Leeds United Live To Fight Another Day (with one hand tied behind their back though)

It’s been a rough few months for Leeds United fans. Relegated to League One (where there’ll almost definitely be no Champions League semi-finals against Valencia) the club’s dire financial situation meant nearly having Mike Tyson as fitness coach before suffering the arguably worse indignity of being owned by Ken Bates twice over. Then not so long ago, it looked as though Leeds would cease to exist altogether AND have their name stolen by opportunistic Farsley Celtic chairman Andy Firbank. Which makes today’s news that Leeds will begin 2007/8 in League One on -15 points quite good news, relatively speaking.

The 15 point penalty was imposed today by the English Football League as a condition of Leeds being granted a Football League “share,” which is basically membership of the League and therefore the right to compete. Leeds plan to appeal, and will do so at a special meeting of Football League clubs. But the decision was the League bending over backwards to prevent Leeds United disappearing from professional football altogether, and brings up questions about whether bigger clubs get more leniency when it comes to this type of thing (Aldershot FC will tell you the answer is “yes.”)

So now this season’s worst case scenario isn’t the end of Leeds United FC, but further relegation. With Leeds’ threadbare squad needing five wins just to reach the grand total of zero points they’ll have a fight on just to remain in League One next season.

If you have any sympathy, prepare to weep when you read this next bit.

Ray Fell, chairman of the Leeds supporters club, said the points deduction was “a recipe for relegation” and described fans as “shattered.” Then he added “but we’re shattered every day at Elland Road now”.

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Category: England, World Football