Kewell Will Never Be Welcome Back In Leeds - Ray Fell

Last updated : 06 July 2008 By Kevin Markey
Kewell, 29, has controversially signed a new two-year deal worth a reported £40,000 a week with the Turkish champions.

The Aussie international winger opted for a switch to Istanbul even though Roma, Portsmouth, Celtic and Spartak Moscow were also chasing his signature.

Kewell was a member of the Leeds side that was beaten 2-0 by Galatasaray in a UEFA Cup semi-final first-leg clash in Istanbul eight years ago.

The game went ahead just 24 hours after two Leeds supporters, Kevin Speight and Christopher Loftus, were murdered on the streets of the Turkish port by hooligan Galatasaray fans.

Ray Fell, chairman of Leeds United Supporters Club, said: "I know that many of our fans will be totally appalled by what Kewell has done. They will see this as callous, uncaring and a real kick in the teeth to them, the two lads who so tragically lost their lives and the club itself. Personally, I am shocked.

"I am extremely disappointed that any member of that Leeds squad - who along with team-mates, the families of Kevin and Christopher and everyone else connected with the club who endured the trauma and sadness of that occasion - could sign for Galatasaray.

"For us now to have to see one of our ex-players from that sad time taking the applause from Galatasaray fans will be sickening."

When asked if he thought the club will be releasing any official statement on the matter, Fell replied: "I have no idea - they might just decide to let sleeping dogs lie.

"But that will not be the attitude of our fans. Let's just say that, from their point of view, Kewell will never be welcome back in Leeds."

Kewell, who scored 61 goals in 242 games for Leeds while managing only a meagre 16 in 138 outings for the Merseyside club - brushed aside the anger and revulsion still felt over the Istanbul slayings when he was officially unveiled by his new club yesterday.

He said: "It is a sad part of football history but what happened in the past is in the past. It's not right to dwell on the past, we have got to look forward.

"We all love the game so much and I am here because I respect the game and I want to play the game."

He added: "I'm excited and I'm thrilled to bits. I am looking forward to the new challenge. I can't wait to meet up with the team and to get going. It's something different.

"There is a lot of excited talk about the Turkish League. It's coming up in the world and the national team has done really well in the last couple of major tournaments.

"There is a lot of young talent here and it's something different. That's what I'm looking forward to ... a fresh challenge."