For de som tror på Brian McD:
LUFC McDermott to remain next season!! McDermott to remain next season!!
Massimo Cellino has arrived at Elland Road with the keys to the boardroom firmly in his pocket. Casually he took in a pint of Yorkshires finest at the Old Peacock and relaxed with a traditional pub lunch. Sat at a window seat and under the shadow of the South Stand, Massimo begins contemplating on the purchase of this real estate that Leeds United fans have been promised time and time again by previous owners. Next on his agenda will be Thorpe Arch, Leeds United illustrious training centre. You can almost see Massimo going through his things to do tick list that will eventually scroll down to 'What to do about Brian McDermott`
Massimo was the man that sacked Brian McDermott as the January transfer market was about to close, later he stated that this was a misunderstanding between himself and Brian. Leeds fans descended on Elland Road at the time after hearing that Massimo Cellino was inside doing business in the transfer market. Rumour has it that he wasn`t about to sell the club fridge to stock up on beer. Later GFH re-instated Brian although he was to be absent for the Saturday match against near neighbours Huddersfield.
So……..what to do about Brian?
Brian McDermott arrived at Elland Road last season after Neil Warnock resigned after failing to achieve a play-off place with Leeds United. GFH in the meantime convince Brian to take up the position left vacant. Brian was given the task of developing the squad for its new owners and a two-year target of leading the club to the promised land of the premiership. Brian and the fans where led to believe that a modest but sizeable transfer kitty would be available with more funds available as the new season got under way. Brian had targets but only Murphy, a young prospect was secured. Later Smith was prised from Oldham as another prospect but no real quality signing arrived other than a make do Noel Hunt. The vibes from Brian was that the board had tried but had not delivered on its promises. Brian was left with what was largely Neil Warnock`s squad that had already proved itself inadequate. Brian set about patching up where he could and promoting some of the academy players such as Alex Mowatt. Tom Lees and Sam Byram again where to be called into full time action with no further development opportunities.
Then around October time unbeknown to most, another take over had raised its head within the club. The Acting CEO at the time refused to be drawn on any comment when he was asked at the RMC conference that November, but the air in the room was that something serious was happening. The team in the meantime was progressing nicely and results would place them in the play-off positions in the league.
However,…things were now beginning to be afoot around the club and these unseen issues were starting to have an effect on the team and more importantly Brian McDermott. On more than one occasion Brian has quoted that if people knew what was going on behind the scenes they would be shocked and further he stated that no manager should or would have to put up with these unseen issues. There was also the issue with Festa who apparently stalked Brian and his coaches at Thorpe Arch training ground. Later it transpired that someone had changed the team the night before the Huddersfield game.
Brian has never elaborated on the issues at hand but it is now suspected that the Cellino takeover was only part of the problem. There seems that other untold problems have been occurring and these occurrences have ran ragged around the team and backroom staff. The player`s wages have been a recent publicised problem but this has been sold as a recent problem. An insider very close to the board recently let slip that the players wages had actually been an ongoing issue since the beginning of December. I have no reason to disbelieve this insider but if true, then this may explain the sudden down turn on the performances on the pitch.
Brian has been accused by Massimo of bleating too much over the recent four months but we the fans and the media have actually been kept in the dark on the real events that have been unfolding at Elland Road. It has to be noted that Massimo when cornered by SKY Sports News outside his Lawyers Offices in London actually let slip that he was not about to fire Brian now he understands what he has had to put up with other last few months. This was quite telling as it may indicate that more than a takeover was unsettling the squad.
Brian arrived at Elland Road as the new Messiah and a liking of Howard Wilkinson when he was appointed as Manager. He was an instant hit with fans and he always gave an honest answer when questioned by the media and fans. Brian quickly identified with the supporters and how much Leeds United meant to them. Here was a fan base, not customers as other clubs have inherited but an actual fanatical fan base that would support him and the team through thick and thin.
Therefore, it seems that Brian, like those before him, was dealt a dodgy hand from the start and in hindsight had no real chance of taking this club forward. Without real investment and real backing from his paymasters, he has actually been sold a dummy and further more we, as fans need to wake up and smell the coffee as that dummy was also sold to us. Brain may now become the scapegoat in this whole sorry season but and only a but, Massimo may realise this and see that Brian is more than just a good guy but a good manager who has persevered without any tools to do his job properly.
Everybody now needs to take a step back and give McDermott the opportunity to take this club forward into next season. Brian does have the qualities at this level and now we have a new messiah in Massimo Cellino, so maybe the jigsaw is coming together.
As for Brian, well he has remained loyal to the club and also to his past paymasters by not spilling the real beans.
Anyone for pre-season in Slovenia!!
Read more:
http://www.leeds.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=355635#ixzz2yV1KBkx9
