Leeds sever links with Ridsdale regime

LEEDS have severed all connections with the old Peter Ridsdale regime as new chairman Professor John McKenzie brought in a team of city accountants to help save the club.

McKenzie, who took over from Ridsdale in February as chairman of the club and plc, will be giving up his other business commitments to assume a greater hands-on role at the financially-stricken club while finance director and chief operating officer Stephen Harrison has resigned. A team from accountants Ernst & Young has been given three months to restructure the club.

McKenzie has now become full-time executive chairman with direct responsibility for all the company's operations and to bring in cost-cutting measures. The announcements mean that Leeds' plans to appoint a chief executive or managing director will be delayed for at least several months.