2007–08 Leeds United F.C. season

Events

May

• 4 May: Leeds' relegation from the Championship is confirmed as chairman Ken Bates puts Leeds into administration. Hours later, alongside Mark Taylor and Shaun Harvey, Bates buys back the club under a newly formed company, Leeds United Football Club Limited, from administrators, KPMG. Ex-Leeds director Simon Morris reveals plans for a £10 million takeover of the club.
• 21 May: All but four of Leeds' 36-man squad accept a wage deferral to help with the club's finances.
• 23 May: Duncan Revie, son of former Leeds manager Don, provides proof of funds to KPMG to form a takeover of the club. Simon Morris sets up a website to let fans voice their ideas on the future of the club.

  June

• 4 June: The club's administrators confirm the result of the vote on the CVA proposal to sell the club to Leeds United Football Club Ltd. 75.2% of the club's creditors vote in favour of LUFC Ltd's 1p in the pound offer to buy the club.
• 14 June: The League One fixtures are revealed with Leeds facing a difficult start at Tranmere Rovers.

  July

• 2 July: Leeds United Football Club Limited up their 1p in the pound to 8p to try to avoid a legal challenge from the HMRC. Leeds players return for pre-season training.
• 3 July: HMRC confirm they will launch a legal challenge against Leeds United Football Club Limited's buy-back deal as they are owed £7.7 million in unpaid taxes.
• 6 July: Administrators, KPMG put the club back up for sale after the confirmation of legal action from HMRC. The HMRC's court case against the CVA is set for 3 September.
• 8 July: Ken Bates threatens to take legal action if the club is not sold back to Leeds United Football Club Limited.
• 9 July: KPMG close bidding for the club. Simon Morris and Redbus Group chairman, Simon Franks join forces to submit a 'super-bid'.
• 11 July: Leeds United Football Club Limited is given control of the club once more, but the Football League refuse to give Leeds their 'golden share' required to play in competitive football as the club left administration without a CVA. Fans who purchased season tickets are assured that their money is in a separate account and will be paid back to them in case the club cannot start their season.
• 20 July: It is revealed that due to administration, the playing staff at the club were not paid in June.
• 22 July: Leeds fans make a cry for help by laying flowers by the statue of Billy Bremner at Elland Road.
• 27 July: KPMG reveal Leeds United Football Club Limited bought the club back for 11.2p in the pound after Astor Investment Holdings Ltd agreed to waive their £17m debt only if LUFC Ltd were the winners. Without this waiver, despite offering more money, the other bidders would have paid less in the pound.
• 28 July: Fans hold a 'shoe protest' telling Ken Bates to stand down as Chairman.
• 31 July: Club reveal they can only receive any payments from fans in cash or cheque due to the golden share situation.

  August

• 3 August: KPMG refuse to resurrect the CVA for the 'old' Leeds United company. The Football League grant United their golden share to allow them to play in League One in the 2007–08 season, but impose a 15-point deduction for the club. The club reveal their new shirt sponsors are Leeds based company, Red Kite and release their new home and away kits.
• 7 August: Leeds sign 10 players on in the space of 24 hours, with only the Casper Ankergren transfer involving a fee. Alan Thompson is made club captain, despite still not having signed a contract.
• 9 August: The chairmen of the clubs in the Football League vote 64 to 5 in favour of Leeds' 15-point deduction. The Football League reveal Leeds cannot take legal action against them and vice versa. Contracts for three other players, including Thompson are signed.
• 10 August: The players' squad numbers for the new season are revealed with many changes from the previous season.
• 15 August: New signing, striker Leon Constantine is ruled out for three months with an ankle injury.
• 17 August: Ken Bates sends an open letter to all season ticket holders, members and corporate clients giving his views on the financial situation and various other topics from the last few crisis hit months. He confirms that the club will be taking their 15-point deduction appeal to the FA.
• 28 August: Assistant manager, Gus Poyet lands himself in hot water with the FA after accusing referee, Andy D'Urso of having a vendetta against himself, Wise and Leeds.
• 30 August: After the club's 100% winning start in August, manager Wise is awarded League One Manager of the Month beating former Leeds boss – Luton's Kevin Blackwell and Leyton Orient manager, Martin Ling.
• 31 August: HRMC abandoned their legal challenge against KPMG, finally putting all administration, debt and financial matters for the club to rest.

