As with our previous surveys, participation was excellent with a total of 1,923 replies from a total of 9,091 emails sent. This represents a reply total of a little over 21.15%, a majority of which was within the first 90.5% being completed in the first 48 hours of the survey being available.

The results speak for themselves with the following being the outcome;

YES -              45 (2.3%)

NO -               1,811 (94.2%)

UNDECIDED - 67 (3.5%)

We included a field for comments for those completing the survey anonymously, with a total of 1,032 doing so.

A list of all the comments is available to read, along with the survey in its entirety, by clicking the Trust Survey logo below. 

 Please Note: Comments are unedited and uses language which may offend some. The comments reflect the opinions of individuals who have chosen to make them of their own free will and the Trust is not responsible for any offence which may be subsequently caused.

The Leeds United Supporters Trust will hold a further public meeting on Wednesday 15th May 2013 at the New Farnley Cricket Club, Lawns Lane, Leeds LS12 5ES from 7.30pm - Map.

As always the meeting will be broadcast live on our Ustream channel.

We have invited the Club and local media  to send representation, but as always all are welcome to attend.

As this is the end of a tumultuous season we would like to encourage your input as much as possible so we have an agenda with as much contribution from our members as possible which hopefully can be covered in the time available. Of course we will try to take questions from our social media live during the meeting too.

You can ask questions, raise issues or make your point by email to chairman@lufctrust.org or through our social media on Facebook or Twitter. Alternatively, you can even leave a reply on this thread. We will collate all the questions the day before the meeting and do our best to answer them on the night.

We hope to see you there and look forward to your input,

Gary Cooper

Chairman

Following public meetings of fans in Manchester and London the launch of the petition marks the next step in the Twenty’s Plenty campaign. Each fan’s signature will trigger an email to their club, as well as to the respective league, informing them of their support for the campaign.

The cost of attending football is increasing at all levels, and not just in the Premier League. Many League Two fans are already finding themselves getting very little change from a twenty pound note, if any at all, when paying for their tickets. It is expected that thousands of fans from all leagues will sign the petition once it is launched.

With gate receipts becoming less important compared with TV revenue as a percentage of a club’s income, the Football Supporters’ Federation is concerned that fans are finding it increasingly easy to stay at home and watch games on the internet or watch them at the pub for free. Football needs to act now to make sure it doesn’t lose the next generation of match-going fans.

Malcolm Clarke, chair of the FSF, said,“Watching live football is becoming more and more expensive, and in the current financial climate many fans are finding it harder to afford. Increases in the cost of fuel and rail fares make travelling away particularly expensive, which is why the focus of this campaign is on those who travel to support their team.

“Fans continue to get in touch with the Football Supporters’ Federation on the issue of ticket pricing and affordability of the game on an almost daily basis. We think that the Twenty’s Plenty campaign is a realistic and achievable solution to help some of the most dedicated fans with their matchday costs.”

Martin O’Hara, deputy chair of the FSF, said, “The increase in the domestic TV deal of around £1.2bn means that all Premier League clubs could subsidise every single ticket at every single game for the next three seasons to the tune of £32 each without losing a penny from this year’s revenues. That’s the equivalent of £600 off each and every season ticket. 

“A cap on prices would help make football more affordable for those on low wages, children, students and OAPs. Football should not be a preserve of the wealthy. A maximum price of £20 would help clubs reconnect with the local communities from which they were born.

“Reciprocal arrangements such as these are in everyone’s interest – if all clubs adopt cheaper pricing for away fans, away match attendance will increase and teams will be backed by more of their most loyal supporters away from home.”

The FSF is the national supporters’ organisation for all football fans from England and Wales comprising more than 200,000 individual fans and members of local supporters’ organisations from every club in the professional structure and beyond.

For more info on Twenty’s Plenty visit www.fsf.org.uk/tickets

...or download flyer page1 HERE and page 2 HERE

Fans can join the FSF free of charge and it only takes a few minutes, simply visit: www.fsf.org.uk/join

In summary, Ofcom ruled that:

• Mr Bates’ comments about Mr Cooper were likely to have materially or adversely affected listeners' views of Mr. Cooper and L.U.S.T. in a way that was unfair to them.

