Trash TV
It could only happen at Leeds. For the second time in recent history, the manager is sacked as the January transfer window closes. And, in a rare example of Murdoch’s tacky Sky Sports Transfer Deadline programme even recognising the existence of Leeds, the trashy satellite station were immediately all over Ross McCormack like a bad rash.
McCormack pronounced himself “happy to stay at Leeds and play for McDermott” only a couple of hours ago. Now, in the immediate aftermath of the brutal ending of The Strife of Brian, Ross was hauled onto the Sky airwaves, understandably gutted and shell-shocked. The presenters’ agenda was clear – could this transfer be revived? Could the knife be twisted in the Leeds United stab-in-the-back wound?
McCormack was badgered over whether McDermott’s dismissal changed things. He displayed enough ambivalence for the Sky hacks to scent blood. Cut down to Cardiff, where they collared a handy chav to plead for Ross to “come back”.
It was deeply un-classy stuff. It didn’t reflect too well on McCormack, but it showed Sky up for the tacky gutter station they are. At one point, McCormack’s distressed interview, full of shock and compassion for his ex-manager, was described as “the best thing for ages”. Such are the standards at the bottom of the journalism barrel.
I happen to believe that Brian’s dismissal means it’s more or less certain that Massimo Cellino is now calling the shots. There are strong rumours also of two players coming in on loan from Cagliari. It looks as though what amounts to more of a coup – and not a bloodless one – than a takeover is virtually done and dusted.
What next for Leeds? If we get to 11pm with our captain and top scorer still on the playing staff, I’ll be happily surprised. There’s not much else to be happy about. Leeds United are the laughing-stock of the football world tonight.
As for what might happen in the game against Huddersfield tomorrow, well who knows. The players’ state of mind can only be guessed at. As I write, Sky’s efforts to sell McCormack are redoubling. They report that his representatives have been contacted by SIX clubs since “our sensational interview”. They seem to be implicitly approving the tapping-up of our skipper. What a disgusting organisation they are.
Wake me up when it’s summer, someone – unless we’ve been relegated.
Life, Leeds United, the Universe & Everything 
Utter classless sham.
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watch the attendances drop, another moron in charge of Leeds
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Totally agree they are spinning the story . Winding up other clubs for Ross all smug reporters disgusting behaviour ….. All leeds fans should cancel their sky subsription the only one talking sense is the palace guy ….. Sound wound up can’t remember his name
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Simon Jordan I think. Currently as popular in that studio as a fart in a spacesuit.
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Reeks to me as an absolute setup.
Ross states he is happy playing as Leeds captain under Mcdermott,
Mcdermott sacked,obviously Ross not pleased.
I think this was planned all along to cash in on Ross and clear some of the invested money by Sports Capital
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The real disgrace was Mcormack selling himself on Sky Sports. Some captain! looking after himself…..
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Whilst you’re right, I find it hard to feel any disgust for sky’s behavior when the owners of Leeds have sunk to such depths. I’ll be gutted but if McCormack goes I don’t blame him. Wish I could get away so easily and move on from the embarrassing shambles leeds United is at the moment.
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The mad Italian won’t let him go,(IMO) knifing BMcD like a Mafia hit man is one thing, but he’s not stupid enough to sell his star striker with no prospect of replacing him and he doesn’t need the money.
Much as I hate what’s happened, the silver lining is that this guy has a few quid.
It’ll be interesting tomorrow but I predict a defeat. Hope I’m wrong.
MOT
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Last time I felt this bad we got relegated to League 1. I hope all the knockers are happy now they have what they want, wait to see what fucking fare is served up from now, some two bob mug called Festa, people going to be involved with Leeds that don’t have any allegiance to Leeds or know what makes us fans tick and turn up in droves regardless of league position/League we are in/Form. I would like to say thank you to Brian for all the work you have done, I think you would have taken us forward, throughout this whole sorry debacle he has remained dignified and proffesional, I aint gonna lie I cried when I heard at 7.52pm tonight and dont care what anyone thinks of that
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Nice one Rob,coincidentally sky are also run by a criminal and a conman,as indeed we now are. Total lowlifes. It just goes to show that the football league are also bent.