  September

• 1 September: After the 1–0 win against Luton Town, Dennis Wise becomes involved in a heated exchange with former Leeds managers, Blackwell and Carver.
• 3 September: It is revealed new signing Filipe da Costa requires a contract dispute with his previous club Ionikos to be resolved by FIFA before he is allowed to appear for Leeds.
• 7 September: Leeds United reveal they have not yet regained their FA membership as KPMG had not settled all outstanding non-footballing debts, however this will not stop the club from appearing in FA competitions.
• 8 September: Leeds beat Hartlepool 2–0 to recoup the 15 points deficit imposed by the Football League.
• 10 September: Ken Bates responds to rumours about ex-Newcastle United chairman Freddy Shepherd commenting that he "hasn't made a sensational swoop and talks aren't at an advanced stage" stating that "Leeds are not for sale, I'm here for the long haul." He has however admitted that Shepherd would be an "ideal partner".
• 19 September: Assistant Manager, Gus Poyet is charged with a breach of FA rule E3 in respect of comments made to the media about referee, Andy D'Urso. Poyet is given until 4 October to respond.
• 22 September: Leeds equal a 34-year-old record by equalling the club's best ever start to a season, finishing their seventh match in a row on the winning side by beating Swansea City 2–0.
• 27 September: The FA declined to recommend referral to an independent tribunal regarding Leeds' 15-point deduction. Chief Executive Shaun Harvey released a statement on the club's official web-site commenting "We are amazed that the Football Association do not feel it is appropriate to intervene in a matter which we believe is fundamentally wrong, and sets a dangerous precedent for the future." He also stating that the club will be taking legal advice regarding the situation.
• 30 September: Dennis Wise comments to the press that the club will report referee Danny McDermid for swearing at him after the match at Gillingham the previous day, stating "I think it is totally unacceptable and we as a club will be reporting him. I have three witnesses who are going to back me up,". McDermid had sent Wise from the touchline and sent Kandol off for similar behaviour, as well as sending Kandol's fellow striker Beckford off during the match. McDermid is yet to respond to the claim.

  October

• 2 October: After scoring 5 goals in the club's first eight games, Trésor Kandol is awarded the PFA League One fans Player of the Month for September.
• 3 October: Dennis Wise is charged by the FA for his "conduct towards referee Danny McDermid at half-time during the game against Gillingham". They also confirmed that they had "received a complaint from Leeds United regarding the conduct of the referee towards Wise after the conclusion of the game" which is now "under consideration".
• 4 October: Despite his charge the previous day, Wise claims the Manager of the Month award for the second month running.
• 9 October: Casper Ankergren ensures that all the month's awards go to Leeds by being awarded the League One Player of the Month for September.
• 11 October: Jermaine Beckford and Jonny Howson sign new two and a half and three-year contracts respectively, whilst Ben Parker, Scott Gardner and Rob Bayly sign new two-year deals.
• 19 October: Trésor Kandol signs a one-year extension to his contract, signing until 2011.
• 23 October: Radostin Kishishev joins Leeds on a one-month loan deal. Assistant Manager Gustavo Poyet is fined £1500 and warned against his future conduct for the charge brought against him on 19 September.
• 29 October: Tottenham Hotspur appoint Gus Poyet as their new first team coach after agreeing a compensation package with United. Dennis Wise is given a three-match touchline ban and fined £5,000 for using abusive language towards referee Danny McDermid on 29 September.

  November

• 1 November: Leeds appoint Dave "Harry" Bassett as the club's new assistant manager with a six-month contract.
• 2 November: Leeds appoint John Gannon as the club's new first team coach Jermaine Beckford wins the PFA Coca-Cola League One Fans Player of the Month award for October.
• 20 November: Referee Danny McDermid is cleared of using foul and/or abusive language towards Dennis Wise during the away 1–1 draw with Gillingham.
• 23 November: Leeds United request that their 15-point deduction to be adjudicated by the High Court rather than the Football Association after having failed in two requests to the FA to set up an independent commission to review that decision. The statement says: "In effect, the same individual confirmed his own earlier decision, There was no independent review."
• 28 November: The F.A. reject the club's request for a High Court hearing regarding their 15-point deduction.

