Influx of players will underline extent of Leeds Carnegie's feat in staying up
A dramatic 12-10 win over Worcester Warriors yesterday confirmed the Yorkshire club would retain their top-flight status with their beaten opponents consigned to relegation.
It was billed as the "1m match" with Leeds knowing they would finally gain equal funding with the rest of their Premiership rivals if they stayed up for
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Hide Ad2010-11 and chief executive Gary Hetherington labelled it a "massive" day for the club.
Much of their short-term and long-term planning hinged on avoiding the drop but coach Neil Back admits they are now ready to push on immediately after Ceiron Thomas booted all 12 points to edge the nervy contest at Headingley Carnegie.
"It's not the way we wanted to win," he admitted after Leeds came under immense pressure in the final stages.
"In terms of execution we were poor but you can accept that as (yesterday) was about winning.
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Hide Ad"If we were to review that game it would be painful. In fact, our review was planned for Tuesday but it isn't happening now.
"The boys can just enjoy the fact they have retained our Premiership status.
"We can now look at who needs surgery, who needs a rest, and it is really exciting.
"We can push some buttons on some great players who can come in and help us achieve our year-three objective of being a top-six club."
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Hide AdLeeds lost a clutch of players to Premiership rivals for next season while their future was in doubt but Back said: "It's incredibly difficult for a Championship side coming up or ourselves at the bottom to recruit new players.
"The top players that you need want to play in the Premiership but we've been working hard behind the scenes and now we're in a good position. We do have some lined up."
Leeds, who climbed back up to ninth, can head to Bath for their final game on Saturday, May 8 under no pressure.
Their biggest crowd of the season – 10,146 – watched the contest unfold yesterday and Back hopes to see more of them next season as the club strive to get the backing they have always struggled to attract. In the build-up to the match, Back had said avoiding relegation would be better than winning the World Cup with England in 2003. After celebrating with his children on the pitch, he laughed: "This was a bit harder because Olivia's a lot heavier.
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Hide Ad"Finny was 14 months old at the World Cup and didn't know who I was.
"He got passed over the barrier first and all he wanted to do was kick the ball around on the field.
"Olivia was in floods of tears though. She's lived this with the squad and also my wife who couldn't bear to come to the game today.
"I'll be having a quite beer with the guys (last night) and then get back to see Ali who's going to be in floods of tears – with me."