Leeds chief admits administration a daily fear at Elland Road

LEEDS chairman Professor John McKenzie has revealed the thought of the club going into administration is a fearful prospect which crosses his mind every day.

McKenzie, who took over six months ago on the day Leeds announced a club record debt of £78.9million, is due to reveal the latest year-end accounts next week.

It is anticipated little or no headway will have been made into that figure, not least because of the severance pay-outs to former boss Terry Venables and directors Peter Ridsdale, Stephen Harrison and David Spencer.

With the redundancies and cutbacks made throughout the club since McKenzie took office, the 65-year-old is convinced calmer waters lie ahead for Leeds.

But with Leeds again hovering precariously over the Premier League relegation zone after losing five of their opening nine matches, McKenzie can be forgiven for casting an eye towards the future should United be relegated.

“At this stage in the year, I don’t spend time worrying too much about that - I’m much more positive,” stated McKenzie.

“It would be very difficult to survive and there would have to be some very savage cuts if we were going to go into administration.

“The structure of the team, the structure of what we could do, even what you might be able to charge fans for seats would change enormously. It would be a very sad day for Leeds United and a very difficult day. But I’m sure the club would go on, as it has done in the past.”

McKenzie is close to taking a positive step with the appointment of a chief executive, with Trevor Birch, who was formerly with Chelsea prior to Peter Kenyon’s recent appointment, the man in the frame.

McKenzie believes the appointment of a chief executive is vital to Leeds and he added: “Certainly we can afford one and we’ve got to have one.”