McAllister to grab Stockport hitman Elding

Stockport County striker Anthony Elding looks set to become Gary McAllister's first signing as Leeds United manager on the final day of the January transfer window.

County's website confirms that a fee has been agreed between the two clubs for the 25 year old forward who has scored 15 goals so far in all competitions this season. Elding is expected in Leeds for talks with a view to the transfer being completed later today.

The 6ft 2in striker joined Stockport in January 2007 and he became an instant fans favourite hitting 11 goals in 20 games to top the clubs goalscoring charts. Manager Jim Gannon had hoped to hold on to his star player with the window about to close, but it seems his hopes may now have been dashed.

Gannon, responding to transfer speculation earlier in the week stated: 'It wouldn't surprise me if we got continued interest, but Anthony Elding is an important part of our team and I hope it remains a quiet month. I'm looking forward to the window shutting.'

Time to put the Leeds back into United! Vote now for our new boss

So here we are again, huge media speculation that Dennis Wise is about to follow Gus Poyet out of the exit door chasing a Premiership pay packet.

So much for the old pals act Bates, does Wise really want his time at Leeds United to be remembered for being the first manager in our history to relegate the club to Division 3? It's certainly looking that way, with the club so far refusing to comment, as they're probably currently locked in compensation talks with the Cartoon Army.

So once again it's time to look forward, and surely now it's time to inject some Leeds United blood back into the veins of the sleeping giant. But which ex-Leeds option do you think would be the correct choice to take the club back into the big time? Vote now in our exclusive poll.

'We played some of the best football I've ever seen' - Johnny Giles

For more than a decade Johnny Giles formed a central midfield partnership with Billy Bremner that was unsurpassed in club football. After winning the FA Cup with his first club Manchester United in 1963 the Irishman was famously sold to Leeds United by Sir Matt Busby, a decision which the legendary coach would later come to consider one of the worst of his career.

Giles, originally employed at outside right, missed only two games in his debut season for the Whites, with his goal at Swansea helping secure the clubs promotion to the top flight as Champions. The team then astonished everyone in 1964/65 by finishing runners-up in both the League and FA Cup. Early the following season skipper Bobby Collins suffered an horrific injury against Torino in the Fairs Cup, and Revie switched Giles into central midfield to commence his imperious partnership with Bremner.

Over the next decade Giles helped United win the First Division Championship and Fairs Cup twice, the FA Cup, League Cup and Charity Shield. He also played in three FA Cup finals, two European finals and was a runner-up in the League five times. Although the more creative force of the partnership, regarded as one of the finest passers of the ball to play for Ireland, Giles was also a ruthless tackler. 'I became as big an assassin as there was and as dangerous in my own way,' he said. 'You keep your head, you do it coldly, you do it clinically but you let everybody know in the game, that there are no liberties taken here. I was given the choice of becoming a lion or a lamb and I was determined not to become a lamb.'

Amongst his favourite playing memories were the real tough battles, such as the sixth round cup match against Spurs in 1972 when Leeds came from a goal down to win 2-1, or when beating Liverpool at Anfield in the semi-final of the UEFA Cup. 'Those were the things I went to sleep on,' he said, 'that was the turn-on. We played some of the best football I've ever seen in the world. Ever. But it was never mentioned. Give a dog a bad name. It bothers me in a certain way but not an awful lot because if I'm with the Leeds lads we know what we did.' As did the supporters, for whom Johnny Giles was one of the greatest footballers ever to represent the club.

Showunmi to emulate Lee Chapman?

The impending arrival of 6ft 5in Nigerian striker Enoch Showunmi might just provide the added impetus Leeds United need to steady the ship, as the club look to set themselves up for a strong promotion push.

Showunmi, born in Kilburn, London, but capped twice by the Super Eagles, has already achieved three promotions since his Football League debut in September 2003. After winning back-to-back promotions with his first club Luton Town, the player made a key contribution during Bristol City's rise to the Championship last season.

Leeds boss Dennis Wise will no doubt be hoping his new acquisition will have a similar impact to that seen when Howard Wilkinson brought Lee Chapman to the club in January 1990. Although not a immediately popular signing, Chapman would go on to write his own piece of United history.

