Leeds chairman: 'Exodus will continue'

Leeds chairman Gerald Krasner today saw yet another player leave Elland Road and then insisted: “More will follow.”

Former England international Nick Barmby this afternoon ended his less-than-illustrious Leeds career by joining hometown club Hull and Australian striker Mark Viduka is on the verge of completing a move to Middlesbrough.

James Milner and Stephen McPhail both left the club last Friday, for Newcastle and Barnsley respectively, but Krasner insists the Elland Road exodus is far from over.

The Leeds director today met with director David Richmond to discuss which players may leave before the start of the season in order to get the wage bill below £20m (€29.9m) – it was £40m (€59.8m) during their last campaign, which ended in relegation from the Premiership.

Krasner told the Press Association: “It is likely that a number of players will be moving over the next three or four days but until everything is signed, sealed and delivered, I cannot say who will be leaving.”

There are several players at Leeds earning Premiership wages and the club will be relieved to have off-loaded Barmby and Viduka’s expected transfer to Middlesbrough will also help ease their massive debts.

Dominic Matteo has been linked with a move to Blackburn and Ian Harte is understood to have attracted the attention of several clubs, including newly-promoted Primera Liga outfit Levante.

Midfielders Seth Johnson and Eirik Bakke are also believed to be Elland Road high-earners.