What a refreshing change it is to see Leeds United announcing an extremely healthy £4.5m accounting profit for the period ending June 30 2008. After seemingly never-ending years saddled with overwhelming debt that threatened the clubs very existence it is hugely positive to see the club operating in profit once again.
Whatever you may think of chairman Ken Bates he is no fool in the business world, and the history books will show that it was he at the helm when the club finally cast-off the crippling debt which had got the better of several now happily forgotten inept regimes. Off the field the club is now an extremely viable proposition to any investor looking to build on the green shoots of growth currently being witnessed.
It was pleasing to hear club CEO Shaun Harvey confirming that the board of directors are fully focussed on the eternally successful Academy, both in terms of investment and also in re-purchasing the Thorp Arch training facility, along with the longer-term objective of acquiring the Elland Road ground.
Supporters will no doubt be hoping that funds will be made available to enable Gary McAllister to reshape his suspect defence and help provide a platform for promotion followed by consolidation in the Championship next season.
