Woody
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 Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 8:54 pm Post subject: KB |
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Leeds United's policy of wheeling and dealing is set to continue after chairman Ken Bates admitted he could not afford to compete with the Championship's big spenders.
Bates is maintaining a careful grip on United's finances while rival chairmen across the division invest in players with surprising enthusiasm, and Kevin Blackwell's tight budget is unlikely to be stretched before the transfer window closes on August 31.
The Leeds boss splashed around £700,000 on Kevin Nicholls this summer – his most expensive signing of the close-season – but despite raising funds through the sale of several players, United have been comprehensively out-spent by the majority of their promotion rivals. Birmingham City landed another coup yesterday, capturing striker Gary McSheffrey from Coventry for £4million, and the Sky Blues in turn are likely to place the sizeable fee in the hands of manager Micky Adams with the transfer deadline approaching.
Blackwell completed only three permanent signings before the start of the term, and loan deals for goalkeeper Tony Warner and Geoff Horsfield have been used to supplement his squad. Bates insisted today that United could return to the loan market if selection issues begin to bite, but transfer activity at Elland Road is likely to be limited between now and the end of the month.
Bates said: "The way Kevin has wheeled and dealed this summer has been quite incredible, and we've got a stronger squad than last season.
"It's actually a very big squad, with about 25 players, and we might need to slim that down.
"We've lost the parachute payments this season and we're still dealing with the final overhang of the Ridsdale era. That puts a lot of pressure on us.
"The clubs who have come down from the Premiership have a lot of money to spend. The budget here is tight but we always have the option of turning to the loan market."
I think he does right , we have spent enough over the past few seasons , now it is time for the other KB to show what he can do.
Good on you KB snr 
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