  December

• 7 December: A small group of Huddersfield Town supporters graffiti the statue of Leeds legend, Billy Bremner at Elland Road. The day marked the 10-year anniversary of the death of the former Leeds captain.
• 8 December: Leeds United set the highest attendance for the third tier of English football in 28 years with an attendance of 32,501 at the match at Elland Road against Huddersfield Town.
• 10 December: Dennis Wise reveals he has set the squad the target of being top of League One by New Year's Day 2008.
• 11 December: Leeds United are warned by Leeds City Council that their stadium expansion plans must fall into the council's proposals for the area. Leeds have plans to build a concert hall, a casino, two hotels, a club megastore, a covered shopping arcade, a health club, a tourist centre, a Leeds United museum and 2,700 car-parking spaces.
• 19 December: Leeds United make a request to the FA that they refer Leeds' points appeal to an Independent Arbitration Tribunal. This would involve commissioning a three-man panel whereby the club and the FA both nominate one member each and the chairman is independent.
• 20 December: Sebastian Sorsa finalises a deal to move to Leeds on a free transfer in the January transfer window. Jonathan Douglas is ruled out for a minimum of three months with a knee injury sustained in the match against Walsall, five days earlier.

  January

• 1 January: Assistant Manager Dave Bassett claims Vice-captain, Shaun Derry refused to cut short his loan spell with Crystal Palace after manager Dennis Wise asked him to come back to Elland Road to help out with the current midfield injury crisis.
• 3 January: Crystal Palace manager, Neil Warnock, admits that he blocked Shaun Derry's return to Leeds United, and not Shaun himself. Chairman, Ken Bates admits that he had Dennis Wise in mind as manager of Leeds from the day he took over. Bates says that he and Wise are at Leeds for the long haul.
• 4 January: Leeds form a partnership with Argentinian team San Lorenzo de Almagro. The deal with see a host of South American players arriving at Elland Road on trial and permanently. The first two players to join up for training will be Jonathan Bottinelli and Nicolás Bianchi Arce, who will arrive at Thorp Arch next week.
• 7 January: Leeds' withdraw their bid for Dean Morgan, which was accepted by the administrators of Luton Town, having been unable to agree acceptable personal terms with the player's representatives.
• 8 January: Leeds extend the contract of goalkeeper David Lucas until the end of the season. Young striker Tomi Ameobi extends his loan spell with Championship side Scunthorpe United until the end of the season.
• 11 January: Young defender, Fabian Delph signs a two and a half-year professional contract.
• 15 January: Dennis Wise causes controversy when he states: "I've no intentions of selling the kid. I keep getting asked about Derby, but sorry Derby we are a bigger club."
• 18 January: Chairman, Ken Bates reveals he wants Elland Road to be one of the 12 host venues should England win their bid to hold the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Bates plan would be to renovate the West Stand so it will hold an additional 10,000 seats, increasing the total capacity of the stadium to 50,000.
• 21 January: Ken Bates confirms that Leeds shall be taking legal action in regards to the 15-point sanction imposed by the Football League on the eve of the season.
• 22 January: Leeds reward hard-working young midfielder Ollie Hotchkiss with a professional two and a half-year contract.
• 28 January: Dennis Wise quits as manager to take up take a job as Executive Director at Newcastle United.
• 29 January: Assistant Manager, Dave Bassett and First Team Coach, John Gannon leave the club. Former club captain Gary McAllister is appointed as manager of the club.

  February

• 4 February: Steve Staunton is appointed as Leeds' third Assistant Manager of the season.
• 6 February: Striker Trésor Kandol denies rumours of a bust up between him and manager, Gary McAllister.
• 7 February: Leeds appoint Lincoln City assistant manager Neil McDonald as first-team coach.
• 9 February: Leeds confirm they have served their High Court writ on the Football League in regard to the 15-point deduction.
• 11 February: At a press conference, Leeds announce a four-season kit deal with emerging Italian sportswear brand Macron starting in the 2008–09 season.
• 11 February: Jermaine Beckford is voted the PFA's Official Fans' Player of the Month for January.
• 16 February: Leeds' match against Doncaster Rovers is postponed due to a frozen pitch.
• 23 February: Bradford City joint-chairman, Julian Rhodes offers his support to Leeds in their fight against their 15-point deduction.
• 27 February: The Football League agree to an arbitration panel over Leeds' 15-point appeal only hours before the deadline to respond to a writ Leeds had issued them via the High Court regarding an independent hearing in the High Court. The arbitration hearing will take place in private with the panel consisting of a high court judge, a member appointed by Leeds United and a member appointed by The Football League.