After scoring on his league debut at Blackburn Rovers, the striker went on to plunder 12 goals during the run-in, proving a significant factor in the Whites gaining automatic promotion rather than drifting into the play-offs. The highlight of a memorable campaign being Lee's bullet header on the final day of the season at Bournemouth which clinched the title.

69% of Leeds fans back Ken Bates

Last weekend United chairman Ken Bates announced the clubs intention to take the Football League to the High Court in the fight to win back their 15 points. Since that time GloryGloryLeedsUnited.com has been seeking the fans opinion on that decision, posing the question 'should Leeds United give up the fight for the 15 points?' rather than risk any possible further sanctions.

The results show a huge support for the chairman's stance, with 69% of supporters backing the decision to continue the fight, and just 26% in opposition. Bates was quick to make clear in the reasons for the clubs action. 'We're suing the Football League for our 15 points because we believe, as we always have, that there was no justification for the penalty,' he said. 'The agreement we had saying we wouldn't take legal action was signed under duress. We were a couple of days from the start of the season and we wouldn't have been able to fulfil our fixtures without regaining our share in the Football League.'

'In that situation, we either signed the document or we let ourselves be booted out of the League. But EU law says Person A cannot prevent Person B from going to court if it's to right a wrongful decision. We did ask the FA for independent arbitration but we've been waiting five months for them to do anything, and the whole thing is a shambles.We want an open and independent review of this decision, and the only way of ensuring that is by going to the High Court.'

The man behind the Revie phenomenon

Don Revie sat attentively in the director's office. It was March 1961. The season was drawing to a close and the Leeds United forward realised his playing days were also coming to an end. Despite being just 33 years old Revie knew his future lay in management, and had persuaded club director, Harry Reynolds, to provide him with a reference with which to apply for the vacant job at Bournemouth.

Reynolds was more then happy to do so, for he knew that despite Revie's lack of managerial experience, he had an abundance of ideas and enthusiasm which would help him mow down any opposition in his path. Suddenly the director stopped writing, picked up the reference, and tore it to shreds. He realised Don could not be allowed to leave, he knew the man in front of him was the one to drag Leeds out of the doldrums.

Harry persuaded his fellow directors to give Revie a chance, and the rest, as they say, is history. By December 1961 Reynolds had succeeded Sam Bolton as club chairman, and immediately made funds available for the manager to go about securing the services of the best young talent around the British Isles. Harry himself played an active role in persuading parents that their sons would be looked after nowhere better than at Leeds United. The likes of Paul Madeley and Peter Lorimer arrived, along with Eddie Gray, who even turned down his boyhood heroes Glasgow Celtic in favour of the Revie revolution.

Despite having had no formal education Reynolds always possessed a steely determination to make it to the top. The self-made millionaire had begun his working life as a flour boy with Leeds Co-op before working on the railways, then as a fireman. In his later years he became a successful industrialist, building up an engineering and steel stockholding company.

But it his endeavours on behalf of United that are most dear to supporters, and for those he was deservedly appointed a life vice president of the club in 1967. We can only speculate on how different the clubs history would have been without the great mans faith in a young Don Revie.

A warning from history: Leeds City harshly expelled from the Football League

Of course every fan knows that our beloved club was born out of the ashes of Leeds City, who had become Leeds first professional football club on their formation in 1904. City were duly elected to the Football League in 1905, and would play their whole league career in the Second Division, during which time the legendary Herbert Chapman guided the club to their highest ever finish of 4th place.

The First World War put a stop to League football in 1915, and Chapman left the club to help the war effort at the Barnbow Munitions factory in East Leeds, leaving behind him a chaotic management team. During the war years many guest players turned out for the club, and received illegal payments from the board. At the time the practice was fairly widespread throughout the game, but it was still a major rule breach nonetheless.

Prior to the first post-war season of 1919/20, when Chapman had returned to the club, contractual negotiations with one such player were turning sour. Charles Copeland was demanding the doubling of his pre-war wages and attempted to blackmail the board by blowing the whistle on their illegal payment system. The board called his bluff and transferred him to Coventry, from where Copeland made good on his threat to report Leeds to the authorities.

Despite the charges never being fully substantiated, a joint FA and Football League commission expelled City from the Football League. The club were disbanded, and their entire assets, including their players, were auctioned off. Soon after Leeds United were formed to take their place, and after 89 years of 'ups and downs' continue their very own battle with the footballing authorities. 'Keep Fighting' Don Revie famously urged his troops. Thankfully the city of Leeds doesn't know any other way.

