Replying to Topic \'Leeds United\'
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Leeds make first signing in two years
Kevin Blackwell is confident he has not wasted a penny of the money spent on left-back Stephen Crainey after becoming the first Leeds boss for more than two years to splash the cash on a new signing.
The last player Leeds bought was Nick Barmby in July 2002, with Terry Venables allowed to spend £2.75million on the former England international midfielder from Liverpool.
Since then, a club that once spent money as if it was going out of fashion has tightly closed the purse strings, with the arrivals that have followed either free transfers, non-contract players or loan signings.
Blackwell has had to toe the same line during the summer as the board have continued to strive to slash debts, which still stand at around £40million, and a once-crippling wage bill.
But in the wake of the sales of Alan Smith, Mark Viduka, James Milner and Paul Robinson during the close season, chairman Gerald Krasner has finally opened the coffers.
Leeds have paid £200,000 for Scotland international Crainey who arrives at Elland Road on a three-year deal from Southampton after being told he would not figure in the plans of boss Paul Sturrock.
A delighted Blackwell has taken advantage of the situation, and is now hoping the club have \'bottomed out\' as he said: \'The board are well aware we have gone a long way towards putting a squad together for nothing.
\'But there\'s only so long you can carry on doing that because with the support we have and the expectations of this club, you have to look at adding a bit more quality and unfortunately that costs.
\'So I asked the question of the board and they came up with the answer. They have dug deep and any manager who has money to spend is a very happy manager.
\'Knowing I need two or three other players that will be crucial to the squad I\'m looking to put together, thankfully they\'ve come up with some money.
\'It\'s a positive sign I\'ve been able to spend. I\'m aware Stephen is Leeds\' first cash signing for two years and it might start to show people we are bottoming out and are starting to move forward.
\'But I know I can\'t afford to waste a pound and I don\'t think I\'ve wasted any of this money.\'
Crainey joined the Saints from Celtic in February, but no sooner had he arrived than the man who signed him, Gordon Strachan, chose to quit.
The 23-year-old then made just five starts for Southampton during the closing three months of last season, with Sturrock making it clear further appearances would be few and far between.
But despite playing at the highest level in Scotland and then in the Premier League, Crainey was more than happy to walk out of the St Mary\'s Stadium.
After initially signing on loan on Friday to ensure he could be in the Leeds\' squad for Saturday\'s Coca-Cola Championship curtain-raiser at home to Derby, Crainey will tomorrow face Gillingham at the Priestfield Stadium as a fully-fledged squad member.
\'The last few days have been a bit frantic, but we\'ve got it sorted and I\'m delighted to be here and I just want to get down to playing some games for Leeds,\' said Crainey.
\'There were never any doubts about dropping down a level. Paul made it clear I wouldn\'t be part of his plans and I would only play if there were injuries, but I wasn\'t interested.
\'As soon as I heard of Leeds\' interest I was desperate to come. I see this as a chance to get my career back on track after what happened at Southampton.\'
Soccernet.com
Panen üles juba pealkirja enda pärast
Leeds make first signing in two years
Kevin Blackwell is confident he has not wasted a penny of the money spent on left-back Stephen Crainey after becoming the first Leeds boss for more than two years to splash the cash on a new signing.
The last player Leeds bought was Nick Barmby in July 2002, with Terry Venables allowed to spend £2.75million on the former England international midfielder from Liverpool.
Since then, a club that once spent money as if it was going out of fashion has tightly closed the purse strings, with the arrivals that have followed either free transfers, non-contract players or loan signings.
Blackwell has had to toe the same line during the summer as the board have continued to strive to slash debts, which still stand at around £40million, and a once-crippling wage bill.
But in the wake of the sales of Alan Smith, Mark Viduka, James Milner and Paul Robinson during the close season, chairman Gerald Krasner has finally opened the coffers.
Leeds have paid £200,000 for Scotland international Crainey who arrives at Elland Road on a three-year deal from Southampton after being told he would not figure in the plans of boss Paul Sturrock.
A delighted Blackwell has taken advantage of the situation, and is now hoping the club have \'bottomed out\' as he said: \'The board are well aware we have gone a long way towards putting a squad together for nothing.
\'But there\'s only so long you can carry on doing that because with the support we have and the expectations of this club, you have to look at adding a bit more quality and unfortunately that costs.
\'So I asked the question of the board and they came up with the answer. They have dug deep and any manager who has money to spend is a very happy manager.
\'Knowing I need two or three other players that will be crucial to the squad I\'m looking to put together, thankfully they\'ve come up with some money.
\'It\'s a positive sign I\'ve been able to spend. I\'m aware Stephen is Leeds\' first cash signing for two years and it might start to show people we are bottoming out and are starting to move forward.
\'But I know I can\'t afford to waste a pound and I don\'t think I\'ve wasted any of this money.\'
Crainey joined the Saints from Celtic in February, but no sooner had he arrived than the man who signed him, Gordon Strachan, chose to quit.
The 23-year-old then made just five starts for Southampton during the closing three months of last season, with Sturrock making it clear further appearances would be few and far between.
But despite playing at the highest level in Scotland and then in the Premier League, Crainey was more than happy to walk out of the St Mary\'s Stadium.
After initially signing on loan on Friday to ensure he could be in the Leeds\' squad for Saturday\'s Coca-Cola Championship curtain-raiser at home to Derby, Crainey will tomorrow face Gillingham at the Priestfield Stadium as a fully-fledged squad member.
\'The last few days have been a bit frantic, but we\'ve got it sorted and I\'m delighted to be here and I just want to get down to playing some games for Leeds,\' said Crainey.
\'There were never any doubts about dropping down a level. Paul made it clear I wouldn\'t be part of his plans and I would only play if there were injuries, but I wasn\'t interested.
\'As soon as I heard of Leeds\' interest I was desperate to come. I see this as a chance to get my career back on track after what happened at Southampton.\'
Soccernet.com
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