  March

• 2 March: Jermaine Beckford is awarded the FourFourTwo Player of the Year for Coca-Cola League 1 at the 2008 Football League Awards.
• 6 March: Manager, Martin Ling claims his team, Leyton Orient will seek court action if The Football League restores Leeds' 15 points and it has as an impact on their promotion hopes. Veteran striker Dougie Freedman joins on loan from Crystal Palace until the end of the season.
• 14 March: Four United players are called up for international duty including Sebastian Sorsa, Ľubomír Michalík, Trésor Kandol and Luke Garbett. Fabian Delph and Ross Wilkinson are put on stand-by for the England Under 19s.
• 18 March: Casper Ankergren is charged with improper conduct after it is alleged that the Leeds goalkeeper threw a missile at Swindon Town supporters at the end of a game at the County Ground on 1 March. He is given until 1 April to respond to the charges.
• 19 March: Ken Bates explains his decision not to renew Leeds' contract for rights to broadcast matches live on the radio with the BBC saying that "we did not think the BBC's offer was acceptable".
• 20 March: Long term injuree absentee, Jonathan Douglas returns to the squad for the match against Walsall F.C. on 22 March. Douglas completed 90 minutes in a reserve match earlier on in the week.
• 21 March: Five MPs sign a parliamentary motion which expresses regret at Ken Bates' decision to award Leeds United live match radio broadcasting rights exclusively to Yorkshire Radio. The MPs who sign are Colin Burgon, John Battle, George Mudie, John Grogan and Phil Willis.
• 25 March: Manager, Gary McAllister says that young defenders, Paul Huntington and Ben Parker have a big future at the club.

  April

• 3 April: Manager Gary McAllister signs a new 12-month rolling contract with the club.
• 11 April: Leeds release reserve team players Simon Madden and Gavin Rothery. Meanwhile, scholars Chris Fisher, Stefan Connor, Duane Grace, and Jason Mycoe are informed that they will not be offered professional contract by the club.
• 14 April: Defender, Paul Huntington apologises to Carlisle United fans after receiving death threats from the Cumbrian fans. During Leeds' 3–2 defeat of Carlisle, Carlisle born Huntington turned to face the away fans each time Leeds scored, celebrating enthusiastically.
• 16 April: Due to high demand for tickets, for the first time in two years, the upper tier of the East Stand at Elland Road is opened for the final league match of the season against Gillingham.
• 16 April: Swansea City, Carlisle United, Doncaster Rovers all admit they may take action against The Football League should Leeds be given their 15 points back. Doncaster Rovers chairman, John Ryan embarrasses himself after making comments regarding Leeds' arbitration. Believing that Leeds are contesting against the 10 points deduction for the 2006–07 season compared to the 15 points deducted prior to the 2007–08 season, Ryan says: "What would happen next? Would Bournemouth, Luton, Rotherham – all the other teams that have lost 10 points, take on the Football League?" Meanwhile, the independent tribunal considering Leeds' 15-point deduction commences.
• 18 April: The independent tribunal into Leeds' 15 docked points is extended a further day until 5 May with a decision to be announced by 1 May at the latest.
• 23 April: Leeds decline to comment on claims they may have broken Football Association rules relating to their arbitration hearing against The Football League. It is believed that Leeds' Chief Executive, Shaun Harvey sent a letter outlining the argument which Leeds planned to present to the arbitration hearing.
• 24 April: Leeds goalkeeper, Casper Ankergren is fined £750 and warned about his future conduct by the FA after it was alleged he threw an object in to the crowd during the match against Swindon Town in March.
• 25 April: Leeds cement a place in the League One Play-offs after a 1–0 win at Yeovil Town.
• 29 April: At Leeds' Player of the Year Awards, Jermaine Beckford wins Fans' Player of the Year, Players' Player of the Year and Goal of the Year. Jonny Howson picks up Fans' Young Player of the Year and Players' Young Player of the Year whilst Casper Ankergren is awarded the community award.

