Blackwell plans Leeds action

Former Leeds manager Kevin Blackwell is preparing to sue the club for wrongful dismissal.

Blackwell was sacked by Leeds two months ago and chairman Ken Bates has since refused to enter into compensation talks with the League Managers Association.

“We would have preferred to keep it out of court,” LMA chief executive John Barnwell told PA Sport.

“But it would appear Leeds don’t want to negotiate a settlement.

“Mr Bates has said Kevin Blackwell was not dismissed because of poor results but for negative comments made in the press about the club’s finances, but having looked closely at this case we feel we have no option other than to put the matter in the hands of our lawyers.”

Leeds later issued a statement which read: “In response to suggestions that former manager Kevin Blackwell is preparing to sue the club for wrongful dismissal, Leeds United can confirm that the matter is currently in the hands of our lawyers.

“No further comment will be made at this stage.”

Blackwell first arrived at Elland Road as coach in the summer of 2003 after being recommended to then manager Peter Reid when Leeds were still in the Premiership.

Reid lasted just eight months in charge and when Eddie Gray was sacked just six months after that, Blackwell became the club’s fifth manager in under two years.

He steered them to Coca-Cola Championship safety in his first full season in charge after a mass player exodus and took them to the brink of the Premiership last May.

But following their 3-0 defeat to Watford in the play-off final Leeds lost their momentum and poor early season results ensured the 47-year-old came under increasing pressure.

Blackwell was sacked on September 20 following a 1-0 defeat at Coventry which saw Leeds slump to second-bottom in the table – the lowest league position in their history.