Birch: I Want To See The Season Out

After formally completing a £30m takeover deal with a Yorkshire-based business consortium, the ex-Chelsea chief executive, who has been replaced by Gerald Krasner, is understood to have agreed a settlement package with the club's new owners, but will remain at Elland Road until the end of the season in an advisory role.

Birch told the YEP: "I want to see the season out here. I'm pleased and relieved that the takeover is finally sorted out and, off the field, the club can now start to re-build and hopefully move forward.

"I won't be a director, but I want to see the job completed fully and will continue to give my support to everyone. I'd like to see us survive in the Premiership and I want to support Eddie in his bid to lead the team to safety.

"It's all about maintaining what we have started and if we survive in the Premiership it will all have been worth it."

Finance director Neil Robson is understood to have agreed a similar package to Birch and is also expected to part with the club in the summer.