Leeds United Supporters Trust

ToffeeBlue · Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 10:22 am

Quote:

Leeds United Supporters' Trust have been speaking with sources close to the players at Leeds United, as frustration grows among fans over the lack of progress on transfers, the current takeover talks, and yesterday's embarrassing court case. They have told us that the players are as disillusioned and disheartened as the fans at the moment, feeling undervalued by the club and totally frustrated by the lack of ambition Leeds United are showing. Many players have read and fully agree with the aims of L.U.S.T.'s Vision Statement, and want us to get their views out on their behalf.

Our sources say that players fear if they speak their minds openly and publicly at the moment they could be left to rot in the reserves, or be sold to clubs they have no interest in playing for. They are anxious, however, that Leeds supporters should know how they are feeling.

We've been told that the players are passionate and committed about bringing success to Leeds United. They desperately want to be part of a Leeds United side that wins promotion to the Premier League. With the current situation at the club, though, they cannot see how that will be possible. They understand that without an increase in the playing budget at Leeds, the club will need to sell before it can buy, but the only players the club can sell are the ones who want to stay and fight for promotion with Leeds United. This has put them in a catch-22 situation, not knowing whether they will still be at Leeds next season, or what sort of team they will be playing in.

While they want to stay at Elland Road, the players feel completely undervalued by the club. We understand that some of the contract offers the club has been making have offered a miserly increase in weekly wages, offers which do not come close to what players could earn elsewhere. They feel that they are nothing more than commodities to Leeds United, and they have compared their disillusionment to that felt by the fans in recent seasons. Their view is that the club does not care about either the players' or the fans' opinions enough to share their ambition.

A number of players have grown so frustrated by the situation at Leeds United that they are on the verge of giving up, walking away and accepting offers to play elsewhere. Our sources stressed to us that these players do not want to leave Leeds.

The players want the fans to know loud and clear that they share our passion for Leeds, and that they have a burning ambition to get our club to the Premier League. Equally, they share in the frustration and pain the fans have been feeling. Players who want to play for Leeds United fear that they will be forced out of the club this summer, and have to go and play elsewhere for the good of their careers and personal futures. They are frustrated that the people in charge of the club do not share the ambition of the players, and the fans, to make Leeds United a great football club again.

One of the main aims of the Leeds United Supporters' Trust Vision Statement is to reunite the club and its fans. We want to see harmony between the fans, the players, and the management of Leeds United, so we can build a successful team together. We are pleased to learn that there are players at Leeds United who fully endorse that vision, and who are desperate to help us make it a reality.

– Leeds United Supporters' Trust

http://www.itv.com/news/calendar/2012-06-08/leeds-united-players-speak-out-against-regime/

Thoughts on this Bayaker? Sounds like your in deep sh*t

Bayaker · Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 11:08 am

I'm part of the trust and we're not in "deep sh!t" we're are trying to push Bates into a corner to push this takeover through, their is apparently two interested parties one American group who have quite a bit of money and have been to visit the club in the past few weeks. Bates will remain stubborn with the fans but once the players start getting involved then he will know the sh!t is hitting the fan, the contract negotiations with the players is some what a joke and that is why the likes of Schmeichel, Gradel, Johnson, Howson, Beckford all left and 3 of them have or are playing in the PL and one in Ligue 1. We have a lot of player backing especially from Robert Snodgrass who clearly does not want to leave but obviously as any footballer does he has ambition and if Bates refuses to at least show he's trying to match it then Snodgrass will go just like many players before him.

That is why the trust released that statement to the press. Also just to fill you in Bates has banned all the trusts board members from attending games for simply speaking out against him.

Tipster · Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 10:49 pm

I'm a fan at how Ken Bates runs the club, I mean 'business.'

Unfortunately, we don't seem to be offering decent wages for players that we actually want to keep. I say this, but have no evidence. It's possible that some of the players asked for wages higher than their value to the club. You know what players are like today.

On one side, we need some investment to get the club up. On the other, we almost got promoted in the first season up, with what some might call a talented, but League 1 squad. Same again with last year under Grayson, until Warnock let standards go. His big mistake was letting Grayson go, though understand why he may have done so.

Hopefully we hear something about a takeover soon. Maybe that's the reason why no further investment in the club is taking place. Bates role seems to have gone un-thanked as he's brought us back from destruction, to where we are now, a chance to get into the big-time. He might get a few things wrong, but he's done all he can and now is the time for the club to move forward.

It's wrong that any player speaking out would be punished in such a way, but glad that this statement is out to bring all the groups of supporters together. Leeds is a great club, so no wonder they want to stay. Hope all is resolved as soon as possible.

floody · Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 10:59 pm

Moved to Champo section Smile

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