Decisions Looming For Board

Last updated : 04 May 2004 By Kevin Markey

"This week I will be meeting with Eddie and going through what he thinks is wrong with this football club," managing director David Richmond told a press conference following a board meeting today.

"I will report back to the board and they will decide if Eddie is going to be manager next season and that will be sorted out in the next week to 10 days."

Richmond confirmed that Leeds would sell their highest earning players, with strikers Alan Smith and Mark Viduka top of the list.

"We have received offers for our footballers, a substantial amount of them and from the top clubs in this country," Richmond added. "We will sell our players for top money, that I am sure of. Some clubs are trying to nick our players and some clubs are offering genuine money.

"I don't expect anything will happen before the end of the season but I expect a significant amount of transfers will take place before Euro 2004 kicks off."

Richmond also revealed that the new board is still not convinced local businessman Steve Parkin has the funds to launch a bid for ownership of Leeds despite opening talks with his consortium.

"Steve Parkin has expressed an interest but he has to prove he has the money," Richmond admitted. "People interested in buying this football club have to prove they have the financial resources to take this club forward in a different way to us.

"At this moment in time we as a board have seen no such proof that is the case and negotiations have not moved forward. My gut feeling is that this board will be here at the start of next season but we have never hidden the fact that we are not the wealthiest group of people.

"If someone comes and can prove they have got money and will put it into the club we won't stand in their way."