L.U.S.T. Update: Frustrated Players Back Our Vision
Friday, June 8, 2012 at 5:50PM Leeds United Supporters' Trust have been speaking with sources close to the players at Leeds United, as frustration grows among fans over the lack of progress on transfers, the current takeover talks, and yesterday's embarrassing court case. They have told us that the players are as disillusioned and disheartened as the fans at the moment, feeling undervalued by the club and totally frustrated by the lack of ambition Leeds United are showing. Many players have read and fully agree with the aims of L.U.S.T.'s Vision Statement, and want us to get their views out on their behalf.
Our sources say that players fear if they speak their minds openly and publicly at the moment they could be left to rot in the reserves, or be sold to clubs they have no interest in playing for. They are anxious, however, that Leeds supporters should know how they are feeling.
We've been told that the players are passionate and committed about bringing success to Leeds United. They desperately want to be part of a Leeds United side that wins promotion to the Premier League. With the current situation at the club, though, they cannot see how that will be possible. They understand that without an increase in the playing budget at Leeds, the club will need to sell before it can buy, but the only players the club can sell are the ones who want to stay and fight for promotion with Leeds United. This has put them in a catch-22 situation, not knowing whether they will still be at Leeds next season, or what sort of team they will be playing in.
While they want to stay at Elland Road, the players feel completely undervalued by the club. We understand that some of the contract offers the club has been making have offered a miserly increase in weekly wages, offers which do not come close to what players could earn elsewhere. They feel that they are nothing more than commodities to Leeds United, and they have compared their disillusionment to that felt by the fans in recent seasons. Their view is that the club does not care about either the players' or the fans' opinions enough to share their ambition.
A number of players have grown so frustrated by the situation at Leeds United that they are on the verge of giving up, walking away and accepting offers to play elsewhere. Our sources stressed to us that these players do not want to leave Leeds.
The players want the fans to know loud and clear that they share our passion for Leeds, and that they have a burning ambition to get our club to the Premier League. Equally, they share in the frustration and pain the fans have been feeling. Players who want to play for Leeds United fear that they will be forced out of the club this summer, and have to go and play elsewhere for the good of their careers and personal futures. They are frustrated that the people in charge of the club do not share the ambition of the players, and the fans, to make Leeds United a great football club again.
One of the main aims of the Leeds United Supporters' Trust Vision Statement is to reunite the club and its fans. We want to see harmony between the fans, the players, and the management of Leeds United, so we can build a successful team together. We are pleased to learn that there are players at Leeds United who fully endorse that vision, and who are desperate to help us make it a reality.
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L.U.S.T. members are encouraged to keep sending their views to us, either by email to chairman@lufctrust.org, or via our blog, Facebook, or Twitter. L.U.S.T. is here to represent the views of Leeds fans, and we want to hear your thoughts and opinions.
Don't forget also that our next public meeting is on Wednesday 20th June at 7.30pm, at The Magic Sponge (Soccer City) on Lowfields Road. Everyone is welcome to attend, and the meeting will be broadcast live on the internet via Ustream. Questions and comments can be asked or made via Twitter and Facebook.
If you’re not yet a member, you can join more than 6,000 other Leeds fans and have their voice heard as members of the Leeds United Supporters’ Trust by filling in the form at www.lufctrust.org. Membership is free. Keep checking for updates on www.lufctrust.org, and our Facebook and Twitter pages.
Reader Comments (11)
i wouldnt blame any player for wanting to leave. the hierarchy at leeds are only interested in business and turnover and whatever happens on the pitch will always take second place. elland road has been a football stadium for almost 100 years bates and his cronies have been using it as a hotel for too long. i wonder what mr bates would do come august if no one wanted to sign and no one wanted to play? i wouldn't blame em for refusing to play. we as fans love leeds united but we don't have the choice of leaving and going elsewhere like the players can. well we could but being loyal it will never happen will it. investment at pitch level will never be a priority under bates and unfortunately the disillusionment of the fans will always filter through to the players. a successful club is a happy club with everyone pulling in the same direction. unfortunately bates couldn't direct a seagull to the seaside. for all things good about leeds united do the right thing and leave now.
I really am frustrate with this article and not sure what it's trying to prove other than promoting a reaction from the powers that be at Leeds.
I take insult to the statement these players are declaring by wanting to be a part of the team thy gets Leeds to the prem, however the new contracts offered don't match what they can get elsewhere?
I'm not bates or Harvey's greatest fans but put this into a bit of perspective, from
What I gather white can treble is current wage, Ross and clayts can double theirs and snoddy offered top players wages at Leeds?