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Talk of boycotting games always comes up at times like these, well its pretty simple folks…stay at home, starting tomorrow (even if you’ve been daft enough to buy a ticket). Why the hell would anyone want to go to Elland Road after this latest debacle god only knows. The soul of this once great club is about to be ripped out by some greasy Eye-tie who is going to end up making Ken Bates look like the Pope. RIP LUFC
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Everyone, cancel SKY tomorrow!
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Gutted for McDermott. It’s a disgrace and we can all look forward to yet another ego manic nutter as the owner. I cant possibly entertain visits to Elland Road again this year. I know it’s football but it is morally wrong what has happened to McD.
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I have to say I find the whole scenario disgusting. From the misleading statements from Mr Flowers to the press release of David Haigh. To sack the manager on the eve of such an important match shows “new owners” respect for supporters. Sky will kill the goose that laid the golden egg unless they “clean up” their act when reporting football affairs. They are beginning to drive events instead of reporting them. Remember the “Sun’s” claim that they determined who won general elections! We are a club in turmoil AGAIN!
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Kill Sky!
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McCormack is a contracted Leeds United player. He should do his job on the pitch and collect his wages. Like all badge kissing players you are only interested in yourself, that I understand, but whilst you are wearing that white shirt you keep your gob shut and do the job.
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Bloody right Jon. Win tomorrow. MOT
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Leeds to win tomorrow . Someone who’s actually got some money in charge . The manager who lost to Rochdale and the utter embarasment of hills borough gone . Cellino will show his savvy by tomorrow . If Ross is still here we are up and running . G F H were a load of pretenders . M O T onwards and upwards . WE ARE LEEDS
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It’ll be a team of zombies in white shirts tomorrow – and we will lose.
Hope I’m wrong.
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Very simplistic view. This is the death knell for Leeds United, hope all you BMac detractors are happy now, we have just lost the best manager we have had for years. GFH have shown themselves to be the amateur outfit I thought they were; thanks for nothing. I WILL NOT ATTEND AGAIN
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Sorry Rob, was a response to Sandy. You are never simplistic!
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I got you 🙂
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Mcorrmac under Colin was a fraction of the player he has been this season , bmac brought the best out of him and you could tell that from his interview , seems to me Ross is one of those players who needs an arm around his shoulder to keep him positive , now his mentor is gone who knows what kind of player he’ll be from now on ,, tomorrow is a massive test for club and capt ,,. Come on Leeds , its backs to the wall time again , up and at em boys . Give em f**k all and get into em
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Bloody right Mr O – WE Are Leeds. Play for pride, play for the shirt, play for the fans who pay their wages. Fight and Win! MOT
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It’s difficult to get a handle on what the blazes is going on at the club, from over here in Australia. There will be many unhappy Whites fans here today.
I am all for ambition, but the disgusting displays of naked greed, bullying, stand-over tactics and downright disrespect for the players, fans and above all for Brian mcDermott these last few days, has left me flat.
What puzzles me is who exactly has sacked Brian? Nothing’s been officially announced, the Club website has a big photo of Brian with “Boss focussed on tomorrow’s game”… Did GFH call the shots, or has Cellino taken over already? Has the Fit and Proper Joke Test been applied and passed?
What a shambles, I cannot have any respect for the powers that be at the club for all this. How on earth is the playing group supposed to lift themselves for tomorrow? Will this Festa bloke be festering in the technical area tomorrow? What sort of reception will he get? Terrible management.
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However this saga ends, this club has an important match tomorrow. Its time for the players to play for PRIDE and SELF-RESPECT for themselves, the fans and our beloved Club. The dog botherers will smell blood and its VITAL that we KEEP ON FIGHTING and give Leeds United supporters everywhere hope for the rest of this season. Whatever the money-men do, there is football to be played and a match to be won. Time to step up. Win tomorrow. MOT
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Rob – absolute chaos. I am extremely embarrassed by what is going on ! Alarming to see that two of the club’s sponsors Enterprise & Flamingo Land are threatening to pull out in protest. I wish Brian McDermott all the very best – he can hold his head up high and certainly deserves better.
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Averlar is already quoted a Leeds player on wiki !!!!!!
