A 3-0 defeat at home to a tough Blackburn side came as no real surprise to Leeds United fans at the end of another dismal week in the Yorkshire club’s season.
Prior to Saturday’s result, an encouraging run since the start of the calendar year had seen the Whites lose just three league games in 15 and race clear of the relegation threat that had lingered over the festive period. As well as the influence of head coach Neil Redfearn, much of the change in fortunes had been credited to the appointment of former Blackpool and Huddersfield Town coach Steve Thompson as Redfearn’s assistant in summer.
Back in February, Luke Murphy described Thompson as ‘first-class’ and explained the pivotal role that he had played in helping the former Crewe man discover the kind of form that persuaded Massimo Cellino to fork out £1m for in 2013. It seems rather strange then that Leeds sporting director Nicola Salerno would take the liberty to suspend Thompson of his duties without disclosing a term of misconduct or even informing Redfearn of his decision.
Understandably, United’s head coach has expressed his ‘bitter disappointment’ at Thompson’s departure. The two former midfielders are known to be close friends, yet being kept in the dark about the goings-on at the club and being forced to once again single-handedly manage a huge squad have left the former academy manager questioning his own future. While he has expressed his love for the club on numerous occasions, Redfearn has admitted that he is unsure whether or not he features in the long-term plans of the club’s board of directors.
The outlandish antics didn’t stop there however as it was later suggested that Salerno was also involved in the limited game time that club top goalscorer Mirco Antenucci has been subjected to. The Termoli-born marksman has bagged ten goals in 34 games in his debut season in England, and is just two goals shy of a contract extension that will see him tied down to the club until 2017. It has been rumoured that the board have instructed Neil Redfearn not to start Antenucci in recent months, as the top brass are unconvinced that keeping a 30-year-old striker for two more seasons is a wise move. Leeds’ chairman Andrew Umbers has delivered a statement of defiance, stressing that ‘the rumours are wrong. Mirco Antenucci has always been available for selection and will always be available. It is up to Neil [Redfearn] whether he plays him or not on the merits of his matchday strategy’ (BBC Radio Leeds). It is a saga that is likely to rumble on, and Phil Hay of the Yorkshire Evening Post cast doubts on the club’s version of the story, remarking on Twitter: ‘It’s up to you to decide if you believe Umbers’ statement. Sorry to say I don’t. Too many people have told me otherwise.’
In other news, Wesley Sneijder has apologised for publicising a set of knives released by Galatasaray, as it coincided with the 15th anniversary of the death of two Whites fans, Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight, who were stabbed the night before their UEFA Cup semi-final against the Turkish side. The Dutch midfield said: ‘Very sorry. I didn’t know this and deleted our promotion for the merchandise kitchen item #respect.’
Finally, speculation is rife that Red Bull have launched a bid to buy Leeds. A figure of £60m has been mentioned, but Oliver Mintzlaff, Red Bull’s head of global football, said that ‘another involvement in football is not currently planned’. Previous acquisitions include New York Red Bulls and reigning Austrian champions Red Bull Salzburg, so they do have a strong pedigree when it comes to ownership. However, fans may worry that the history of the club could be under threat, as a renaming of the club and stadium, as well as a change of crest, could be in the offing if the potential bid is successful. Massimo Cellino, the owner who is currently banned from the club, initially denied that Red Bull had put in a bid, but has since gone back on that version of events, telling Sky Sports Red Bull had made an offer to Eleanora Sports, the majority stakeholder at the club.
All in all, yet another farcical week for the Elland Road outfit, which was compounded on the pitch, as they conceded a last-gasp winner to Wolves, losing 4-3.
Peter White & Alex Bowmer
Featured image – Squawka.com