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Leeds United: We simply had to let Jonny go - Lorimer
I’ll be as disappointed as anyone to see Jonny Howson leave Leeds United.
He’s a smashing lad and a smashing player and no-one at Elland Road can say otherwise. But this was a deal that the club had to do. It was a case of take the money now or risk losing him for nothing in the summer.
Make no mistake – Jonny isn’t being forced out. The club have been trying to agree a new contract with him for months and the offer to him was a good one. But he wants to play Premier League football next season and we can’t promise him that. There’s a great chance of us winning promotion, but it’s certainly not guaranteed.
All I know is that if we’d kept Jonny and not been promoted, he’d have gone on a free transfer. That would have been his right and good for him but it’s not good for us as a club. Two years ago, we turned down £2m to keep Jermaine Beckford and we went up from League One, but Jonny is injured at the moment. At the most he’d probably have played in another dozen games before reaching the end of his deal.
The supporters will ask why a new contract with Howson wasn’t agreed earlier but the fact is we’ve tried. In reality, when Premier League clubs start snooping around good, young players it’s incredibly difficult to tie them down without being in that division yourself. That’s not just down to money (and I really don’t think Jonny is being driven by money). It’s also down to the lure of playing in one of the best divisions in the world.
As for people questioning our ambition, I say again that we’ve got one of the biggest squads in the division. We all expected the players to do better than they have so far, and we’ve had an in-and-out season to be honest, but don’t think for one minute that any of us – myself, Ken Bates, Shaun Harvey or Simon Grayson – aren’t frustrated to be sitting outside the play-offs.
We thought – and we still think – that we’ve got a good enough squad to be right in the mix.
Nothing
And I’m certain that it will be strengthened over the next fortnight. It was always the intention to bring in new players this month and make sure we were in better shape at the end of January than we were when it started.
You might look at the sale of Jonny Howson and think it weakens the squad, but we now have another sum of cash to invest in the team. In another six months, Jonny might have gone and we’d have been left with nothing. That doesn’t help us.
As a club you have to do what’s best for you and we’ve put many years of work into helping Jonny become the player he is.
I’m sad to see him go, but it would have been far worse had he left for nothing. I understand his thinking but I hope people also understand why this had to happen.
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Comments
There are 170 comments to this article
Page 1 of 12
white01
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 03:11 PMBut tell me then Mr Lorimer if you keep selling off your best players all the time for next to nothing, including your club captains,because the lure of Premier League football for them is too great then how and when exactly are we supposed to ever get promoted?I am so sick of hearing how big this club is and about how we are one of few actually running at a profit.You wouldnt know it.Maybe part of the problem could be also be the fact that KB is as tight as a fishes arse.Correct me if I am wrong.
MARTY66
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 11:49 AMPeter you are a legend at this great club, but you have to admit that had we shown more ambition in the transfer market back before the season began with an all out push for promotion and a solid contract offer on the table that Jonny would still be leaving now.( I DON'T THINK SO). As I've said before the main problem is the coaching staff, we need a change of leadership for the team, someone needs to come in and shake the whole thing up, there's no cohesion to our play, different starting eleven nearly every game, all our best assets sold off and nothing but loan signings coming in. If there is a genuine interest in promotion then lets see the cash and not the bulls**t excuses about having to sell this player and that player. The fans won't be patient for much longer.......................................
Weve all had enough
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 12:18 AMPeter Lorimer, part of the greatest era this club will ever see, record number of goals, 90 miles an hour an all that. Unfortunately, if you are not careful, you are going to be remembered for the role you are playing now. I was astounded with the goings on in the Centenary Pavillion prior to the Ipswich game, it was embarrassing. Young Ben Parker should not have been put in that position. But, fair play to him for telling the truth. John McClelland said he would be disappointed if the money from Jonny wasn't spent on tying players like Snodgrass and White to the club. It shouldn't have to be, where is the money from Max and Kasper? Do us and yourself a favour Peter and remain a true legend of this great club of ours by resigning from the board. Once you have done this, you can tell us what you really think.
original koppite
Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 06:08 PMJonty...As a supporter of LUFC I'm entitled to post now you, who's never been a supporter and now you don't even go, have no rights at all.
Jonty64
Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 10:02 AMIt's bad enough seeing one comment from koppite but 3 in a row is a breach of the Geneva Convention.
interm'landrover
Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 09:47 AMWell McCarthy had a shut-out (as predicted by Mystic Meg after a night out with the tractor boys - one of them told her he was a ninety minute man boy was she disappointed !)We still have problems creating clear cut chances but Ipswich gave us a bit of assistance with communication problems at the back Delph will be an asset and an energetic presence.I hope Luciano goes on to recover his best form.MOT!.
Sanjose white
Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 08:29 PMLorimer the player much respect Lorimer the Parrot Zero respect
original koppite
Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 08:26 PMKingbilly Ba was reported as being available on a free but my point is there is no such thing as a free in todays football with players pushed to avarice by greedy caniving agents.
kingbilly
Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 07:07 PMkopiite. in your post you said pulis could have signed him on a freebie. a freebie does not cost 10 million, unless there are underhanded deals going on . george graham , harry rednapp and Alex fergusons and his agent son come to mind.
original koppite
Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 06:25 PMJonty commenting on people not going down ER is rich....He was one of the 1st to say he was stopping going to games at ER in protest against Bates but Jonty has been taking the rip out of LUFC since a mate of his and fellow worshipper was knocked back from buying the club. Now Iam not nor have I ever been racist because I've seen Manny Cousins and PP mess up my club but Jonty isn't as magnaminous as that.
original koppite
Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 06:20 PMKingbilly...If Ba was free why would it take balls to sign him???The fact is the vast majority of posters haven't a scooby about football finances and that includes me which is why, apart from pointing out stupid outlandish claims made by WUMs, I don't comment on them.
original koppite
Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 05:51 PMOranjes...MON turned around a team that had £20m spent on it last close season and was a PL team before that Which is a different proposition to turning a team around that cost Zilch. Paul Jewel and Roy Keane have spent £20m in the last 3 years at Ipswich and I don't see them pulling any trees up as DIDN'T the Wally with the Brolly at the florests.
Jonty64
Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 05:43 PMcarlin, original koppite isn't bothered by prices at Leeds because he doesn't got to Leeds game he goes to Huddersfield and man utd games. Lord know why he comments on issues about Leeds. Can anyone say why it say 'Howson Out' on the whiteboard behind Jonny?
Bremner72
Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 12:26 PMWhitewolf (143).... I tried to find that the other day...... people thought I was making it up. BATES OUT
Bremner72
Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 12:23 PMThis article should start...... Peter Lorimer (once Leeds Legend, now crooks puppet). This is quite simple for me. Had we invested in the squad last summer, instead of a ground we don't own, and other corporate facitlites - then we'd have made progress and would be knocking on the door of promotion.... then Johnny would have signed a contract. He's leaving, as signing free transfers and nobodies don't signal an intent to take the club back to where it belongs. We're a country mile off being good enough for the premier league. Clayton and Lees will go in the summer to fund further redevelopement. In 3 years we'll go up with top class facilities, but we won't realise benefit as when we're sold Ken will retain the assets. Forget everything Bates, Lorimer, whoever say's, this club is going backwards. I could take it if Bates could be honest with us, and tell us if we can't go up yet for financial penalties from the administration - but it just seems that our money is being pumped into things that will make HIM money until he dies, but not the club. I don't care what anybody says about not supporting my club, I'm not returning until he's gone. BATES OUT
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