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PETER RIDSDALE
chairman
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MARK BULL SAYS: Peter Ridsdale's and the
Board's decision to appoint Terry Venables as
new manger was and still is fundamentally correct.
The senior management and coaching team of Venables,
Kidd and Eddie Gray is very strong and talented.
The abject performance of the team this season
is due to the combined effect of a number of factors
such as; injuries, the amateurish and cynical
attitude of key players such as Bowyer,Dacourt,
Kewell and Viduka (the sooner Bowyer and Dacourt
leave the better),the straitjacket of the limited
period for transfers and the structural weakness
in the left hand side of the defence which is
undermining the confidence of the whole team.
This weakness was apparent last season and O'Leary
did not have the intelligence and perception to
solve this problem. Selling two key players is
also a factor. The Board need to show some courage
and strength at this time (in other words please
do not act like a normal cowardly and gutless
PLC board)because Terry Venables is still an outstanding
coach. Peter Ridsdale is a talented chairman;he
just needs to be careful about allowing the weakness
of his large ego to override the strength of his
brain power. Dec 2002
PETER FOX SAYS: I HAVE NOTHING BUT RESPECT
FOR PETER RIDSDALE AND ALL HE HAS DONE FOR LEEDS
UNITED. HE TOOK A GAMBLE IN BACKING O,LEARY TO
THE HILT FINANCIALLY AND UNFORTUNATELY IT DIDN,T
PAY OFF. WITHOUT A DOUBT VENABLES IS PAYING FOR
O,LEARYS MISDEMEANOURS IN THE TRANSFER MARKET.O,LEARY
SEEMED INTENT IN BUYING EVERY QUALITY STRIKER
THAT BECAME AVAILABLE WHEN IT WAS PATENTLY OBVIOUS
A NEW LEFT BACK AND RIGHT MIDFIELDER WAS REQUIRED
TO BALANCE THE TEAM UP. ALONG WITH BACKROOM RIFTS
AND OTHER SIDE ISSUES EVEN MESSRS FERGUSON AND
WENGER WOULD HAVE STRUGGLED. THEREFORE RIDSDALE
WAS QUITE CORRECT IN SACKING O,LEARY,ANYONE WHO
WATCHED LEEDS FROM LAST CHRISTMAS ONWARDS UNDER
O,LEARYS LEADERSHIP SAW NO BETTER FOOTBALL THAN
UNDER EL TELS THIS SEASON.DON,T FORGET O,LEARY
HAD FERDINAND,FOWLER AND KEANE AT HIS DISPOSAL
TOO! THE ONLY CRITICISMS I HAVE OF RIDSDALE ARE
PERHAPS OF HIM BEING SOMEWHAT ECONOMICAL WITH
THE TRUTH REGARDING THE BATTY,BOWYER AND STADIUM
ISSUES. BATTY ONLY MISSED 2 GAMES LAST YEAR AND
WAS EASILY ONE OF OUR BEST PLAYERS. SUDDENLY HE,S
PAST IT,COULD WE REALLY BE ANY WORSE WITH HIM
IN THE TEAM? COME ON MR.RIDSDALE CAN WE HAVE THE
REAL REASON FOR HIM NOT PLAYING PLEASE. SECONDLY,JUST
WHY HAS LEE BOWYER NOT SIGNED HIS CONTRACT? HE
CLEARLY HAS AN ISSUE WITH RIDSDALE AND IT SURELY
DATES BACK TO THE COURT CASE. AGAIN AN EXPLANATION
REQUIRED PLEASE PETER! LASTLY,JUST WHAT IS HAPPENING
REGARDING THE NEW STADIUM? ARE WE MOVING OR STAYING?AND
WHY ARE FANS NOT BEING UPDATED WITH ANY PROGRESS
REPORTS. AGAIN IT SEEMS THERE ARE HICCUPS ON THE
STADIUM FRONT BUT AT LEAST KEEP US INFORMED PETER!
