By Andy Baggott
March 16 2004

This week we’ve got the takeover a step closer, rumours of Gordon Strachan returning to Leeds, and more links of player sales..... Let’s start with the consortium. It would appear that there is a chance the takeover will finally happen, possibly in time for Mondays visit of Man City. There have been numerous problems including player wages, cost of relegation and a final price. The number of companies involved, their respective lawyers, and the time difference, with some of the creditors being in the USA have made negotiations extremely complex. Hopefully we’ll have news on this soon.

The group are rumoured to have targeted Gordon Strachan as a new manager. The ex Leeds midfielder would be a big favourite with the fans, but much will depend on the Scot. He quit Southampton to take a year out, and have some hip surgery, but wasn’t due to leave until the end of the season. However, events overtook him, and his ‘year out’ started a few months early. This may allow the new board to tempt him back. Current manager Eddie Gray would be retained in some capacity according to todays papers.

Paul Robinson to Spurs for £2.5 million in the summer and Smith to Newcastle for £8 million are this weeks links. We are going to have huge problems in the summer, because it seems likely that, if relegated, we would lose Robinson, Smith and Viduka at least. We also lose Camara, Domi, Sakho, Caldwell, Olembe and Pennant as their loan runs out. Batty and Morris have effectively left, Bridges and Mills wont return whilst Wilcox and Radebe are out of contract. This could see 15 departures, whilst the board would like to ship out a few of the big earners, such as Seth Johnson. IF we are relegated, we could really be down to the bare bones….