Fans scorn ‘greedy and selfish’ Leeds’ players

LEEDS’ players were last night accused of being “greedy and selfish” by supporters who had previously backed them to the hilt.

The refusal to accept an initial 35% pay deferral has provoked outrage and fury among fans now expecting to lose at least one, if not two of the club's star names before the closure of this month's transfer window.

After acquiring a seven-day extension to the 'standstill' deadline agreed with the bondholders and crown creditors the Inland Revenue and Customs & Excise - on Monday, acting chairman and chief executive, Trevor Birch, had hoped the players would then show a united front.

With Leeds requiring a figure of between £3.5million to £5million to see them through to the end of the season, Birch turned to the players on Tuesday in the club's hour of need, but is understood to have been stunned by their decision in two stormy meetings at Thorp Arch.

The players discussed the matter among themselves and while there were a number willing to defer their pay until the end of the season, it became apparent they were in the minority.

Birch's plan did not impact on the juniors at the club, nor the up-and-coming names like James Milner, Aaron Lennon and Matthew Kilgallon.

Instead it focused on the 15 or so most highly-paid players.

The fact that Birch, who earns £500,000 per year, caretaker manager Eddie Gray and head coach Kevin Blackwell were all willing to defer their pay until the end of the season apparently cut no ice with the players.

When it came to the two-and-a- half-hour meeting which followed with Professional Footballers' Association chief executive, Gordon Taylor, and deputy Mick McGuire, those against were the most vocal - demanding a player be sold instead.

A cut in the deferral figure to 30% was mentioned, but quickly dismissed, and now Birch is in limbo as he must decide whether to bow to player power and sell one of the big names, which is likely to be Alan Smith.

That would go against everything Birch has previously stated as he knows it would severely impact on the club's hopes of avoiding relegation

An angry John Boocock, chairman of the Leeds United Supporters' Trust, said: "They are very selfish, very stupid, very badly advised or all three.

"If they are supposed to be a team and to be united then this does not show it.

"And as far as I'm concerned, they have missed an opportunity here.

"They could have stood up and said 'yes, we have a part to play in this downfall' because their performances on the pitch in the last five matches have been pitiful.

"Do they not realise that some of them earn more in a year than some people do in 150 years?

"I know Mark Viduka earns more money in a week than I do in three years.

"They had a chance to show real Dunkirk spirit," he said.

"It would have made a huge difference if they had backed the club the way we have backed them."