FINALLY IF TEL CAN CASH IN ON DACOURT, VIDUKA,
KEWELL, BOWYER, BAKKE AND A HOST OF FRINGE PLAYERS
IN ORDER TO GET US BACK ON A SOUND FINANCIAL FOOTING,I
FEEL HE COULD RE-BUILD AGAIN AROUND ROBINSON,MILLS,WOODGATE
AND SMITH-4 YOUNG ENGLISHMEN DESTINED FOR GREATNESS.
WE ARE LEEDS AND WE,LL BE BACK,MARCHING ON TOGETHER,JUST
BE PATIENT BOYS! Dec 2002
THE SQUARE BALL SAYS: We've all had chance
to get to know Peter Ridsdale a lot more over
the past few years ; always available for a quote
he quickly acquired the name Publicity Pete. Peter
Ridsdale has undoubtedly put his neck on the line
for the club time after time. Persuading the backers
to put up a huge investment in order to take the
club to the next level, it has been he who has
had to deal with the flak of the under-performance
rather than David O'Leary. I think he might decide
to step aside if El Tel doesn't quite work out
which would be a shame but ultimately results
will talk. Aug 2002
ANDY SAYS: Due to financial constraints,
(the wife), I haven't been able to get to Elland
Rd for a couple of years. My financial luck has
finally turned itself aroung Iand I was looking
forward to buying a season ticket for the coming
season. Fortunately for me, the club revealed
its true ambition by trying to sell Robbie Keane
to the Mackems, offloading Bowyer to anyone with
£7m+ and, (the final insult), selling Rio to the
Filth. Rest assured I will be keeping my money
in my pocket and maybe investing in Sky digital.
As to whether I will ever see Elland Road again.
Maybe, if we ever get a board with any desire
for anything except cashing in any half decent
player to those gits over the Pennines.
July 2002
STAN SAYS: i would say after everythink
he has done for the club he will be repayed by
o'leary and the players when they win the 2001-2002
league and many mayor cups! May 2001
DAVE SAYS: My only word to describe Peter
or I prefer to call him Mr. Ridsdale is GENUINE.
After obtaining the great mans mobile telephone
number from an internet web site I stored it on
my mobile wondering if one day I may dare to call
it. After this seasons fantastic European Tour
I am glad to reveal that 'OUR' Chairman has duly
answered my calls on no less than 5 occasions.
Each time with absolute Professionalism to the
Nth degree. Never once after explaining who I
was (With my 'password') has he tried to end the
call (sometimes Mins. after important European
games)before I managed to discuss with him what
I called him for in the first place. He is a man
for whom I have the upmost respect and to this
end will never divulge his number (despite being
asked on numerous occassions) to spoil what has
been a fantastic 'relationship' with the head
of our club. I would like to think that together
Mr.Chairman and myself did between us instigate
the im-promptu 'Karekoke' with the players after
the AC MILAN game in Italy for reasons only known
to the two of us. After the great night in Rome
recently I shouted out to Mr. Ridsdale as he re-entered
the pitch pointing to my mobile and shouting my
password which received a clap above his head
and "It's You" in my direction. He could have
easily said 'Oi Stop Phoning Me' thankfully he
didn't. Respect Where it is Due. THE CHAIRMAN.
Dec 2000
RICHARD (DEVOUT LEEDS IN EXILE)
SAYS: Most fans hate their chairman, and with
good reason. However our chairman is a genuine
fan. He also puts fans safety first as witnessed
when he wanted the first Galatassaray to go ahead.
He figured it was the safest way of completeing
the tie, even if it was not to the benefit of
the progress of LUFC in the UEFA cup. He earned
my respect that day, and has done nothing to change
my view.
Oct 2000
THE SQUARE BALL SAYS: Peter
Ridsdale's page on here is long long overdue.
This man is a large part of Leeds United - he
markets himself primarily as the fan with cash
and in many people's eyes, the current success
is down to him as much as DO'L. His handling of
the troubles in Istanbul won him many fans and
with him at the helm, the club should only go
forward. Peter is the man! Oct 2000
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