  May

• 1 May: Leeds lose their appeal against the 15-point deduction. Two of the main reasons given for the rejection by the three-man arbitration panel include the impact of a reinstatement of any points on other teams near the top of League One as well as Leeds' delay in bringing the matter to arbitration. Leeds Chairman, Ken Bates accepts, but criticises the decision, calling for the resignation of Football League chairman, Lord Mawhinney and saying: "if this is justice, I am a banana".
• 2 May: Ken Bates blasts Gillingham chairman, Paul Scally who applauded the decision not to give Leeds back their 15 points. Bates states that he hopes "poetic justice" is done at Elland Road on Saturday when the two teams meet for the final league match of the season.
• 3 May: Leeds relegate Gillingham after beating them 2–1 at Elland Road in front of a Football League record seated crowd of 38,256. Leeds finish the season in 5th place, with their play-off semi final opponents confirmed as Carlisle United. Leeds announce that the Crosswater Holdings Group will be the club's official ticket sponsor for the 2008–09 season in a six figure deal.
• 6 May: After Stoke City are promoted to The Premiership, Leeds receive £200,000 due to a promotion clause in the deal which took Richard Cresswell to the Potters last season. Dougie Freedman is named the League One Player of the Month.
• 8 May: Leeds' online ticket sales are suspended due to a high demand for tickets bringing the server to a halt.
• 9 May: Carlisle United return a number of tickets they were allocated for the South Stand for their Play-Off semi-final match against Leeds.
• 15 May: Leeds reach the League One play-off final after beating Carlisle United 2–0 to win the Play-off semi-final 3–2 on aggregate.
• 16 May: Leeds' opponents in the Play-off final are confirmed as Doncaster Rovers after their 5–1 victory against Southend United.
• 20 May: Central defender, Rui Marques signs a new two-year contract with the club.
• 21 May: Tickets for the Play-off Final in the Leeds end are completely sold out.
• 25 May: Leeds lose 1–0 to Doncaster Rovers in the League One Play-off Final, confining them to a second season in the third tier of English football.

Players

Squad information

Squad stats

Most frequent start

Disciplinary record

Captains

Awards

Player of the Year Awards

• Fans' Player of the Year: Jermaine Beckford
• Fans' Young Player of the Year: Jonny Howson
• Fans' Goal of the Season: Jermaine Beckford vs Hartlepool
• Players' Player of the Year: Jermaine Beckford
• Players' Young Player of the Year: Jonny Howson
• Best Contribution to Community: Casper Ankergren

  Team of the Week

• 20 August 2007: Alan Thompson
• 27 August 2007: Jermaine Beckford, Trésor Kandol
• 3 September 2007: Jonathan Douglas, Trésor Kandol
• 10 September 2007: Jermaine Beckford
• 17 September 2007: Jermaine Beckford
• 24 September 2007: Jonathan Douglas, Frazer Richardson
• 1 October 2007: Sébastien Carole
• 8 October 2007: Manuel Rui Marques, Jamie Clapham
• 15 October 2007: Sébastien Carole
• 22 October 2007: Matt Heath, Jonathan Douglas
• 29 October 2007: Jonathan Douglas
• 19 November 2007: Jonathan Howson, Jermaine Beckford
• 10 December 2007: Jermaine Beckford, Jonathan Douglas
• 17 December 2007: Jonathan Douglas
• 28 January 2008: Paul Huntington, Peter Sweeney
• 3 March 2008: Jonny Howson, Trésor Kandol
• 10 March 2008: Casper Ankergren, Bradley Johnson
• 17 March 2008: Manuel Rui Marques, Dougie Freedman
• 7 April 2008: Bradley Johnson
• 14 April 2008: Jonny Howson, Dougie Freedman
• 21 April 2008: Alan Sheehan

  Other Awards

• Coca-Cola League One Manager of the Month: Dennis Wise
• Coca-Cola League One Fans' Player of the Month: Trésor Kandol, Jermaine Beckford
• Coca-Cola League One Player of the Month: Casper Ankergren, Dougie Freedman
• FourFourTwo Player of the Year for Coca-Cola League 1: Jermaine Beckford
• PFA League One Team of the Season: Jermaine Beckford
• Yorkshire Evening Post Player of the Year : David Prutton,

  Transfers

In

Out

Loans

Club

Kit

Coaching and medical staff

Former staff

Other information

Competitions

Overall summary

League One

Table

Results summary

Results by round

Play-offs

Matches

Friendlies

Competitive