Axed Leeds legends ‘won’t abandon club’

Paul Reaney, Mick Jones, Norman Hunter, Terry Yorath and John Hendrie have been told by the club that it can no longer afford to pay them to carry out hospitality work at Elland Road next season.

The five former players are understood to have rejected a proposal by Leeds to continue in their positions without pay, replacing their wages with a hospitality package for them and a guest at each of the club’s home games.

Reaney said: “We’re not going to forget about or abandon a club who we played for and won trophies for. I’ll still be around and I wish the club all the best for next season.”

Leeds have been losing more than £1m a month and new owner Massimo Cellino has implemented heavy cost-cutting measures since completing his takeover at Elland Road at the start of April.

The club did not comment on the decision, but is understood to be keen for all five to continue working on matchdays.

The news came as Leeds also failed in a High Court bid to strike out a winding-up petition issued by Sport Capital Ltd, which decided to call in a £950,000 loan made to the club last year.

After an afternoon hearing in London’s Companies Court, Deputy Registrar Christopher Garwood rejected Leeds’s case and gave it 13 days – until a week on Monday – to pay.

The club was refused permission to appeal.