McDermott still Leeds United manager?

Confusion continues to surround Leeds United after a  statement was released by the club claiming Brian McDermott was still manager. The former Reading boss was reportedly sacked on Friday evening and was not present as the Whites chalked up a 5-1 victory over Huddersfield at Elland Road. But, around half-an-hour after the victory, the Yorkshire club released a statement on the offical club website which said the 52-year-old had not been sacked. "The club would like to make it clear that Brian McDermott remains our first team manager," a statement said. "He has not been dismissed from his post as has been suggested and we look forward to him continuing in his role with us in taking Leeds United forwards."

Leeds Sack McDermott

Leeds United have sacked manager Brian McDermott.Massimo Cellino, who hours ago purchased a 75% stake in the club, has fired the former Reading boss.The 52-year-old recently vowed to remain at Elland Road, despite the collapse of Sport Capital's bid to take charge of the club. McDermott replaced Neil Warnock at the Elland Road helm back in April 2013.Leeds are currently 12th in the Sky Bet Championship and are eight points off the play-off places. The former Reading manager was in charge for just 36 games, 15 of which ended in wins, six as draws and 15 as losses.

McDermott:Never would I walk away from the club

Leeds United boss Brian McDermott has promised fans he won't walk away from Elland Road, despite the club's ownership uncertainty.McDermott has been a bystander in recent weeks as the club attempt to thrash out a takeover of ownership before the January transfer window ends. He has only managed to bring in two fresh faces, Jimmy Kebe and Cameron Stewart, but knows that may not be enough to revive his side's poor form, that has seen them slip to 12th in the Championship. When asked whether he would leave the club in its current state of turmoil, McDermott's commitment remained, as he said: "No. Never would I walk away from the club. I'm a long way from home but I'd never do that, I'd never do it to the players or the staff or the supporters. They deserve better. "When I was brought here, I was brought here on a three-year contract to stabilise the club and take them forward. As far as I'm concerned, that hasn't changed. "But I'm desperate to see an end to this. You keep getting light at the end of the tunnel but it doesn't happen. We need (the takeover) resolving at the top and we need the right people in place." The former Reading manager also revealed that, despite fans' calls for fresh faces, he may be unable to bring anyone in before Friday's deadline, due to the takeover situation at the club, adding: "The more important thing for me would be to resolve the ownership situation. "I've got to believe that we can get it sorted. I've got to believe that we've got the right people here with Leeds."

Ross McCormack is Leeds United's new captain

Leeds United manager Brian McDermott has confirmed striker Ross McCormack as the club's new captain. McCormack, the club's leading goalscorer with 18 goals in all competitions this season, will replace Rudy Austin who was appointed as club captain at the start of the season. McDermott revealed he took the decision to hand McCormack the armband following talks with Austin earlier this week. "The situation is that I had a good conversation with Rudy Austin - he is a great guy and we had a good discussion." McDermott told the club's website. I want Rudy to play his game. He feels his personality isn't conducive to that role. "You can see his leadership qualities in the way he plays and tracks back. Leeds United means so much to him. I just want to take that pressure away and I want him to play the way he wants with freedom. "I actually spoke to Ross in April and said 'we need leaders and you are leader.' Whether he saw himself as a leader then I don't know. "I see him as a talisman and a leader. He has matured an awful lot. Everyone knows what he thinks about Leeds United." McCormack's first match as club skipper will be the lunchtime clash at home to Sky Bet Championship leaders Leicester City on Saturday, The Scotland international tweeted: "Absolutely delighted to be the captain of Leeds United. Really looking forward to it. A proud day for myself and my family."

