Good Morning. It's Thursday 11th April, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
End of a dynasty as Dallas hangs up his boots
Stuart Dallas has announced his retirement for professional football at the age of 32. He has not played a single minute of football since fracturing his femur during the 4-0 loss to Manchester City two years ago. He came off worse when valiantly trying to nobble Jack Grealish, and was immediately carried off to a waiting ambulance.
Seven operations later, and subsequent knee damage, the loveable utility man has been forced to hang up his boots. He was an instrumental part of Bielsa's set-up, and a respected member of the Leeds Utd dressing room, and will be sorely missed by the Elland Road faithful.
Whether we see him make a cameo role against Southampton on the last game of the season seems unlikely, however much we would like to see him reach his 250th Leeds appearance!
All along I never lost hope (of making a comeback) but more and more over the last few months, I’ve realised it was going to be really difficult. My body just won’t get back to doing what I need to do at an elite level. I’ve got to deal with that and accept it. Mentally, I’m totally fine. I’m at peace with it. I’m gutted but there are people in far worse positions than me. I’m fortunate to have had the career I’ve had.
I knew (how serious the damage was) from the first minute I did the injury. I was concerned then, of course I was. Everybody was. To be here now (to the extent that Dallas has recovered) — we’ve won, and that describes how serious the injury was. I got back on the pitch, I was moving around and doing well but I just needed more. I’ve had setbacks and two infections in there. I’ve been to surgery so many times, I think seven times. I’ve been to theatre about 10 times. That itself tells its own story.
I said to the physios that the reward was to get back on the pitch for them. The reward changed to being fit and healthy after football. I’m not fit to get to the level I need to be at. I can’t physically get to it. I don’t believe that if I was younger that I’d come back with this. The injury’s been so serious. I played (the tackle on Grealish) over and over in my head but that only eats you up. Don’t get me wrong, there are days when you do think about it but you have to master your own mind.
By no means am I a psychologist and I didn’t feel the need to speak to a psychologist through the whole process. I’ve been strong enough in my own mind not to let myself slip into that. I get that the whole mental side of things is rife in the game, I understand that and I get that other people aren’t fortunate enough to be able to do this. I just felt I couldn’t let myself fall into that hole. I’ve got a wife and three kids who mean more to me than anything. I couldn’t be dragged into that.
Tractor boys return to second after goalless draw
Ipswich Town were held to a goalless draw against Watford at Portman Road last night! The Tractor boys enjoyed the lions share of the opportunities, but could not break down a stubborn hornets defence, intent on defending their goalmouth in numbers. Ipswich are the division's leading goalscorers, having found the back of the net 84 times this season so far. It is only the sixth time this season they have failed to win at home, such has been their dominance at home.
It's good news for Leeds fans, who, after their goalless draw against Sunderland were expecting their promotion rivals to go three points clear of the Whites. Kieran McKenna's side may be a point ahead of Leeds, but with four games remaining, it's still all to play for!
Leeds announce overall losses of £33.7m
Leeds have posted overall losses of £33.7m from their 2022-23 financial year, despite a record turnover of £189.6m, and £73m in transfer fees. Astonishingly, Leeds spent almost £10m on sacking Managers, but blame soaring administrative costs and increased payers wage bills for their glutinous spending, but remain within the FFP loss perimeters laid out by both the Premier League and the Championship.
The annual wage bill at Elland Road jumped from £121 million to £145 million, with their operating loss rising by £71 million from 2021-22. Gate receipts for the 2022-23 year jumped £5 million to £29 million but TV and broadcasting income fell slightly to £17.4 million while merchandise income and central distributions also saw small drops.
