Leeds: Bakke must leave

Leeds have revealed that Eirik Bakke’s high wages are the reason he is being allowed to leave the Elland Road club.

The Norwegian midfielder revealed at the weekend that Leeds chief executive Shaun Harvey told him he would never play for the club again and denied rumours he has agreed to join another club.

But Leeds claim they simply can no longer afford to keep the 28-year-old because of his Premiership salary.

Harvey told the club‘s official website: “It’s in the club’s best interests for Eirik to move on. At the present time Eirik is back in Norway trying, along with his advisers to find another club before the transfer window shuts at the end of the month.

“He is in the final year of a contract, which in any shape or form, would not be renewed at the end of the season. While the level of his salary is in no way his fault, it is preventing the club from moving forward as quickly as we would like.”

Bakke was signed under former chairman Peter Ridsdale, and Harvey added: “Apart from Gary Kelly, Eirik is the last of the players from the Ridsdale era when players were remunerated very, very well.

“But time has moved on. We no longer have the parachute payment, we are no longer a Premiership club and we have to face reality.”