Ok fair play they might not be on a top salary at the minute but other than snoddy are they top
Players? I've seen one good season from white clayts and Ross, and all of a sudden doubling even trebling wage packets isn't good enough????
Have I missed something here? How money orientated does this sound?
Funny didn't hear Leeds asking Ross to lower his wages whilst out injured for best part of season and totally out of form.
These players should take a leaf from Tom
Lees book, full committment to the club and fans and may I remind them he was linked with prem teams in jan, shame these players just don't come along much these days!
I am frustrated and annoyed at the way te club is run as much as the next fan but in the face of adversity you learn alot about your players.
If this takeover does go through and these players are offered a better contract all Ivan say is they'd better f****** perform to a higher standard,
I just hope the situation is resolved sooner rather than later
Firstly - I want Bates out, under him Leeds Utd are not going anywhere unless it is downwards however - I wonder which players are moaning, if it is the likes of Paynter, Connolly, O'Brien and the rest on the transfer list then they can bitch all they like about how they are feeling, they were dreadful and we finished 14th. Lees signed a new contract so it isn't him, White, McCormack and Snoddy have offers on the table and they wouldn't fear about sitting in the reserves, they would just leave, in fact Snoddy has already spoken out and received the 'understanding' support of the manager.
Sorry LUST this is a negative statement and an error if you want my personal opinion. This could cause more unrest between the players and finger poking at each other and questioning a "who dare speak on my behalf" type of attitude. I truly doubt this is a real reflection of ALL the squad, maybe 5-6 Connolly and O'Brien type trouble makers.
It is a bit of a dark article, but I really don't think the idea of this article was to upset fans. It seems that it is to remind fans that the players are under the same impression as us fans. I'm sure the players do want and (a few) deserve more money but it would not suprise me if some of the players would put money (at another club) before the idea of wearing the white shirt ( especially when all their friends at other clubs are doing the same with their clubs). I too want Bates out and out soon. However, I think that the idea of the article is to create a since of "understanding" between fans and players. Hopefully, the club can get back on track after a takeover and we can get back to enjoing football!!
Bates is a dinosaur and must go but that statement will achieve nothing and attract nobody to our great club.
Risky statement this chaps...you may have to reveal your source who is "close to the players" otherwise it does look like self reccomendation....and we all know that is NO reccomendation LUST!
Otherwise you have been serving LUFC fans well...please don't get too self important and belive your own hype...just yet until there is some substance and justification behind your well meanings.
An exiled LUFC and LUST member...in pain!
MOT
and you think the stupid statement about the greedy players will make a difference , why not keep quite instead of thinking your the mouthpiece for every leed united fan , your not. this will probably do more harm than good , i want bates to go , but when i read most of lusts statements i cringe . mot
Devil man, LUST are very clear that they are not the mouthpiece of EVERY Leeds fan, just the 6k who take the time to make their views known via the multitude of mediums offered .
Your wee rant about the effects of the statement is based on nothing more than a "Probably" .
Your whole post os a big big cringe .
I've been saying this for weeks. The players do not feel wanted by the club.
Mark ramm
I really dont see where your coming from, We have players who wont sign contracts because they want to be in a team that works. They dont want to lose week in week out. Its not all about the money now is it. Im quite glad we have players who stand up for what they beleive in. They wont sign contacts because theres no point being roped into a sinking club. And i suppose you wont agree. There not being greedy, There being smart. I agree in some aspects that snoddy and ross wont get much more pay anywhere else. But thats the point, They know they wont but whats the point of staying at leeds and going through another season playing sh*te football.
Hopefully this takeover comes round and we can get some quality then ross and white can both sling there hook because there not worth anything near what they think they are.
Get the takeover done now and hopefully it will be a better season next time. Goodbye Bates!!!
Football is a business - if the players complaining can get more wages elsewhere - be under no illusion they will move. If they were any good they would have been snapped up. I love people being passionate about Leeds but the players are commodities like it or not. They are paid to do a job - if they would have got us into the Premiership they would have collectively been worth and paid a hell of a lot more.
Anyone who thinks Bates doesn't want the club to do well is wrong. I understand he is an unwanted distraction at the moment but that will sort itself out in time hopefully. Remember the last time the club thought it could buy itself success? Didn't end very well did it. Do the job first get paid afterwards. Anyone who thinks they can get more elsewhere should go. Its the players that need to perform, Bates doesn't win or loose games...he not on the pitch