Post by Taxigirl on Sept 2, 2005 8:49:57 GMT
www.leedsunited.com
United boss Kevin Blackwell has revealed the club turned down offers for no less than ten players over the past fortnight.
Two players did depart before the transfer deadline - Eirik Bakke and Michael Ricketts - but Leeds knocked back attempts to plunder the squad from all divisions, including "three serious offers".
Blackwell has allowed Bakke to link up with former Whites boss David O'Leary at Aston Villa on loan, and Ricketts has joined Championship rivals Cardiff City, also on loan, but thanks to the new financial strength at the club, has been able to hang onto the players he wants to mount a challenge for promotion this season.
"Out of a squad of 23 senior professionals we had enquiries for 12 of them and in the last three days we fielded three serious enquiries," he said.
"I think it shows that clubs recognise we have built a decent squad here, so it's nice to know we are doing the right thing.
"But we have only let two players go and we were able to keep the players we want. We have not got to get rid of players like we did before.
"The club is back in charge of our staffing policies, we were not in the position to turn down bid before but we have returned a position of strength."
Whilst confirming that the deals to loan out Ricketts and Bakke will save the club some money in wages, Blackwell insisted the moves were right for both the club and the players.
"It gives Michael a showcase for the work he has done in the summer to get himself fit and going again, and for Eirik it gives him a chance to showcase himself in the Premier League.
"The deals works out well for both parties because they are only going through to January, and after that both parties can deal with the long term situation having had time to look at it."
Having added nine players to the squad since the end of last season, Blackwell was in no rush to make a late swoop before yesterday's transfer deadline despite being linked with players.
He has not ruled out the possibility of strengthening the squad in January should he need to, and says he will be checking on a number of players that could arrive next year.
"Even though the transfer window is now closed we are still actively seeking to improve the squad.
"We have a policy now of long term development at the football club and have got an eye on the future, and as such we have got a strategy for looking at players who are of the quality we now insist on at this club."
United boss Kevin Blackwell has revealed the club turned down offers for no less than ten players over the past fortnight.
Two players did depart before the transfer deadline - Eirik Bakke and Michael Ricketts - but Leeds knocked back attempts to plunder the squad from all divisions, including "three serious offers".
Blackwell has allowed Bakke to link up with former Whites boss David O'Leary at Aston Villa on loan, and Ricketts has joined Championship rivals Cardiff City, also on loan, but thanks to the new financial strength at the club, has been able to hang onto the players he wants to mount a challenge for promotion this season.
"Out of a squad of 23 senior professionals we had enquiries for 12 of them and in the last three days we fielded three serious enquiries," he said.
"I think it shows that clubs recognise we have built a decent squad here, so it's nice to know we are doing the right thing.
"But we have only let two players go and we were able to keep the players we want. We have not got to get rid of players like we did before.
"The club is back in charge of our staffing policies, we were not in the position to turn down bid before but we have returned a position of strength."
Whilst confirming that the deals to loan out Ricketts and Bakke will save the club some money in wages, Blackwell insisted the moves were right for both the club and the players.
"It gives Michael a showcase for the work he has done in the summer to get himself fit and going again, and for Eirik it gives him a chance to showcase himself in the Premier League.
"The deals works out well for both parties because they are only going through to January, and after that both parties can deal with the long term situation having had time to look at it."
Having added nine players to the squad since the end of last season, Blackwell was in no rush to make a late swoop before yesterday's transfer deadline despite being linked with players.
He has not ruled out the possibility of strengthening the squad in January should he need to, and says he will be checking on a number of players that could arrive next year.
"Even though the transfer window is now closed we are still actively seeking to improve the squad.
"We have a policy now of long term development at the football club and have got an eye on the future, and as such we have got a strategy for looking at players who are of the quality we now insist on at this club."