Blackwell In Bullish Mood

Last updated : 30 July 2006 By Kevin Markey
In what will be his third full season in charge at Leeds, Blackwell states in today's Mail On Sunday: "There is less pressure on me now than when I joined. Those were sleepless nights because we didn't know if we could pay players, let alone sign new ones. We had debts of £121 million and other clubs were surrounding our corpse.

"I accept there is pressure this season because the club has such a massive name. But we've no automatic right to go up.

"My relationship with the chairman is terrific. I like the way he makes quick and firm decisions. We have taken a club who were 48 hours from liquidation into a team who are fancied for promotion, so we can't be doing too badly together.

"I haven't a clue why I am favourite to be sacked, it's strange. But the same thing happened last season and the season before that as well! I don't know what anyone else could have done here. I put them in a play-off final in my second season. If that's not good enough, I might as well walk away."