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Leeds United: Warnock calls for a united front
Neil Warnock today called for a united front at Elland Road after vowing to inspire a late run to the Championship play-offs.
Leeds United’s new manager urged the club and their supporters to put aside recent differences and come together for the last 14 games of the campaign, admitting: “I don’t want to write this season off.”
United’s search for a new boss ended over the weekend when Warnock was named as Simon Grayson’s replacement on a contract until the end of next season.
The 63-year-old played an active role in Saturday’s injury-time win over Doncaster Rovers, and he took charge of his first training session at Thorp Arch yesterday morning.
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His appointment comes after weeks of unrest in Leeds, with the club’s disappointing league position leading to protests against their board, but United’s pulsating defeat of Doncaster kept alive their hopes of promotion to the Premier League.
Warnock said: “It’s an opportunity now to put to bed these differences and the problems they’ve had over the past few months. Everyone get behind the team.
“We’ve only got 14 games left for heaven’s sake. Let’s put that all to bed and everyone be like they were on Saturday. It’s a great club when it’s like that.”
Mick Jones, Warnock’s long-standing assistant, has joined his staff as United’s number two, and coach Ronnie Jepson, who worked under Warnock at Crystal Palace and Queens Park Rangers, was also present at Thorp Arch for yesterday’s training session.
Further additions to Warnock’s backroom team are expected in the coming days, and he is hopeful of securing at least one new signing before Saturday’s visit to Portsmouth.
Defender Clint Hill and former Leeds midfielder Shaun Derry, both of whom were part of Warnock’s squad at Queens Park Rangers, are potential targets, and Warnock has stressed the need for new signings to chairman Ken Bates.
Warnock said: “The chairman was supportive when I spoke to him. He knows I feel we need two or three players, if we can get the right ones, to supplement what we’ve already got. Ideally I’d love to get somebody in before the weekend.
“There are areas we have to improve if we’re not to write this season off. I don’t want to write this season off, not just yet – even though the bookies aren’t giving us much opportunity.”
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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Comments
There are 75 comments to this article
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pattaya tyke
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 12:25 PMRe #74. United are definitely not one of the 30% overspending. I understand that the latest accounts for LU list the outgoings for wages etc as being 30% of turnover. Now that the football hierarchy are proposing a maximum spend of 70% of turnover, that would allow for an additional 40% of spending power. Not for one minute am I proposing increasing spending to 70%, but if we increased it to 50% alongside trimming the squad to a manageable size,would I think give Mr Warnock more than sufficient funds to get the players he needs to get us into the PL and also enable him to prepare us for life in the PL. It would also leave our now BELOVED CHAIRMAN substantial funds for his pet projects. Just a thought, but I shall probably be shot down by the SAVE ALL, SPEND NOWT brigade.
maidonian
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 10:28 AMBates is not on my Christmas card list, nor would I buy a second hand car from him, but credit where credit's due. In a national paper today the administrator of Portsmouth is quoted as saying : '30 percent of the clubs in the Championship are paying wages in excess of 100 per cent of turnover'. I think we can say with confidence that Leeds are not one of them. Leeds have been through administration and Bates is making sure that it doesn't happen again. As I say, credit where credit's due.
KRU251
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 10:32 PMIf Pompey are trying to lul us into a false sense of security with this then its working on me..................................................................................http:www.portsmouth.co.uksportpompeypompey-pastappleton_fearing_no_leeds_injury_returns_1_3542094
OzTyke
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 03:25 AMWhat is about to unfold will be eventful and controversial maybe, but one thing it won't be is BORING! I refuse to let Bates & Co spoil my enjoyment, they will keep for another day. Some nice spirit shown against Donny, Becchio running to the sidelines to hug Redfearn, Clayton stirring the crowd up at the restart following his equaliser, and Alex Bruce doing a Rambo and flying the flag for the Whites down the tunnel. Good signs! In the meantime MOT and bring on Pompey!!
