MLSE in talks to purchase Leeds United

[langway05]

From the folks on over at tsn.ca......

Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment's search for an English football club appears to have focused on the North of England.

According to a report in the British newspaper the Sunday Mirror, MLSE has begun preliminary talks that would see the organization acquire Leeds United.

Leeds United currently competes in League One, England's third division, and would reportedly welcome investors that would provide the team with the financial might to return to the Premier League.

I see that the Ontario Teacher's Pension fund is looking to expand into the football business..... :crazy:

 

[brisco10]

I am not sure Leeds is an "investment"

Elland Road is almost 100 years old and a dump from what I understand. I don't think the club owns it anymore anyway.
Plus they are in League one (Third division) Although without -15 points next year they should be back in the Coca-Cola.
That being said old and overpriced sounds right up MLSE alley.


Mal would know more than me. He is a closet Leeds supporter from what I understand.

thanks
Ken

 

[malskelton]

I am not sure Leeds is an "investment"

Elland Road is almost 100 years old and a dump from what I understand. I don't think the club owns it anymore anyway.
Plus they are in League one (Third division) Although without -15 points next year they should be back in the Coca-Cola.
That being said old and overpriced sounds right up MLSE alley.


Mal would know more than me. He is a closet Leeds supporter from what I understand.

thanks
Ken

Can't disagree with anything you've said - apart from I think we now own the ground again.

We lost the playoff final at the weekend - so we start next season in League One again ( 3rd Division ), but our average crowd was 26,000 last season - and that's the third tier of league football remember. Several clubs in the Premier League didn't get that many !!

They gambled big style around 2001 - tried to win the Champions League ( spent big on transfers and wages ), came close got to the semi final then when they missed out on qualification for the next season it all went downhill.

They couldn't offload the contracts quick enough - several players went Fowler, Woodgate, Ferdinand etc etc but squad players had been given reidiculous salaries too. There is a story that Seth Johnson went in and was going to demand £10,000 per week until he was offered £20,000 per week !!

This mis-management resulted in every player being either sold or paid off, the team were then subsequently relegated into the Championship where they underachieved and were relegated in their second season in the division.

Their debts had spiralled out of control and the club went into administration - incurring a 10 point deduction after they were already technically doomed to relegation ........... the next season because they'd effectively dodged the penalty, they were deducted another 15 points.

So that takes you up to date - the Leafs and Leeds are a perfect parallel. A tale of glory many decades ago followed by years of anguish and under achievement ....... liberally sprinkled with mis-management, a history of letting talent leave and investing heavily in rubbish players.

Sounds perfect to me

Mal Skelton

 

[Avalanchefan21]

Never knew that bit of information... thanks for sharing Mal!

It sounds like Leeds is nothing but a big gamble.