Premiership News News
Ridsdale Finally Leaves Leeds
Submitted By Michael
on Monday 31st March 2003
After months of speculation and fans' abuse, Peter Ridsdale has left Leeds United Football Club after almost 6 years as chairman. Professor John McKenzie has taken over with immediate effect.
The selling off of such players as Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Fowler, Jonathan Woodgate and Lee Bowyer did not go down well with the fans, and made losses on all players but Rio Ferdinand. Fowler left for little more than ₤2 million after signing for ₤10 million only a year before.
The side have also slumped into 16th position in the Premier League after finishing 3rd 3 seasons running and are now faced with the prospect of relegation.
The resignation directly followed the announcement to the stock market that the clubs losses had increased to ₤17 million that year to total up to almost ₤80 million despite over ₤40 million worth of sales.
The club wanted to move forward and build a new stadium, but Ridsdale held the club back after claiming that they could still finish in a champions league spot. The recent sacking of Terry Venable did not help his position, and there was no way he could realistically continue.
Professor McKenzie says he will not have much of a hand-on role, which will please many of the Leeds faithful, as Ridsdale's regular corney media interviews tried to discredit the fans and blame them for the extravagant purchases beforehand, saying that they did not stop him. |
|