We are selling?
Monday, 7th Jan 2013 18:30

An analysis of the club finances by LUST claim we are £19.6m in debt, with rumours that Luciano Becchio, Sam Byram and now Tom Lees could be heading for the exit doors are these typically worrying times to be a white?

January has never been a good time to be a Leeds fan, ten years ago we lost Jonathan Woodgate to Newcastle.

Last year it was Jonny Howson to Norwich.

If speculation is to be believed, Leeds are more likely to be selling than buying, despite the takeover and assumption that the new owners GFH capital were set to sanction a spending spree by Neil Warnock.

A statement by LUST today claims GFH capital will inherit an astonishing £19.6m of debt and in a damning statement aimed at the outgoing regime, it said "In the five years since administration Ken Bates and Shaun Harvey have managed to accumulate debts amounting to around the same amount as those that put us into administration in the first place. We just hope that the creditors are more patient this time (and don’t include HMRC)."

It sure makes grim reading. On Saturday in the absence of virus striken Neil Warnock, his Assistant Mick Jones reckoned he was "more worried" of the likelihood of players leaving the club than getting some in!

Top of the tree is Luciano Becchio, who has soared into our all time top scorers list with 19 goals already this season and reportedly a target for Wigan at £4m. At 28, Becchio is entering his prime, how much longer can he wait before testing his abilities against the countries finest defenders? He has 18 months left on his existing deal.

Sam Byram has emerged as one of the few success stories of the season and Liverpool, Everton as well as Norwich are all meant to be tracking our latest home grown sensation.

Tom Lees has also emerged as a target for wealthier clubs with Celtic apparently leading the chase along with Aston Villa, QPR, Wigan and Cardiff according to Sky Sports News.

On the incoming front, Clint Hill has been added to the name of Dexter Blackstock. Hill as been a regular for struggling QPR this season but if Harry Redknapp manages to bring in players he wants then it could free up Hill to move north. However given he is 34 years old it would hardly be a signing for the future?

Photo: Action Images

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littletomy added 20:05 - Jan 7 If Luciano Becchio, Sam Byram or Tom Lees are transferred they might as will lock up Elland Road and ask the last person to turn out the lights. It will be the last straw for me, I was going to renew my season ticket because Bates had gone but if any players are transferred not only will I not be renewing my season ticket but I will never go to Elland Road again.
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sanjosewhites added 21:01 - Jan 7 WOW is this all true if the 3 go to Norwich we can support a premier league team as it will be mostly Leeds players 51 years supporting Leeds may be time to say good bye Bates has done very well out of all this 50 million Why did GFH buy us if this is fact we are broke again I don't see us ever getting back its over What a mess
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Bluesman added 21:09 - Jan 7

This is all pure speculation. I am not confident about the future until GFH show commitment and get their cheque book out. If they sell the key players then that is a sign that they cannot afford LUFc and that we are in dire straights! Lets see what happens, but like the others who have commented, it would be the last straw for me and I would never darken LUFC's door again. Gone forever, fishing, golf, hiking, sailing but never football!!!

TimWhelan added 23:18 - Jan 7

I wouldn't be that bothered if Becchio left, provided we got another striker in. I don't think he's good enough for the Premiership, so if any Premiership club did come in for him they'd be paying us over the odds.

But we really can't sell Lees or Byram if we're at all serious about getting promotion. It's worrying that Mick Jones said of Byram "I don't think Sam will go because he's in the right place to develop as a player but there might be some pressure to sell him."

Tare added 02:11 - Jan 8 Sorry to spoil your breaking news but on what basis is your sources based on? Usual suspects are always in the shopping window. Tare
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LUFCinSF added 03:21 - Jan 8 Honestly, according to LUST...do you really think an investment company would come in and pump cash in without doing all the due diligence and understanding the situation? Be patient fellas. This transfer window will show what their intentions are and the investment they are prepared to make.
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