Thursday April 17, 2008

Leeds United; A Law Unto Themselves.

We have had some adverse comment to our coverage of Leeds United FC's recent activities from supporters of the club with one fan describing our site as "unprofessional".

That was quite funny really. For starters we are not professionals, we do this site purely because we like football, but it just seemed ironic that supporters of Leeds would have the gall to criticise anyone or anything for being "unprofessional".

In our opinion taking millions of pounds from other people without having the ability to pay it back is a more obvious example of unprofessional behaviour than expressing an unfavourable opinion on somebody or thing that does just that.

Anyway, to recap. Leeds cleverly went into administration just before the end of last season so that they could get out of paying back the vast majority of the money they owed and only incur a meaningless points penalty as they were already doomed to relegation from The Championship.

Not the actions of a club or people with any moral integrity, conscience or self respect, but not illegal either.

They then, however, contravened the league's regulations regarding insolvency and were docked a further 15 points for the start of this season.

Leeds dispute this decision believing it to be erroneous and have now started legal action to get the points back. This is despite the fact that they were quite happy to abide by the decision in the first place as it allowed them to actually continue playing in the Football League.

Saying one thing and meaning another seems to be something Leeds United are particularly good at.

The points deduction was appealed at the start of the season within the Football League's own structure but was overwhelmingly upheld by the league's members themselves.

This was despite a begging letter to all member clubs from the Leeds chairman Ken Bates. Bates gave an eloquent defence of his clubs' actions and scrupled not to place any blame or wrongdoing at his own door.

As regards the CVA which was passed by 0.2 of a percent and allowed him to continue running the club as head of a "new" consortium he acknowledged this was tight put offered the smug comment that "a win is a win".

Well the league clubs voted resoundingly against overturning the points deduction, Ken. Can you not be as philosophic and accept that a defeat is just a defeat?

Obviously not.

Leeds are quite happy to ignore their debts, and it's really quite sickening to hear the club congratulating themselves about the fraction of the debts incurred that they have actually paid back, ignore the decisions of The Football League and also their fellow member clubs.

Obviously they have a case to fight otherwise they wouldn't be fighting it and Ken Bates and his mates are likely to know their way round the legal loopholes better than The Football League, rich men usually do, but it is hard to believe the average man in the street can have any sympathy with their position.

They have traded beyond their means with other peoples' money and are a prime example of the species of parasite that uses other people and their money to finance their own dreams knowing they can slip out through the back door and come back in through the front wearing a different hat when everything goes wrong.

And inevitably get richer while the people they rip off get poorer into the bargain.

Some implied support for the clubs' position has come by dragging Luton and Bournemouth into the equation. These clubs have done the same as Leeds during their recent financial troubles and it has been said that if the Leeds verdict is upheld then these clubs will have to suffer the same punishment for next season.

So what?

I'm sorry, but isn't it about time football clubs began running themselves properly or facing the consequences? Surely it would be better for everyone concerned if they did start operating within their means.

I also feel that it would be unfair on the clubs above Leeds at the moment if the points were returned. Matches are different depending on a clubs' position in the table. Leeds actually got into a position to challenge for automatic promotion but then faltered earlier on in the season.

Recently they have beaten both Doncaster and Carlisle but surely these games would have been approached differently and potentially had different outcomes if Leeds had been narrowly ahead of them in the table rather than significantly behind.

Basically it is Leeds United's blatant disregard for everyone else that is particularly offensive. They don't mind whose money it is they're spending as long as they don't have to pay it all back and they are quite happy to go along with a ruling for just as long as it suits them and then they will drag you through every court in the land until someone allows them to have their own way.

Maybe they are in the right and the legal system will come out on their side but surely it is not just Leeds United who can play the system to suit themselves and that is why they should suffer now.

If arbitration does award Leeds the return of their 15 points my reaction, if I was the Football League, would be to disband and then reform under a slightly different title, The Football League (2008) perhaps, offering all existing clubs entry back into the "new" organisation except Leeds United.

Leeds may be legally, technically, in the right but they are totally and utterly in the moral wrong and should accept their punishment from The Football League accordingly.

The Football League, and The FA for that matter, might not be the most inspiring of ruling bodies but surely it is better for football and society in general if they are left to run football the best way they see fit than to have football dragged into the cesspit free for all which has been the recent running of Leeds United Football Club.