Peter Ridsdale is up for re-election at the Sheep's AGM today. At least El Tel's job's safe eh? From the Observer:
Peter Ridsdale: committment on the edge.
- January: "It's a joke that people are starting to criticise David O'Leary. The players are totally committed to David, I am totally committed to David, and both of us are totally committed"
IT'S ALL GO ON THE AXIS FRONTS
Last Updated : 29-Nov-2002 by Editor- February: "David and I went out for dinner a couple of weeks ago. We agreed that we are both fully committed to what we started"
- July: "The only reason David won't be manager of Leeds will be if he walks out. He's the best young manager around and we're totally committed"
- On cash: "There are a lot of people waiting for Leeds to have a hiccup, but we're committed to a strategy and our shareholders support us"
- On Lee Bowyer not moving into his new london flat and signing for Spurs in two months' time: "I know Lee is committed to being a Leeds United player"
- So what does the future hold now? "Terry's doing things his own way. Given time he will demonstrate why he is such a good manager," said Peter on Tuesday."I am 100% committed to Terry.
From today's Guardian:
Kevin Keegan is becoming increasingly disillusioned by financial constraints at Manchester City, a situation that will raise inevitable concerns about his future at the club.
He has told City's hierarchy that he must have significant funds available when the transfer window reopens in January. But his chairman David Bernstein, having already spent £36.3m on 15 players during Keegan's 18-month tenure, has made it clear he is unwilling or unable to spend as much as the manager would like: perhaps more than £10m.
It has become apparent in a turbulent few days that there are potentially irreparable differences between the two men. Keegan, who quit Newcastle in a fit of pique over financial issues in 1997, feels his ambitions are not being matched.
There appears to have been a fallout at boardroom level. It is understood Bernstein's relations have become particularly strained with Dennis Tueart, regarded as Keegan's closest ally on the board and the man responsible for tempting him back into management 18 months ago.
Bernstein's argument is that City spent more in the summer than any Premiership club apart from Manchester United and there would be serious financial consequences from further heavy spending if they were relegated.
He could also point out that Keegan was allowed to break City's transfer record four times in his first year at the club, with £13.5m invested in Nicolas Anelka alone, and that the £3.8m Uruguayan Matias Vuoso has not yet played.
Keegan will go ahead with his weekly press conference today but it is thought he will not entertain questions about money. When he broke his silence to speak to a local radio station about his future this week, the club had the interview pulled.
