Traditionally one of England's most successful clubs, the fall of Leeds United was more startling than any other; in 2001 they made the semi-finals of the Champions League, but by 2007 they had been relegated to the third tier for the first time in the club's history. Most Leeds fans will attribute the downfall of the club to one man; former chairman Peter Ridsdale. Under Ridsdale, the club took out huge loans on the assumption that the club would qualify for the Champions League and get a share of big TV rights and sponsorship deals. The team failed to qualify for the competition two years in a row, and before too long things started to unravel. The club began to sell its best players, including the £30-million sale of Rio Ferdinand to Manchester United; defender Jonathan Woodgate was sold after Ridsdale had pledged to manager Terry Venables he would not be allowed to leave. Sales of Leeds' best players continued under a consortium who took over the club and the decimation of the squad led to Leeds' relegation from the top flight in the 2003-04 season. In the Championship, it was not just more players that were sold; the training ground and stadium were sold in late 2004 to try and balance the books. The club's relegation to League One was confirmed on May 4, 2007, when the club entered administration incurring a 10-point deduction. The club has recovered somewhat since its darkest days, gaining promotion back to the Championship in 2010 and steadying themselves in that league. Still, those halycon days of battling Valencia in the European Cup semi-finals must seem like an awfully long time ago.
Tom, simple country boy, scarily close to his 30th birthday. A juxtaposition of sporty and active alpha male with TV and gaming nerd. Newcastle United fan who lives a LONG way away from Newcastle.
