Rochester Seagull
New member
THIS FROM THE LEEDS WEBSITE:
HARRY KEWELL TRANSFER TO LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB
by Graham Walker
There has been a great deal of inaccurate information about this transfer over the last few days. Because of our public company responsibilities it has not been so far possible for me to respond.
Whilst I have no intention of entering a debate with those who seek to justify their own position in gaining large sums of money from Leeds United, I can say that I am angry and frustrated at the outrageous situation that has developed over the last week.
The reality is that on Friday 4 July I agreed a deal of £7m with Liverpool Football Club, which Kewell and his agent refused to countenance. Instead they made a condition of not doing a Bosman that we pay £2m to Kewell’s representatives, and Liverpool Football Club then reduced the fee to £5m. What happened to the remaining £2m, I believe I know, but only Liverpool or Harry Kewell could tell you.
The PLC was therefore faced with the alternative of taking the net £3m (plus £2.5m in wages) to enable Peter Reid to strengthen the squad or getting next to nothing, if rather like Lee Bowyer, Kewell did a Bosman. And in Kewell’s case, given his outburst on television and his indication he has been talking to Liverpool for 6 months, it would be impossible for him to play for Leeds ever again.
So sadly the PLC felt it had no alternative but to accept the paltry sum.
I believe that Kewell and Mandic have taken no account of the contribution Leeds has made to the player’s development. This relates to the time and energy invested in Kewell by the management and coaching staff, we well as the fact that he has been in the elite group of our highest paid players. I am outraged that having threatened to walk away for nothing in 2004, they now seek to suggest that it is our fault that my PLC board felt the need to settle for such a small sum.
John McKenzie
Chairman
HARRY KEWELL TRANSFER TO LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB
by Graham Walker
There has been a great deal of inaccurate information about this transfer over the last few days. Because of our public company responsibilities it has not been so far possible for me to respond.
Whilst I have no intention of entering a debate with those who seek to justify their own position in gaining large sums of money from Leeds United, I can say that I am angry and frustrated at the outrageous situation that has developed over the last week.
The reality is that on Friday 4 July I agreed a deal of £7m with Liverpool Football Club, which Kewell and his agent refused to countenance. Instead they made a condition of not doing a Bosman that we pay £2m to Kewell’s representatives, and Liverpool Football Club then reduced the fee to £5m. What happened to the remaining £2m, I believe I know, but only Liverpool or Harry Kewell could tell you.
The PLC was therefore faced with the alternative of taking the net £3m (plus £2.5m in wages) to enable Peter Reid to strengthen the squad or getting next to nothing, if rather like Lee Bowyer, Kewell did a Bosman. And in Kewell’s case, given his outburst on television and his indication he has been talking to Liverpool for 6 months, it would be impossible for him to play for Leeds ever again.
So sadly the PLC felt it had no alternative but to accept the paltry sum.
I believe that Kewell and Mandic have taken no account of the contribution Leeds has made to the player’s development. This relates to the time and energy invested in Kewell by the management and coaching staff, we well as the fact that he has been in the elite group of our highest paid players. I am outraged that having threatened to walk away for nothing in 2004, they now seek to suggest that it is our fault that my PLC board felt the need to settle for such a small sum.
John McKenzie
Chairman