Are Leeds United risking extinction again?

After a blistering first half of the campaign in which Leeds United seemed destined to sweep aside all before them in their relentless pursuit of promotion the storm clouds again seem to be gathering over Elland Road. Chairman Ken Bates announced in his match day programme notes, ahead of the dire Doncaster Rovers defeat, that the club are taking the Football League to the High Court in their fight to win back their 15 points.

Bates's notes read: 'Leeds United have decided to sue the Football League direct. The more our legal team have dug into the matter, the shambolic administration of both the FA and the FL makes it essential that our grievance is aired before a truly independent body, namely the High Court.' However, this stance appears to be in direct contravention of the agreement made with the Football League when the Whites exited administration and were awarded the 'Golden Share' on the eve of the season.

League chairman Lord Mawhinney confirmed the club had no right to take legal action, saying at the time: 'We have an agreement with Leeds, signed by both the League and the club, that they will not take any legal action against us and we will not take any legal action against them. That is a standard part of the agreement that every club signs when it comes out of administration. That has not been generated for the benefit of Leeds United, we've done that in the last 40 administrations and we did in this one as well.'

All true Leeds fans have felt a grave injustice at the way the club have been treated by the football authorities and their fellow clubs. But is it now time to draw a line under the past, take it on the chin and move forward? The last thing the fans need is any further possible threat to our very existence. Carrying of the fight may seem the only option, but is pursuing that option worth risking the ultimate sacrifice? Cast your vote in our poll above.

Wise Dennis versus Super Dario

Leeds United take on Crewe Alexandra at Gresty Road tomorrow night in a match to be shown live on Sky Sports. For nearly a quarter of a century the Railwaymen have had the fortune of being under the guidance of one of the most respected managers and coaches in the English game - Milan-born Dario Gradi, who has spotted and developed a string of international footballers during his near 25 year association with the club. Now fulfilling the role of Technical Director, Gradi is currently assisting recently appointed first team coach Steve Holland, as the 37 year old cuts his teeth in management.

Ahead of the eagerly anticipated clash Holland has been keen to express his admiration for opposite number Dennis Wise, paying respect to the way the former England international has taken to his own career in management. Talking of their only previous meeting he admitted: 'I have to say I was impressed with him (Wise). He spoke very sensibly and deeply about football. He is obviously a player who has had some great experiences and he is at a big club now that is doing very well.'

'I think they are the best side in the League. They have proved it because if it wasn't for their points deduction they would have been well clear of the rest. They have won the most games and we know it is going to be a tough match, but it is one we have all been looking forward too ever since the fixtures came out.'

Another intriguing aspect to the clash is the former association of United's assistant boss Dave Bassett and Gradi. The Italian appointed Bassett as his club captain and later assistant manager during his Wimbledon days. 'Dave and Dario go back a long way,' said Holland. 'They are two outstanding servants of the game. They both have a quite different outlook on the game and philosophy but nevertheless they will both be in the thousand manager club I'm sure.'

'Have Leeds cracked?'

After surveying a poor festive period which produced a mere 5 point return from 5 matches, Dave Bassett is hoping that an expected influx of new arrivals will help to spark Leeds United's season back into life. Having completed the signing of Finnish winger Sebastian Sorsa, the Whites are now expected to move for Walsall left-back Daniel Fox and Barnet striker Jason Puncheon. United's assistant boss believes that the new arrivals will provide a much needed impetus to help reverse an alarming dip in form.

'When you look back, we haven't played well in those five games and we had been warning the players that if they weren't careful, a performance like Oldham would happen,' said Bassett. 'This is a questionable time for this set of players – to show what they can do. That is the big question mark because people will ask 'have Leeds cracked? Our record is good, 52 points from 24 games. No other team has got that sort of figure. No team has done that in the last 10 years. But unfortunately for us, we have the 15-point deficit.'

'The players have done fantastic to get here, but they have got to push on now and show us they can finish the job. It may well be that they have worked so damn hard to get there that there are repercussions because they relax and take the foot of the pedal. We are not knocking the players, but this is a wake-up call. We have been on their case and realise it needs freshening up, because some will suffer a burnout. We are certainly going to bring in four or five players.'