Tell fans the whole story - Ormsby to Leeds owners

FORMER Leeds United captain Brendan Ormsby has urged owners GFH Capital to put supporters fully in the picture regarding its plans for the club and the future of under-fire boss Neil Warnock.
David Haigh and Salem Patel.David Haigh and Salem Patel.
David Haigh and Salem Patel.

Uncertainty is currently engulfing the club, amid speculation about fresh takeover bids and relentless scrutiny regarding the position of Warnock – with fans seeking clarity on both pressing issues.

A long-awaited meeting between fans and board members and senior GFH executives David Haigh and Salem Patel – originally scheduled to take place last night – was called off towards the end of last week after a family bereavement forced the former to pull out.

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Haigh is reportedly in South America this week with a new date expected to now be arranged. In-the-dark fans have had to rely on precious little definitive information regarding GFH’s plans with the Dubai-based firm having yet to fully engage with them since taking over shortly before Christmas.

Reports earlier this month revealed that GFH had received several offers of investment, including one proposing the sale of a majority shareholding in the club. In an interview with the national press at the weekend, GFH did acknowledge that they were seeking ‘strategic investors’, while attempting to reassure disillusioned fans they were committed to the club for the long haul.

Meanwhile, Warnock’s future remains up in the air after he admitted he was ready to stand aside earlier than his proposed intention to leave at the end of the season if the owners considered it be in the club’s best interests.

Nigel Adkins is expected to be a frontrunner for the post in the event of Warnock leaving.

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On the future of Warnock, Patel said in a Guardian interview: “Whether Neil goes immediately then or not (end of the season), when Neil goes, we will look to appoint a young manager who will particularly work to build the young players into great players for the club.”

Imploring the owners to fully engage with fans at the earliest possible juncture Ormsby added: “Fans are getting brassed-off by it all. It’s all rumours at the club at the minute.

“I remember when the new owners took over, there was a real wave of enthusiasm. Now that has just totally died as since they have been here, they haven’t really said anything to the supporters. There is uncertainty at the club and it has gone on for too long.

“I know fans are not sure about the owners’ (plans). They still haven’t said: ‘This is what we are going to do.’ With the manager, there is also massive uncertainty as well. Getting the long-term future sorted is paramount. Fans need to be told now who is going to be the manager for the next two or three years and he then should be given the money and they should say: ‘Right, that’s it – we are planning for the next two or three years.”

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United’s development squad beat Sheffield United 3-1 yesterday thanks to goals from Chris Dawson, Habib Habibou (pen) and Lewis Walters.

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