Gray given Krasner backing

Eddie Gray will be manager of Leeds “for the foreseeable future”.

That promise has been delivered by new supremo Gerald Krasner, who had coffee with Gray yesterday.

Gray’s long-term future has been the subject of constant speculation with the club lying at the foot of the table.

But Krasner today told Radio Five Live’s Sportsweek programme: “As far as I am concerned he is our manager for the foreseeable future.”

Krasner will chair a new look board following the takeover of the club by a locally-based consortium on Friday.

Leeds have been under severe threat for almost a year with insolvency expert Krasner stating that debts had spiralled to “£103m (€153.7m) to £104m (€155.2m)”.

He is excited about what lies ahead – the team face Manchester City tomorrow in a crucial relegation battle.

“Leeds are a great club, with a great history and they will have a good future again,” he said.

“We just concentrated on saving the club from extinction. Quite honestly if Leeds had gone into administration and liquidation that’s what would have happened.

“All the problems that were going to lead to administration have been dealt with.

“The four major creditors are quite happy with the plan and strategy we have put to them.

“Leeds are in far better shape on Sunday morning than they were Friday morning.”

Krasner refused to be drawn on whether key players like Mark Viduka, Alan Smith and Paul Robinson would be off-loaded to reduce the wage bill.

But he did reveal they are about to get back pay. “I had a quick chat with them and they are delighted to know the wage deferral is ended,” he said.

“Next week they will not only get March wages they will get the backlog from February.”