• It considered Mr Bates had taken advantage of his position as a company director of Yorkshire Radio and, ultimately, its owner, to use the programmes as a vehicle to air his views about Mr Cooper and L.U.S.T.

• Yorkshire Radio failed to provide Mr Cooper an appropriate and timely opportunity to respond to comments made by Mr Bates in the programmes.

• Mr Cooper had a legitimate expectation of privacy, which was unwarrantably infringed in connection with the obtaining of material included in the programmes.

The ruling can be read in full HERE - page 63

This is a landmark ruling which clearly demonstrates to Mr Bates, and to all those who seek to influence and control through media outlets they own, that breaches of broadcast regulations and the rights of customers to privacy will render them accountable for their actions. Rules exist for all, and those who ignore or transgress them, in this case Mr Bates and Yorkshire Radio, will be made answerable to the regulatory bodies.

It will be of considerable concern to our members that a man who has been found guilty of harassment of the club’s former director, Melvyn Levi, and who has now been found by Ofcom to have disregarded the right to privacy of the chairman of a supporters group and to have used his control over his Yorkshire Radio to broadcast remarks and information intended to discredit Gary Cooper and L.U.S.T., is deemed to be an fit and proper person to not only remain in position as club Chairman but to be considered for an honorary role as president at the end of this season.

In this respect L.U.S.T. will make formal representations to both the Football League and the Football Association to investigate whether they feel Mr Bates is a fit and proper person to remain a chairman and director at Leeds United, and whether they feel his actions have brought the game into disrepute.

Since Mr Bates sold the club to GFHC in December of 2012, leaving the new owners with financial circumstances that Salem Patel has made very clear are less than favourable, our members also remain seriously concerned about the reasoning behind keeping both Mr Bates and Shaun Harvey employed in their roles as chairman and CEO respectively.

These are the same people who took the club into administration in 2007, the same people who told us we needed to pay Premier League prices if we wanted Premier League football, who took us to the lowest league position in our history, who have consistently sold our best players across a series of transfer windows in order to keep the club profitable, who have invested future season ticket sales in corporate facilities many will never use, who have sold off future catering rights, called supporters ‘morons’ and ‘dissidents’ and claimed ‘supporters should support,’ who removed membership rights for L.U.S.T. board members for questioning these policies. These are the men who between them have dragged the club through expensive litigation which cost the club and its supporters a ‘fortune’, who have ignored and dismissed the voices of thousands of fans who could see the financial mire the club was headed towards, and who campaigned for change because of it.

These are the men who, it would seem, are today involved in the search for a new club manager; and if what our sources indicate is true these men have also ensured that the new owners cannot communicate with L.U.S.T., or other organised supporters groups, because they are contractually prevented from doing so. For the sake of transparency for all Leeds United fans, we seek public clarification on this final point.

Today L.U.S.T. asks, on behalf of our members who raise serious concerns with us daily, who is actually running Leeds United? Furthermore, in light of the Ofcom ruling and all of the issues raised in this statement, do GFH Capital really believe it is in the best interests of Leeds United to continue to allow them to do so?

Guardian Article - 8th April 2013 - HERE

For the second week in a row it’s a good Friday at Elland Road – Leeds United have announced their support for safe standing. They become the 23rd club in English league football to formally back the FSF’s Safe Standing Campaign.

Club Chief Executive Shaun Harvey said: “Leeds United would be happy to support the changes required to Football League regulations to allow safe standing rail seats, in the event that Peterborough United are successful in their lobbying of Government to achieve a change in current legislation.”

With Leeds United becoming the 23rd club to offer their support it means that a quarter of the clubs in the Premier League and Football League have now formally backed the Safe Standing Campaign. The Scottish Premier League also supports the campaign.

Furthermore, more than half of the Football League now either formally support our campaign or have a standing area themselves (clubs in League One and League Two are exempt from the standing ban).

FSF affiliate Leeds United Supporters’ Trust (LUST) welcomed the move and said that they hoped the club would consider the possibility of rail seating in the Kop, should legislation allow it.