Leeds Eyeing Wolves Ace

Leeds United have entered the race for Wolverhampton Wanderers' young striker Leigh Griffiths as they look to bolster their attacking options.Griffiths, who has also attracted interest from Celtic and Wigan Athletic recently, is the top scorer at Molineux with 12 goals in 18 starts for the club this season. The 23-year-old Scottish international had to wait two and a half years for his first competitive start at Wolves, but an impressive two-year loan spell at Hibernian saw him net 39 goals in 78 appearances for the Scottish outfit. He is, however, enduring his worst spell in front of goal in two years, managing only one goal in his last eight games, although that is unlikely to put Leeds boss Brian McDermott off as he seeks to bolster his frontline.

Leeds Land Stewart

Hull winger Cameron Stewart has signed a three-year deal with Leeds having initially joined the club on loan .The 22-year-old's full-time contract at Elland Road will become effective from the summer, but he is expected to go straight into boss Brian McDermott's squad for Saturday's derby clash at Sheffield Wednesday. McDermott said in a Leeds statement: "Cameron fits the bill as the type of player we are looking to recruit here. He has pace, he gives us something different and he is hungry to do well." Stewart has joined Leeds on an initial loan deal due to FIFA regulations preventing a player from featuring for more than two clubs in a season, other than on an emergency loan basis. McDermott added: "We were aware of Cameron's situation and rules are rules. "By joining us in this manner, it means we have a player who we know will be here for the next three-and-a-half years and we look forward to working with him for the long-term." Leeds chairman Salah Nooruddin said: "We're delighted we've been able to secure the signature of Cameron. "He is a young player who was attracting a lot of interest from clubs in the Championship, including a couple who are above us in the table at the moment, and he is a player Brian was keen to sign." Stewart, who scored against Leeds in their 4-2 win at Charlton in November, started out at Manchester United and had loan spells at Yeovil and Hull before signing a permanent deal with the latter in January 2011. He made 55 appearances for Hull and also had loan spells at Burnley and Blackburn before featuring 18 times for Charlton on loan this season.

Leeds Enter Buckley Chase

Leeds United manager Brian McDermott has targeted Brighton winger
Will Buckley as hopes of landing former Leeds favourite Max Gradel from Saint-Étienne fade

McDermott faces competition for the player from Premiership Sunderland  now managed by former Brighton boss Gus Poyet. Sunderland are reported to be in advanced talks with the Seagulls over the player.


However reports suggest Leeds are prepared to top the £1M bid tabled by Sunderland. It remains to be seen if McDermott can persuade the player to remain in the Championship and join Leeds promotion push.

Match Report: Birmingham 1-0 Leeds

Brian McDermott suffered his first defeat as Leeds United manager when the Whites went down 1-0 at Birmingham to a second half goal from Hayden Mullins. The result ended any last lingering hopes of reaching the Npower Championship play-offs, but scores elsewhere ensured that United were safe from relegation, which was McDermott’s first aim when he took over. After victories in the new manager’s first two games and encouraging performances, Leeds faced their first away game under McDermott and struggled to get going initially at St Andrews. The first chance fell to Birmingham and United were fortunate to survive when Ravel Morrison hit the woodwork. Leeds went close soon after as Rodolph Austin’s strike from distance was spilled by keeper Jack Butland and Luke Varney’s follow-up was blocked. Michael Tonge saw an effort tipped over by Butland and Ross McCormack was also denied by the England man while at the other end Morrison went close again for the hosts. In the second half it was United’s turn to be denied by the woodwork as McCormack’s free-kick clipped the top of the crossbar. McCormack went close twice more and Sam Byram hit an effort into the side netting after Butland had fumbled a McCormack cross, but Birmingham’s goal survived intact and it was they who came up with the winner. This time it was Paddy Kenny’s turn to parry a Nathan Redmond strike and the ball fell to Mullins, who was able to find the net from close range. Leeds looked to hit back, but never went closer than in the 76th minute when Butland saved well from Austin and it was a familiar tale of woe from them on their travels this season as they failed to halt their poor away record.

