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Leeds United action replay 2007: ‘Leak’ eclipses vital Whites win
TARGET MAN: Robbie Blake, who got the second goal in the 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace as Leeds fought to lift themselves away from the bottom of the Championship table. PIC: James Hardisty
Leeds United’s Championship game against Crystal Palace in 2007 would come to be known as “Molegate”.
Among all the odd situations involving manager Dennis Wise, the alleged leaking of his line-up before the clash was arguably the most bizarre.
Wise should have spent the aftermath of the match reflecting on a precious league win. Instead, he explained to the media how an unnamed member of his squad had allegedly given Palace details of United’s team ahead of the contest at Elland Road.
“The leak disappoints me immensely and he won’t be playing for the club again,” Wise said. “It’s only right to speak out about something this disappointing.”
Betrayal
News of the alleged leak earned Wise support and criticism in equal measures. Former Leeds defender Paul Reaney called it the “ultimate betrayal” but Palace manager Peter Taylor said: “I don’t know why Dennis is making such a big deal of this.
“A Leeds player spoke to a Palace player on Friday night but it was a general conversation – he wasn’t leaking the team. I love Dennis to bits, but I’m very disappointed about this.”
Gordon Taylor, the chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association, went further, saying: “The problem now is that there’ll be a witch-hunt in the media.
“These are serious accusations and they’ll impact very badly on the player in question. Sooner or later Leeds are going to have to justify their decision because that would be constructive dismissal.”
Fingers were wrongly pointed at United midfielder Shaun Derry, a close friend of Palace’s Danny Butterfield and the extent of the smear was shown by Derry protesting his innocence upon leaving United for Palace almost a year later.
The allegation that he was the guilty party continued to rankle 12 months on.
Wise, however, was unapologetic and took heart from a narrow victory over Palace.
Bottom of the Championship and two points from safety, his team were in desperate need of results and goals from Matt Heath and Robbie Blake sealed a ninth win of the season.
Heath opened the scoring with a 27th-minute header and Blake appeared to have put the result beyond doubt when he picked up Richard Cresswell’s pass from the touchline and stabbed home a left-footed shot.
Wise celebrated as if the points were secure but Leon Cort gave Elland Road the jitters seven minutes from time by reaching out to convert Mark Kennedy’s free-kick.
“What happened hurts a lot,” Wise said of the alleged leak. “but I spoke to the other players and they responded. I’m chuffed to bits with that.”
Reaney offered Wise his backing, saying: “I’m right behind Dennis and I agree with his comments. You can’t have this going on in your squad.
“What goes on in the dressing room stays in the dressing room and there’s no excuse for leaking the line-up. It doesn’t matter whether it was malicious or not.”
United: Ankergren, Richardson, Marques, Heath, Lewis (Sa 64), Blake (Foxe 87), Nicholls, Douglas, Westlake, Moore, Kandol (Cresswell 68). Subs (not used): Sullivan, Howson.
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