Jettatura
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 12:19 AMColin's appointment is a good move by Bates... He's the one most fans, myself included, wanted. Not because I'm a fan but because on a level he does count as a 'name manager'... Something of a specialist at this level with a proven record of success and belligerence in equal measure... His presence was undoubtedly a galvanising factor on Saturday for the players and the fans!... I mean, what a tremendous second-half of football!... It had everything!... Double-knockout, a full-on fight in the tunnel and a 99th-minute winner!... But the euphoria's fading now... Yes, Bates has done the right thing, but, ironically he's done it for all the wrong reasons!... Typical Ken!... Make no mistake, Colin's appointment IS a concession by Bates... Let's not forget his original plan was to stealth-parachute Bargain-Bin-Redders into the position... Only fragments of the original plan survive today but it's true to say it was breathtaking in it's stupidity!... Fly in under the Kop's radar, give Redders a run a of winnable games, including 2 teams at the bottom and then sit back in Monaco stroking your beard whilst the Morons lap it up... But, like the best-laid plans of mice & Ken, it all went wrong!... Kenny didn't get his dream (cheap!) happy ending... We'll all concede the LUST protest and level of general dissent coupled with a massive drop-off in ST renewals were also factors in forcing his hand... So, we are where we are... Grayson's moved on to a job where he'll be backed, and I'm pleased for him. Well, I was until I read in The Sun he looked forward to winning at ER next season!... We'll let that go as a dig at Bates & Co and call it his 'vote of no confidence' in Bates!... Biggest questions still remain though; which Colin are we getting?... We need the Colin that we all love to hate... Very importantly, someone who's his own man!... Someone in charge of transfer policy (without interference from Gwyn 'Mandelson' Williams! - for me a club statement at least)... Someone prepared to be a straight-talker... We don't need another manager working under constraints... I mean, Colin's approaching his twilight years and has called this 'his last world tour' or some such... It's his swansong...On one level he was every bit as desperate to get the job as Grayson was... It's a matter of record that he was 'envious' when Blackwell got the Leeds gig and even as a Blade dreamt of getting the job... I just hope he didn't jump into Ken's pocket in his eagerness!... Will Bates back him in the Summer?... Will he let him get some quality loanees?... Once again Kenneth, over to you. If YOU invest, so will I.
lufc jenko
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 08:41 PMeverybody as a boss who pulls th e purse strings and if they d been pulled a bit tighter a few years back we would not be where we are now lets live for today fcuk tomorrow when we were in league 1 we were all gutted lets be real see some positives mot the only way is up
Number1leedsfan
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 08:31 PMI echo the outbreak of positive thinking, but football fans are all crazy optimists however Leeds fans have had nothing to he cheerful about for a long time. I said to the guys around me on Sat at 80 mins and 2-2 that the next ten minutes could determine our season. The boys did it and I just like everyone so want to believe we can go up and up into the top six. As the guy said earlier what a difference a day makes..MOT
armchairtd
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 07:48 PMNo worries KRU251Not critical at all, I tell you what though I'll wait for your call letting me know you've won!! Here's a thought if you get a quad rollover on the euro millions you can buy the club!! MOT
wafllufc
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 07:26 PMI for one am sick to the back Teeth of all this Bates out crap at every game it does the team no good and Bates is not going anywhere, it's his club. Just get behind the lads and lets have one last push for the play-offs .
allanb78
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 07:25 PMBramleywhite Valentines day was last week so please stop sending me these elecronic Valentines cards,because it's getting a bit embarrassing.I can't believe we've agreed on something twice in a single day.Next thing you'll be inviting me round to tea.Still ,keep up the good fight for right will triumph in the end.
Leedsintheblood
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 07:05 PMIf people are still not happy then nothing is ever going to please them. We've got the best manager we could have hoped for. If he fails then nobody else would have done better. Warnock has a track record to match anyone else's. Not one manager anywhere else has got promotion more than him. Not one. It's time to stop protests and get behind the team now. You should be totally excited by the latest developments. Warnock is brilliant news for Leeds United. It might not be instant but he'll sort it if it can be sorted.
leedsls27
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 06:31 PMThe wind of change is blowing through this county. According to the OS, Junior Members presenting a purchased ticket for the Southampton game, any time from purchase up to 8pm on the day of the match, will be given a free home shirt. A proven manager with a valid reputation and a bit of balls about him and a sales gimmick to get the kids in, all inside 72 hours, whatever next? I think I need to lie down... But above all any continued thoughts about any sort of protest during the Southampton game will prove beyond any doubt that the ABB and or LUST only have their own agenda in place and have no thoughts whatsoever for the current wellbeing of the club. Warnock is no miracle cure for all but he now gives us some glimpse, and hope, of a bit of ambition to build on and it would be criminal if we miss the opportunity to give the team back their twelfth man on the back of some now defunct, dead in the water, and ultimately pointless from day one, campaign. But of course I'm guessing LUST will now be suggesting that Bates was backed into a corner by their frenzied campaigning and hence delivered us the ambition, and free shirt, they'd been protesting about all along. Whatever, didn't care at the start of it, don't care now, just support your team...
original koppite
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 06:29 PM54KRU251....I for one and there were a few others felt youre post to be relevent whilst SG was and knew the numpties were driving him outwhich I fear they will do with NW as soon as things get tough.
bramley whites
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 06:25 PMAllan78 will you give me a slating please because today im in total agreement with everything you have typed lol
Liam123
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 06:18 PMA nice little sweetener on the club website, free junior home shirt with a junior ticket for the Southampton game. Maybe things are changing at the club after all. Has someone swapped ken bates pills?
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