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A totally disgraceful way of treating BMD. Didn’t Sky have enough to talk about on deadline day without resorting to all this? Great article Rob as usual.
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Would like to thank are club for there statement regarding b mc sacking still waiting.can make a statement about a pie and a pint for a fiver but nothing regarding are gaffer nice one lufc first class customer care
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I wouldn’t expect any less. They are an embarrassment. God I am livid, where’s the cooking sherry?
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Pingback: Leeds Fans Know How You Feel Ross, But Now is the Time to Man Up – by Rob Atkinson | Life, Leeds United, The Universe & Everything
Thanks for all the hard work, Brian and I really wish you the best of luck. I know it won’t seem that way at the moment but I’m sure in a couple of months you’ll be genuinely glad to see the back of this absolute joke of a football club I’ve stupidly held close to my heart (and will continue to stupidly do so). As for Ross if you have any sense then if that Mafia prick gives you the chance then we shouldn’t see you for dust.
Sorry guys, just needed saying. Sat at home with the missus drinking wine and can not ever remember feeling this low. Funny how we keep saying ‘things can’t possibly get any worse’…I’ve been saying it continuously for 12 years but they always have a habit of surprising you and ripping your heart out don’t they?
I’ll see the rest of you fools tomorrow afternoon anyway….
MOT
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Bloody well said.
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Cancelling Sky Sub………..they have always been anti leeds and Gary Nevilles patronizing comments have sealed the deal.
Even more reason to stick by the club !! Even more reason to be a success ! to stick one up at all the Leeds haters
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And still we wait for confirmation from the club. They wouldn’t know transparency and fan engagement if it bit them on the arse. I too imbibed some liquid of the vine and toasted our outgoing Manager, he was Leeds, he understood us and I for one will miss him. Just a Damn shame. Where’s the corkscrew?
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To Brian *clink*
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and speaking of journalistic standards, “…Cut down to Cardiff, where they collared a handy chav to plead for Ross to ‘come back’…”
By “chav” you mean some council-house scum who reads The Sun and not The Guardian? Who doesn’t go to dinner parties and even he did – heaven forbid – he wouldn’t know which type of wine to bring?
As the Good Book says: let he who hath never sinned cast the first stone. Like it or not, mate, us chavs form the backbone of LUFC support. Without us Elland Road would be like Old Surrey or The Library stadium in North London.
Apart from your elitist prejudice I still like some of your blogs.
MOT
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I was just glibly generalising about Cardiff fans, as is my wont, because I’m a writer and not a journo. I call journos “hacks”, in case you hadn’t noticed. I haven’t much time for most of them.
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I read somewhere above one of my fellow Leeds fans saying we should play for pride and the like. Why should they? Does anyone know where they are going to be in the next week,,,the next hour…the next minute!? It’s no longer about playing for Leeds…it’s about getting paid…and why should they think any differently?
We are the ones that are trying to keep a stiff upper lip…we are Leeds…but the morons that are running us into the ground don’t give two s**ts about LUFC…so why should the players?
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Hello fellow Leeds fans. Well an interesting time for us all and the club who never stop surprising us. The sacking of Brian is morally wrong, Varney asking not to be played, morally wrong, McCormack speaking on Sky Sports News morally wrong. Football sadly is not about morals, it’s about success and money. As much as I don’t like them, GFH were/are the owners and they can do whatever it hey like with their assets. And all Leeds United have ever been to then is a tradeable asset. If they make money on the deal then they have had a successfull period of ownership. That’s their job, they are a bank. No bank gives a shit about you or me or our passions, they are there to make money. Goodbye GFH, you have now left my thoughts.
Mr Cellino, welcome to Leeds, I know nothing about you. I do not know you motive for buying Leeds, but obviously I hope they are good ones. I will not form an opinion of you until I have something to base that opinion on. And that opinion will not be formed by reading hack journalism. All I am interested in after watching our team for 44 years is success. Before every game, no matter how garbage we may have been previously, I expect us to win 4 nil. Every game, no matter how garbage we have been previously, I look at the players in that white shirt and think, yes today is the day when it will all come right. I am a dreamer, and I will continue to dream because I KNOW that one day the rainbows end will be found at Elland Road, and I will still be there supporting them. MOT my friends MOT.
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