Match Report: Leeds United 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday

A two-goal blast in the space of six second-half minutes from Luke Varney gave Leeds United a much needed victory in a dramatic Yorkshire derby at Elland Road. Varney - who spent two loan spells at Hillsborough earlier in his career - cancelled out Jermaine Johnson’s 27th-minute opener with a bullet header three minutes after the hour mark, with referee Neil Swarbrick awarding a goal after the effort smashed off the underside of the bar and bounced over the line - before another well-placed header settled the contest on 69 minutes. The result means that Wednesday, who went into the game as the form side of the division and were seeking victory to rubber-stamp their safety, still have work to do to stave off the drop as they succumbed to just their second away league defeat since the start of December. The introduction of El-Hadji Diouf at the interval for David Norris proved a masterstroke, as was new manager Brian
McDermott’s decision to switch Varney to centre forward after replacing the ineffectual Steve Morison with Aidan White on the hour mark. The first-half proved a muted affair with an early chance fluffed by Morison, who cashed in on Lewis Buxton’s failure to clear a free-kick from skipper-for-the-day Stephen Warnock with the former Milwall man miscuing when well placed, with his meek effort blocked by Chris Kirkland. Aside from that and a few long-range efforts, United brought little to the table before the break, with Wednesday forging the lead after seizing on some dithering home defending three minutes before the half-hour mark. Kirkland’s punt forward was headed on by Jeremy Helan, when no home player challenged, with Jermaine Johnson latching onto it in an instant, stealing a march on Warnock before lifting the ball expertly over Paddy Kenny. At the other end, Ross McCormack’s free-kick was cleared close to the goaline by Miguel Llera before Leroy Lita went close at the other end. The half ended with Llera testing the reactions of Kenny with a free-kick as the visitors sought to double their tally. On the restart, no doubt cajoled by some words from McDermott, United looked a totally different and transformed side. Four minutes into the second period, Morison spurned a great chance to level after being profiting from Anthony Gardner’s error, but he criminally delayed too long in front of goal, with Reda Johnson making a saving tackle. Soon after, the hosts went close again, with Gardner this time saving the day after making vital clearance after Varney latched onto the rebound after Kirkland expertly parried a goalbound shot from McCormack. Leeds continued to press and they got their just desserts with a leveller on 63 minutes. McCormack’s cross was met with a firm header from Varney, whose effort bounced off the bar, but over the line with Kirkland helpless. United went for the jugular with Varney plundering his sixth goal of the season with just over twenty minutes to go after another impressive assist from McCormack. The Scot’s cross was headed in clinically by the former Portsmouth frontman - to the ectascy of most of the 23,936 crowd. The Owls gradually stirred into life and laid siege for a spell ten minutes before the end, which almost yielded a leveller following a frenetic spell of action. First, a brilliant volley from sub Steve Howard after good work by fellow sub Chris Maguire hit the post before Reda Johnson went desperately close to a scrambled equaliser as the visitors laid siege. Despite a tense finish, it proved United’s day as they ended a four-match losing streak with a welcome victory.

Brian McDermott new Leeds United Manager

Brian McDermott is set to be named as the new manager of Leeds United. The 52-year-old has held advanced talks with the club's owners, GFH Capital, who want McDermott in place as soon as possible to guide the team away from relegation trouble in the Championship. Warnock left Elland Road 10 days ago following the home defeat to Derby County, while a run of four straight losses has seen Leeds slip to within five points of the bottom three with five games remaining. McDermott was sacked by Reading last month after four successive league defeats had left the club second from bottom in the Premier League. He guided Reading to the Championship title last season as the Berkshire club won 15 of their last 19 matches to reach the top flight for only the second time in their history. McDermott, named the Premier League manager of the month for January, was an early frontrunner for the vacancy at Elland Road and has said he is "very, very hungry" to get straight back into management.Neil Redfearn has been in temporary charge of Leeds since Warnock's departure, with McDermott expected to become the club's fifth permanent manager in just over five years.