Leeds takeover announcement expected

Debt-laden Leeds United is expected to make an announcement about its financial future later today, a source close to the club…

Debt-laden Leeds United is expected to make an announcement about its financial future later today, a source close to the club said.

The club has been in lengthy talks with a consortium of local businessmen, and any deal would end uncertainty over Leeds' future after it announced in December it needed to find a buyer to avoid going into financial administration.

Leeds has racked up debts of around £80 million sterling and reported a financial loss of almost £50 million in the year to June 2003.

The problems date back to a spending spree on players under former chairman Peter Ridsdale and ex-coach David O'Leary after Leeds progressed to the Champions League semi-finals in 2001.

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Forced to cut back on its players' wage bill, the club is facing relegation this season. It is bottom of the standings with 22 points from 28 games.