How Leeds balked over Burke

BIRMINGHAM hero Kevan Broadhurst is a big fan of Leeds United and their long-time transfer target, winger Chris Burke.
Birmingham City's Chris Burke.Birmingham City's Chris Burke.
Birmingham City's Chris Burke.

THE stated price was £600,000 and Leeds United refused to pay, the second time an approach from the club for Burke met a dead end. According to Brian McDermott, the decision was his: too high a cost for someone so close to the end of his contract.

Burke will be a free agent next summer and with his 30th birthday falling before Christmas, McDermott saw limited value for money in a £600,000 fee. But the Scotland international represents so much that Leeds are missing; an out-and-out winger whose skill and creativity is keeping Birmingham City’s head above water.

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It remains to be seen how much impact Burke has at Elland Road on Sunday, in a match which Leeds and Birmingham are equally anxious to win, but the man who McDermott moved for without success on September 1 has been Birmingham’s guiding light this season. Kevan Broadhurst, the former City defender and a lifelong supporter of Leeds, said Birmingham had been wise in warding off United with a steep valuation. “They’d have missed him in this form,” Broadhurst said.

Burke’s record is much as McDermott thought it would be had he moved to Yorkshire last month. His goals number two but his assists number seven, one of the highest tallies in the Championship, and United will be warned against giving him the freedom of the pitch this weekend. Stephen Warnock has the job of fronting up to him.

“The thing about Chris is that he needs to be playing,” Broadhurst said. “He was in and out last season and he never got going but he’s been a real threat for the last couple of months.

“As an attacking player he’s excellent but the other side of his game, the defensive side, hasn’t always been the best. That’s something he’s starting to improve. But he’s been Birmingham’s chief creator and most of their good play is going through him.

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“To get him this influential you need to be able to manage him. I don’t think he’s someone who benefits from endless rollickings but if you keep pushing and pushing with an arm round his shoulder, he’ll turn it on. Not many Championship full-backs can live with him when he’s in form.

“What a player’s worth when his contract runs down is difficult to say and clubs take their own view on that but he’s worth good money in the Championship. There aren’t many better than him.”

McDermott spoke with Birmingham manager Lee Clark about Burke’s availability 24 hours before the closure of the transfer window but did not return after being told that the winger would cost £600,000.

United had made a similarly late approach for Burke during the January transfer window but were again unwilling to pay City’s asking price. Burke was tied to a new one-year deal soon after but will be out of contract next June.

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“We made an enquiry for a wide player and they wanted £600,000 for him,” said McDermott at the time.

“It didn’t make sense to me. It’s got to make sense and be financially right, as well as being the right player. In eight months’ time, he’ll be a free transfer.”

McDermott and Clark will look to their key players for inspiration on Sunday with comparative pressure on both men. Birmingham have lost seven Championship matches this season and United have lost five. Those fives defeats have come in the space of seven games. McDermott predicted a convincing response from his squad, saying they were looking at Birmingham as a “game we’re going to win.” It feels like a game they must.

Broadhurst, whose Birmingham appearances ran to more than 150, was born in Dewsbury and grew up supporting Leeds. He is employed as a community coach and radio pundit at St Andrews’ but has more than a soft spot for United. “I had a lot of happy days on the Kop,” he said. “I’m always looking out for Leeds.”

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The 54-year-old was encouraged by McDermott’s appointment in April and is adamant that the former Reading boss will get to grips with Leeds in his own time. McDermott believed that time would be necessary when he came to Elland Road and has never moved away from that viewpoint. “We’re going through a process here,” he told the YEP earlier this week.

Broadhurst said: “I was very happy when he got the job. In the past I’ve looked at managers appointed by Leeds and thought ‘I’m not sure about that’ but Brian seems like the right man.

“He’s not got it easy up there but I doubt whether any manager would have it easy at Leeds. It’s a great job but a hard one. What I know about him is that he did very well at Reading, not just as a one-season wonder but over a few years. I feel like Leeds are in safe hands.

“But this is a results business, isn’t it? Everyone gets judged on results. Leeds looked strong in the first month but the last few weeks have been pretty hard going. I’m sure he (McDermott) will have it in his mind to get another win on the board as soon as possible - in other words, on Sunday.”

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Leeds are betwixt and between in the Championship, though slightly closer to the play-offs than the bottom three places. Birmingham have done a good job of bullying other struggling clubs but are averaging less than a point a game.

“It’s a deceptive league,” Broadhurst said. “The way the results go, everyone is made to think that they’ve got a chance.

“To give you an example, Millwall won three on the bounce including one win against Leeds. Then they came to Birmingham and got battered 4-0. They hardly had a kick. Work that one out.

“One week it looks like Leeds or Birmingham are in the bit of trouble and the next everything seems rosy again. In the Premier League the top clubs can go 15 games without defeat.

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“That never seems to happen in the Championship. That’s why I think it’s very difficult to judge anything over a short period of time.”

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