By Andy Baggott
May 26 2004

So just what is going on down at Elland Road? The last few days have seen some astonishing developments, even by our standards, as the new board showed that we are still the masters of cocking it up. The ‘drama’ started on Friday, when Kevin Blackwell was effectively offered the job, subject to a final meeting with Simon Morris. Morris, however, was trying to tie up a deal with Steve Parkin, who was potentially looking at either buying the club, or at least buying into the club. Parkin was known to favour Ian Dowie as his manager, so Morris effectively told the board that Blackwell was not necessarily his preferred choice. Without Morris’s buy in (and that of ally Melvyn Levi), Blackwell was left in limbo, and returned to London to consider his options. Director Peter Lorimor had already informed the press that Blackwll had been appointed, and when the media arrived on Monday to attend a press conference, Lorimor, had the embarrassment of having to inform that the deal was up in the air again. Yesterday saw another twist. Steve Parkin and his consortium pulled out of any deal. It is thought that one of the investors had serious doubts after seeing the books, and without his buy in – there wasn’t enough money to finance the deal. Without the Parkin money, the options for the board were limited again. Dowie wouldn’t see our board and cash situation as an appealing option, and we would struggle to pay compensation. So, the board, reverted to plan a, and are set to announce Blackwell as manager today. Some things are becoming clear on the board. Firstly, Simon Morris has a lot of say in the running of things – far too much on the football side of things in my opinion. The football man on the board, is David Richmond, and that side of the club should be left to him. The others are more into running the business side, and they should stick to that. From what I have seen, Krasner and Richmond seem to be trying to make the best of a bad deal, and some of the fans are warming to the pair. Morris is starting to be seen as the bad guy, and it looks as though splits in the camp are beginning to develop – the proposed Milner sale to Spurs was apparently agreed by Morris and Levi, with Krasner and Richmond against the idea. The board, as a whole, needs to get itself sorted. It would appear now that a takeover is not going to happen, so they need some long term objectives in place. The manager situation needs resolving so that we can start making some inroads in the transfer market. Blackwells appointment is expected today, but in the crazy world that is Leeds United, who knows…..