Chair Gary Cooper said: “This is something that LUST has long campaigned for, we hope the football authorities and the Government look again at safe standing. We fully support the rail seating system currently being demonstrated across the country.

“It’s clear from the feedback we’ve had from our 9,000+ membership that supporters want to be able to stand and sing while supporting their clubs, no more so than at Elland Road. We urge the club to look again at the possibility of rail seating in the Kop.”

Why does the FSF back safe standing?

The FSF represents more than 200,000 individual and affiliate members throughout England and Wales and tries to fairly reflect fans' opinion on all sorts of issues. Safe standing is one of the most commonly raised subjects.

Survey after survey (see# 2) shows that fans overwhelming back the choice to sit or stand and safe standing can be introduced within stringent safety standards laid down in the Government’s Green Guide. But that alone will not be enough, clubs must make their voice heard too and it's another boost for the campaign that Leeds United have seen fit to do that.

Safe standing areas can also help make stadiums more socially inclusive places. In England and abroad prices in standing areas are typically lower than seats. Safe standing can simultaneously raise revenue for clubs and lower prices for fans.

As Professor Steve Frosdick, safety expert and founder member of the Football Safety Officers' Association, says: “I think they've [the FSF] got an irrefutable case to allow clubs and fans the choice of having rail seating.”

• It’s great news but the FSF also needs action from fans too. Words alone are not enough – read more and do your bit via: www.fsf.org.uk/campaigns/safestanding

Thanks to Action Images for the image used in this article.

Link for original article on the FSF website - HERE

Leeds United Supporters' Trust would like to pass its best wishes to Neil Warnock, as he departs Leeds United after less than eighteen months in charge. We realise his tenure was largely overshadowed by the prolonged takeover saga, which perhaps limited his opportunity to gain the eighth promotion of his career and return Leeds to the Premier League. However, results and performances this season have left LUFC fans and our members disappointed, and we feel it is quite right and dignified that Mr Warnock should leave now. 

The Trust are pleased to support the efforts of Leeds fan James Bushnell and his family in their charitable efforts before the Huddersfield home game next Saturday.

This afternoon we have given the following press release regarding the event, we hope every Trust member and Leeds fan will support;

The great Bill Shankly is renowned throughout football for saying, ”Some people believe football is a matter of life and death...I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.” Fans of both Huddersfield Town and Leeds United will unite in an effort to prove Mr. Shankly wrong in the 'Marching on Together against Cancer' charity walk on Saturday 16th March, before the two teams meet later that day at Elland Road.

Fans of both clubs will leave from the John Smiths Stadium at 6.30am to walk the 12 miles to Elland Road for Yorkshire Cancer Research, The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and Alan Courtney, a Leeds fan recently diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. They will be collecting along the route and are looking for donations and sponsorship for this worthwhile event. Numbers are increasing daily with in excess of 50 currently, but is expected to be considerably more on the day.

Event organiser, James Bushnell, said, “Sadly we will all be touched by cancer in our lives either friends , family or work colleagues. With football comes a universal bond and I'm hoping that the 2 sets of fans can put differences aside, walk side by side and March on together against cancer. All we hear in the press is about football fans misbehaving, I want to show that yes we are rivals but they are our family our friends and we are human beings and WE can do amazing things when we all pull united in the same direction.”

The unity of the fans has further been reinforced by the involvement of the Huddersfield Town Supporters Association (HTSA) and the Leeds United Supporters Trust (LUST) who have assisted in the event and will be taking part in the walk. HTSA Secretary, Robert Pepper, said, “I'm glad to be able to walk together on 16th March to help raise funds for in the work against Cancer. As a Grandfather I will be walking with my Leeds fan Grandson, Edward Vickers, putting rivalries aside Marching on Together, with a Smile Awhile.”  In support of the event, the LUST Chairman, Gary Cooper, said, ”I am really pleased and proud that LUST is able to help and assist our colleagues at Huddersfield Town to promote such an event and raise money for local charities helping local people whose lives have been touched by cancer. Our thanks to the Club who have assisted us make sure this is a success, marching on together.”

