New role could help Naylor stay committed to cause

RICHARD NAYLOR’S Leeds United credentials have never been in doubt, even when he was the captain of Ipswich Town.

Not only did his team-mates at Portman Road see the White Rose tattoo that adorns his upper arm every day in training for more than a decade. But, on more mornings than they probably care to remember, the Ipswich players also had to listen to the Leeds-born defender regaling the dressing room with tales of how he had made a 400-mile round trip to Elland Road the previous night to watch United in action.

Such devotion was why, when Simon Grayson came calling in January, 2009, Naylor had little hesitation in swapping Suffolk for his native Yorkshire. It is also why the 34-year-old is desperate to remain at Leeds after his contract expires this summer, so much so he is willing to combine playing duties with some coaching.

“I want to stay,” said Naylor when asked about his future plans by the Yorkshire Post ahead of today’s final home game against Burnley. “This club is going in the right direction and I feel proud that I have been part of that renaissance.

“I now want to take that a step further by being part of a Leeds United that is in the top half of the Premier League.”

A couple of weeks ago, the chances of Naylor still being involved at Elland Road beyond this season seemed remote. After dropping out of the side in October through injury, he had been unable to force his way back into Grayson’s plans despite having regained fitness early in the New Year.

Even a defensive record that only a handful of clubs fighting relegation could look at with any envy was, it seemed, not enough to persuade the Leeds manager to turn to his club captain.

All that changed, however, on Good Friday when Naylor was recalled for the visit of in-form Reading. A goalless draw followed with the United captain impressing sufficiently to retain his place for the trip to Crystal Palace on Monday.

A potentially fatal blow was dealt to Leeds’ play-off hopes by a 1-0 defeat in south London but Naylor is still hoping he has done enough to earn a new contract with his home-town club.

He said: “I spoke to the manager a few months back when I wasn’t in the team. There were a few clubs coming in for me on loan, they were good clubs in the Championship.

“So, I wanted to know where I stood. The gaffer said he wanted me to stay. He thought I was a positive influence off the field and in training.

“He couldn’t, though, make any firm commitment for next season. Obviously, from my point of view, I would have liked to know one way or another where I stood.

“But he wanted to wait until the summer so I respected that and got on with my job. There has been no firm word since then, but I would love to stay.

“I feel I have shown I still have something to offer at this level. Even though I wasn’t in the team for five months, I came back in and did a job for the team.

“I won’t lie and say there weren’t times when it was hard, as almost every week I would feel deflated when the team was named and I wasn’t in it. But I picked myself up, stuck at it and kept a positive attitude.

“A saying I often use is, ‘Attitude is contagious, is yours worth catching?’ I like to think through my career that mine has been (worth catching).”

Naylor then added: “I am doing my UEFA B coaching badge this summer and I think I could offer something to the club on that side as well. I put it to the gaffer that I would like to work with the young pros, as I think there is a bit of a gap at the club right now.

“We have Neil Redfearn working with the Academy kids but when they step up there is a gap. The likes of Ady White, who has not progressed over the last few years, could benefit from someone like myself working with them in an afternoon and helping them develop.

“That is something I would like to get into. But, it is a decision for the gaffer to make.”

Whether the end of the season does bring the offer of a new contract or not, what cannot be in doubt is the huge strides forward that United have taken since Naylor signed from Ipswich Town at the start of 2009.

Back then, Grayson had been in the job less than a month and United were 10th in League One after a dreadful run of form under previous manager Gary McAllister.

Naylor recalls: “People forget just how far the club has come and it has been great to be part of that.

“I have loved being captain of Leeds United, even though it has been hard work.

“I was club captain at Ipswich but there has been more pressure due to this being my home-town club.

“When I came back, I set myself two targets – which were to get us out of League One and establish ourselves in the Championship. That was a black and white aim, which probably heaped more pressure on myself.

“But that was what I wanted and, fortunately, we have achieved what I wanted us to do. League One is a difficult place to get out of. I had not played there before and it is a bit of a slog.

“Plus, being Leeds it meant every game was like a Cup final. Our fans made it that way by turning up in their thousands, something that always seemed to inspire the opposition to raise their game.

“They would be great against us but then, by the following week, I would see them on television and they would not be anything like the same side.

“It meant we didn’t just have to be the best team in the league, we had to be head-and-shoulders above the rest to get out of there.”

Naylor is expected to retain his place in the starting line-up today against the Clarets, who are one of three teams standing between Leeds and the final play-off place.

Nottingham Forest occupy sixth place right now and they travel to Scunthorpe United, while Millwall – the other side in contention – host Swansea City.

Naylor said: “We have to beat Burnley, and if we do that it keeps us alive. Of course, the results lately have been disappointing but the season has been a decent one no matter how it ends up.

“The last time Leeds United were in this division, we were relegated. But now we have proved we can compete at what is a tough level. I was in the crowd when we were relegated from the Championship but the cycle is coming back round and I believe will see Leeds get back in the Premier League. I want to help make that happen.”

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