Soccer: Leeds likely to bide time

LEEDS appear poised to bide their time should they choose to go into administration due to acting-chairman Trevor Birch’s apparently healthy relationship with the club’s creditors.

The future of the club currently hangs in the balance with just five days' remaining to the end of a standstill agreement with the creditors who are owed £82 million.

Birch is understood to be working frantically behind the Elland Road scenes in the hope of attracting a buyer for the debt-laden club, or enough investment to see Leeds through to the end of the season.

It is believed a figure between £5-£8 million is required to keep Leeds going for the final 16 weeks of the campaign, which may yet result in at least one player being sold before the closure of this month's transfer window.

If no funds are forthcoming, then administration (the last resort at this stage) would appear to be the only option, however, the creditors would still have a significant role to play.

The bondholders, American companies MetLife and Teachers, along with British firm M&G, as well as player-leasing agents Registered European Football Finance Ltd, would not want to see Leeds in administration.

However, Leeds are seemingly under no pressure from the creditors, and instead it is the prospect of the Premier League imposing a points penalty for any team falling into the hands of administrators which could force their hand.