Falling off the tightrope

The rapid decline and fall of Leeds United 8212; certain to be relegated to the First Division after Sunday8217;s defeat at Bolton 8212; ...

The rapid decline and fall of Leeds United 8212; certain to be relegated to the First Division after Sunday8217;s defeat at Bolton 8212; is a sad snapshot of the bloated, excessive ways of Premiership football. Here8217;s how downward spiral unravelled

GLORY DAYS

In the 1970s, Leeds were all-conquering under legendary manager Don Revie, a team of fight, flair and fearlessness as typified by their combative skipper Billy Bremner. For those following football in that era, the names still trip easily off the tongue: Lorimer, Jordan, McQueen, Giles, Bremner, Norman 8216;bites yer legs8217; Hunter8230;

THE LAST HURRAH

They spent most of the 8217;80s in the second Division but bounced back to the old First Division in 1990 under Howard Wilkinson. Two years later, they were the last team to win the Division 1 as it was, propelled by the mercurial Gordon Strachan, ex-Manchester United, and Eric Cantona, soon to be of the Red Devils.

BRIEF REVIVAL

David O8217;Leary took charge in the late 1990s and brought to the side a youthful combination of talent and attitude that reminded many of the classic 8217;70s side. Kewell, Viduka, Smith, Woodgate, Bowyer, Harte, Hasselbaink, Ferdinand became household names. Three seasons ago to the date, ironically, from their defeat at Bolton, they were in the semi-finals of the Champions League against Valencia.

THE SLIDE

The club was run by chairman Peter Ridsdale on a modus of 8220;securitisation8221;, borrowing against expected future earnings. Given the team8217;s talent and performance, it made sense 8212; but only if there were no hiccups. The first hiccup, the racism charges against Bowyer and Woodgate and the accompanying trial by media, had a domino effect. Performance slumped; so too did income. And suddenly the club were in financial trouble.

THE COLLAPSE

Ridsdale quit, replaced by a board who could, however, do nothing the stem the rot. One by one, the assets were stripped: Ferdinand, Bowyer, Woodgate, Kewell. It left behind a vacuum the likes of Smith, for all his commitment, couldn8217;t fill. Players began seeking the exit route but most went down with the ship.

THE FUTURE

Stranger things have happened in football but without Viduka, Smith, 8217;keeper Robinson all expected to be sold now the club could find it tough to return to the Premiership. What will be best is a period of medium-level wages Viduka8217;s weekly pay packet is 100,000 expectations and, on the pitch, some consistency.