Sally Crerar, Head of Community Fundraising at Yorkshire Cancer Research, said, “We are delighted that passionate fans of two proud Yorkshire football clubs are uniting for a common cause. We are extremely grateful for the support of so many Yorkshire people and we hope that the weather is kind during this very unique event. The money raised will make a huge difference to our goal to help the people of Yorkshire avoid, survive and cope with cancer.”

Both Leeds United and Huddersfield Town have made efforts to assist with fundraising with some of the members of the walk being presented on the pitch before the match and will be donated signed shirts from both clubs, which will be auctioned following the game.

Even though numbers are increasing more sponsorship and people to walk on the day is needed. Walker volunteers on the day should raise £10 sponsorship (or more) and wear shirt of the team they support, not just LUFC or HTFC, anyone can participate.

Sometimes football doesn't have to be about winners and losers and fans of both Huddersfield Town and Leeds United are committed to helping beat cancer, something which unifies all in purpose...at least for a few hours!

Please check out the links below. If you wish to participate on the day email HERE and we will send you further information for the day. To donate click on the button below.

Many thanks for your support.

LINKS
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/events/132867483535484/
Huddersfield Examiner Article – HERE
Walk Route - http://goo.gl/maps/2K2tb
Sponsor Form - http://s1298.beta.photobucket.com/user/lufctrust/media/Misc%20trust%20Images/motsponform1_zpse61b064a.jpg.html

 "Several weeks ago we were contacted by a LUST member who had received a letter from Leeds United saying that his season ticket had been suspended, and that he had to sign a behavioural agreement before he would be allowed back to Elland Road. The letter stated that he had been ejected and arrested at the Chelsea game, a game which he had attended with his son in his usual season ticket seats. Our member told us that this arrest and ejection had simply not taken place.

"He investigated this matter with the club who informed him that two youngsters with tickets he had bought were ejected from the ground for bad behaviour, and that as he had bought the tickets, he was responsible for their behaviour. He had bought tickets for friends of friends, and it was true that two lads had been kicked out, but our member had not known about this until after the letter from the club arrived and after he rang to clarify what was going on.

 "Despite his explanation to the club they refused to remove the suspension or the requirement to sign a behavioural agreement. Our member then contacted LUST, and we immediately enlisted the help of Amanda Jacks from the Football Supporters' Federation (who joined the Trust in L37 at the last game of last season), and she put our member in touch with Alison Gurden, a barrister who offered useful legal advice.

"Our member was told to arrange a meeting with the club and to stand his ground; not to sign any behavioural document as he had not committed any offence; to offer an apology for the behaviour of those he bought tickets for; but to state clearly that he would not agree to any conditions imposed additional to those of the normal purchase of a season ticket.

"I attended a meeting at Elland Road with our member and Sue Kilroy on the 6th February 2013, where he argued his case strongly, and I made representations on his behalf relating to the legal advice given byAlison Gurden. Sue, who was very understanding, transferred the matter to Katy Holmes and Shaun Harvey, and involved the Supporters Liason Officer, Laura Bland.

"In the meantime our member found out that the youngster he had bought the ticket for had been allowed back to Elland Road with no behavioural agreement or conditions on his attendance. Our member and I then contacted the club and argued strongly that if no sanctions were being placed upon the fan who had been ejected, no sanctions should apply to our member and that his suspension should be immediately lifted.

"This week our member received an email from Katy Holmes confirming that the suspension has been lifted and that no behavioural agreement will be required. The club apologised for the time taken to resolve the matter, and our member is now free to continue supporting his club with an unblemished record that stretches for over thirty years of following Leeds United.

"I see this is a victory for team work, the use of good legal advice and strong support from the FSF, and for common sense by the club. 

"This is one of around a dozen issues LUST have dealt with for our members this season alone, with a 100% record of success that includes the removal of banning orders, restoration of suspended season tickets, and resolution of stewarding problems and ticketing issues. 

"I would encourage anyone having similar problems to get in touch with us. Our member showed great tenacity by not backing down, when a lot of fans would have signed the behaviour order to just to start watching the team they love again. We're here to support and help any Leeds fan who needs our assistance.

"This is LUST in action, working on behalf of its members and with the club, in the best interests of everyone involved with Leeds United."