of the dead zone Leeds occupy? To be the best you can? How do you do that? – You get the best players you can afford. Here’s where it breaks. Despite receiving transfer fees, generally up front (according to Bates & Harvey) Gradel £2M, Schmeicel £1M, slashing the wages of Johnson, Kilkenny, Beckford in the last 2 years from the wage bill, Did we go for the best players available? Did we even replace the ones we sold? No we didn’t, and we won’t.

A club of Leeds’ financial stature should compete with a Leicester, a Southampton, even a Barnsley, but we simply won’t spend transfer fees to give us a competitive edge. Ken’s right, the fees are exorbitant, and perhaps banks won’t lend ‘speculatively’ but we do have cash in the bank, and a turnover to support a promotion campaign – which should be after all what we need to do to get to the next level? Were i involved in credit and lending decisions, and I do have some professional expertise in this area, i wouldn’t call Leeds a bad bet at all.

Nothing wrong with bargain hunting, but man cannot live by the bargain bin alone, the odd bit of quality needs recruiting.

2. Major investment into peripheral areas 

So we dont have the money to do that eh? Well what about the £7m of investment in corporate boxes. We morons love to roll that one out, and Ken doesn’t think we understand that even though hes got a lease, that most business property is on a long lease and alterations and investments on leased property is often worthwhile if it enhances your business profile and profit margins. It pays for itself right?

However whilst we dont have top flight football it’s immaterial. The differentials between Premier League and Championship corporate revenues are staggering. It begs the question – has Ken got his priorities wrong?

It’s often insinuated he owns the ground already – who knows?

But even if he did this investment is the wrong way round – why build a fantastic theatre, but then fail to arrange any shows? Or to extend that further, why then arrange shows with anything other than the worst hams, luvvies, and burn outs on the stage? Ken has taken his eye off the prize. Why not; if property is so important buy it outright now? £7m would be sufficient for a deposit (over 20% of the total purchase price) and mortgage the ground for 30 years? Then spend your money; the whole thing looks a mess.

3. Lack of clarity to customers as to direction of business–

We’re a successful profitable business, yet we dont spend money on transfer fees for players, we dont compete with the best – even in our current league, and we dont hold on to our best players and tie them to decent contracts.

So are we profitable or not? What is this dreadful `foreplay’ in which we’re engaging and what is the desired long term outcome?

We just dont know – and it smacks of total disrespect to the fans (who are the clubs major financial backers) It also speaks volumes to the business community. Our ownership structure remains opaque at best, and exactly where do the transfer fees, the inflated ticket prices, sponsorship money, tv cash etc go? Where and how does it get spent?

4. Visible dislike of key client/customer base

How can we forget being called ‘morons?’ It ranks with Ratners faux pas about selling ‘crap’ – you just dont slag off your loyal customers, some of them may even be investors. Ken Bates comes across as a malodorous, repulsive despot, of the worst kind. A misanthrope, who wants to bleed the club dry with little regard for the fans. Many fans have begun to vote with their feet, he just doesn’t seem to care, or want to change his ways – there are no olive branches offered, and no `plan B’ to get us promoted.

5. Failure to attract serious investors and business partners

No Matthew Harding, certainly no Roman Abramovich, apparently no one wants to invest in this climate… erm… apart from Marcus Liebherr at Southampton less than 12 months ago, the Thai backers of Leicester City, Hull’s backers (whoever they are? Birds Eye I suppose?) These all of course in the Championship, let’s not forget the major investment into Man City, Paris St Germain, Liverpool. Football clubs that are profitable, that have a large fanbase are the plum ones to buy – mysteriously apart from us.

Wonder why that is? Would you lend Ken £10? I wouldn’t. Would you buy a used car from him? So why might you give him £70M lets say, to buy a football club, the phrase `magic beans’ would be running through your mind as an investor as you handed the unkindly old gent that cash – would you own the club? The ground, the players contracts?

Credibility is everything in business and Ken exudes a disingenuous and antagonistic air, he is a dreadful ambassador for the club. Litigious, cantankerous and out of touch. Just ask fans of Aston Villa about Doug Ellis, they felt then as we do now – like no one will ever buy their team while hes around. Ken Bates is the man who demanded to see ‘proof of funds’ from Roman Abramovich – bjesus. Who called the recently deceased Matthew Harding ‘evil’ – really?

6. Open criticism of internal management and staff from the top

In what business is it acceptable to openly slate individual members of your staff and management? Ken Bates has opinions about individual players and their efforts. McCartney, Kilkenny, Johnson, Beckford have all felt the rough edge of his tongue, and with the exception of Kilkenny have all gone on to play for successful teams, generally at a higher level. Sour Grapes doesn’t do it justice. Moreover Ken slags off his manager’s capability.

Whether this is reverse psychology, garnering support from the fans, or just that hes a grumpy old man is moot. You just don’t wash your dirty laundry in public – not in any business. And you don’t demotivate your employees. But hey if customers are fair game – what do you expect?

A parting thought

Perhaps this is extremely biased, well it is, and it’s only one fans opinion.

Is Ken Bates totally to blame for where we are? Well not entirely of course – we’re not a very good team, so that limits our chances of promotion. But he’s the man with the plan – as it were. And that plan seems totally devoid of creativity, belief or credibility.

When we look at that underperforming team, and at the bench for hope at 2-0 down – remember we can only deploy the resources we are afforded by the chairman – we don’t have access to the full profits we make, or the leverage of our reputation, and notions of where we ought to be as a team. That is something the businessman in charge is paid handsomely to achieve.

If the club really were in such a bad state – would he really have stuck around as long as he has?

Written by Matthew Brown-Bolton