Promotion looking a pipe dream for Warnock

NEIL WARNOCK admits the uncertainty surrounding the proposed takeover of Leeds United is causing the club to stagnate.

Prospective buyer GFH Capital revealed yesterday that an extension had been granted to the firm’s exclusivity period in an attempt to bring a resolution to a saga that has dragged on for almost six months.

Crucially, however, no timescale was given and Warnock, whose side travel to Millwall tomorrow missing a host of first-choice players, believes the continued delays are making promotion this season an ever more distant dream.

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He said: “I think everyone is a bit low with the takeover. It reacts on players as well. I had it at QPR and it dampened everything down.

“The new people don’t want to put money in until they have dotted the i’s and crossed the t’s. Although the way I feel at the moment, dotting the t’s is probably about right.

“The window for the loan market ends on Thursday. I will be very surprised if it (takeover) happens before next Thursday. So it doesn’t really help me. By all means I can look for players in January. But where we will be in January?

“The main thing is to get the takeover over the line. When you are like this as a club, as we were at QPR, you are very much stagnating. You are almost in a straightjacket. The club has got to move on. I know they are working as hard as they can to come to a solution but we are desperate for players and not just short term.

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“Until it happens, no matter what anyone tells me I don’t really believe anything. I know as much as what anyone else knows. I can give people names but it comes down to what I can afford.

“I don’t think I am thick and if you look at the league table, I don’t think we should be talking about promotion at the moment.”

GFH Capital’s extended period of exclusivity was revealed in a statement that included David Haigh, the firm’s deputy chief executive, saying: “The fact that we are in such advanced talks means this extended exclusivity window is merely to ensure we can get past the final post without distraction.

“We have come so far and are looking forward to what we hope will be a positive statement about change in ownership of Leeds United shortly.”

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Two rival parties remain interested in Leeds but until a deal is done, Warnock’s hands are effectively tied.

He said: “I get frustrated because if I was 10 years younger then there would always be tomorrow. But I want to do it (win promotion) today. It is looking very much like that is not going to be possible.”