Leeds players may face fans' backlash

Leeds’ players were tonight 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 £3.5m (€5m) to £5m (€7.25m) to see them through to the end of the season, Birch yesterday turned to the players 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, and instead focused on the 15 or so most highly-paid players.

The fact Birch, 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, likely to be striker 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

With no investors on the horizon, Birch would appear to have just two other options open to him, with the first to let the club fall into the hands of the administrators.

Leeds, though, are effectively in a state of administration anyway given the ‘payment freeze’ with creditors.

The only difference is that the arrival of administrators would see them – and not the club – deciding who would be sold, when and for how much.

Alternatively, Birch could decide to terminate a number of contracts, in particular those of least value to the club.

While any player effectively axed would have grounds to sue as it would be a breach of contract, the fact is Leeds simply would not have any funds to settle.

The situation is messy but, with the players refusing to dip their hands into their pockets, the fans are furious.

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 in a week than I do in three years.

“They had a chance to show real Dunkirk spirit. It would have made a huge difference if they had backed the club the way we have backed them.

“But they have shot themselves in the foot and now the fans are really brassed off. No-one can condone what they have done, especially when you consider the season we have so far had to endure and the support we have given them.”

Ray Fell, chairman of the Leeds United Supporters’ Club, launched his own scathing attack as he said: “If the stories are to be believed then the fans will find it hard to understand.

“Despite the fact the club are in dire straits, the fans have given the players 100% support and it’s sad the players haven’t now got it in them to support the club.

“The situation is looking gloomy. We are in a total state of disbelief at what is happening, but pinching ourselves that this is in fact reality.”

Leeds legend Peter Lorimer, though, can understand the players’ concerns, with many claiming the bulk of their salaries are tied up in trusts designed to ensure they are secure for their lives beyond football, and that they face being hit with penalties if payments are not met.

“They will have commitments and mortgages, with their money committed up to what they are earning,” explained Lorimer.

“I can appreciate that when you are earning as much money as they are earning, and it’s not their fault they are being paid those amounts of money, it may be difficult for people to understand the problem.

“But when you are earning that amount for five, six or seven years, you have to think of your future.

“At the end of the day they might give something back to the club, but when you are in this situation, then the players will have their own reasons as to why they have taken the stance they have.”