This Should Never Have Happened - Lorimer

Last updated : 30 October 2003 By Kevin Markey
Leeds legend Lorimer insists unless something is done soon the club he loves is heading down the abyss.

He said: "The next three or four months will be the most critical period in Leeds' history, I'm sure of that.

"We've been relegated before but the financial problems have never been anywhere near as bad as they are today.

"This has to be sorted out otherwise administration or even worse, liquidation, will be real. Maybe that might have to happen before Leeds bounce back.

"Ridsdale and his colleagues were playing with fire and Leeds got burned. Everyone needs to pull together for the sake of their future.

"Hopefully the new regime can learn from the past and do the business when it matters most.

"But the pressure on the team to stay up is immense. It is not Peter Reid's fault. He's had to bring in loan players and we know how dodgy that is. He can't do a lot about what's happened, but I'm sure he's well aware of how crucial Premiership survival is.

"I'm deeply, deeply concerned. This is a very sad day for the club and what makes matters worse is that it should never have been allowed to happen.

"The figures have confirmed our worst fears and everything that went on a couple of years ago has come back to haunt us. It's remarkable how such a great situation has turned so sour. I'm astonished.

"Leeds are a massive club and it's unbelievable how they can get into such a state.

"Ridsdale overspent and was allowed to do so. They gambled and all the fans thought it was great.

"But nobody thought about the consequences if results didn't stay up to scratch, most of all the board. They thought Leeds would be in the Champions League year after year.

"The court case with Jonathan Woodgate and Lee Bowyer was handled disgustingly and the club never recovered. Books were written, statements made and certain, good quality players didn't want to play for the club anymore.

"Fans have been told all sorts in the past. There were cover-ups but maybe if people had been more up front in the first place the situation would never have got so bad.

"New chief John McKenzie seems an honest guy but in the past people were kidded along. We were told Woodgate would never be sold. He left next day.

"Things were kept behind closed doors and it should have been stopped earlier. They were living in fantasy land and you just can't do that. They must have known the danger the club was in."