This Is No Way To Run A Football Club, Mr. Ridsdale (Leeds United A.F.C.)

Member Name: blackjane

Product:	Leeds United A.F.C.
Date:	15/12/01 (93 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Be firm by all means - but don't back down!

Disadvantages: What is a football chairman's word really worth?, It's fine to commit affray - apparently!

Now that the recent high profile court case featuring the two Leeds United footballers Lee Bowyer and Jonathon Woodgate has reached its conclusion, the Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale has gone on record to say that he would like to consign this whole sorry episode to the history books. However, Mr. Ridsdale would do well to think back to earlier in the year 2000 when the case first hit the headlines. Mr. Ridsdale rashly spoke out at the time, stating categorically that any Leeds United footballer who was convicted of involvement in the then alleged attack against the Asian student Sarfraz Najeib would never play football for the club again. Although many considered this to be a difficult stance to take and more importantly to keep, they admired Mr. Ridsdale's decision to be as firm as he appeared to be on the matter.

However, Mr. Ridsdale, realising that his original comments could potentially cause serious financially damage to Leeds United plc later toned down his comments in January 2001, saying that if either player was found guilty of the GBH charge, then they would never play for Leeds United again. This would have been a relatively safe bet from the outset anyway, as the defendent that was eventually found guilty of this charge, another of Woodgate's friends, was given a six year custodial sentence.

Admittedly Lee Bowyer was found not guilty of both the charges that were brought against him, namely affray and GBH with intent. However, Mr. Woodgate on the other hand, despite being cleared of GBH, was found guilty of affray. To the man or woman in the street, it may sound as if affray is a relatively minor charge. This could not be further from the truth. The offence carries a maximum prison sentence of three years or an unlimited fine (or both) in a crown court, and Mr. Woodgate and one of his friends were fortunate to escape with just 100 hours community service for their misdemeanours. Apparently, it was mainly due to the character wi
tness statement from a former school teacher of Woodgate that prevented his sentence from being more severe than it was.

I am all for the firm handed treatment that Mr. Ridsdale appeared to be threatening when this case first came to light, but to back down in the way that he has seems to show a distinct lack of integrity. Mr. Ridsdale appears to have been blinded by the money merry-go-round that is our national sport, and the chances of him ditching a multi-million pound rated footballer were always going to be slim when all the facts had come to light and the court case had run its course.

At the end of the day, one of their stars, namely Mr. Bowyer, has now been cleared and should quite rightly be allowed to continue his career without prejudice. However, a large question mark remains over Mr. Woodgate and his right to continue playing for Leeds United. It appears that Mr. Ridsdale will now be content to sweep this matter under the carpet and forget about his initial response to the matter, but once again we must question the worth of a football chairman's word.

As it stands we have been given an important lesson in the difference between right and wrong by the Leeds United chairman. To commit affray is apparently ok - so what example does this set to young Leeds United fans? Is it always necessary for money to take precedence over morality, or is this the sad state of affairs that our great sport finds itself in, with greed in abundance and a total lack of respect for others?

{Another original Dooyoo opinion
© Blackjane 2001}

Summary: