1. We want to see a successful Leeds United on and off the pitch. We believe that Leeds United will only truly maximise its financial potential by becoming a Premier League side again. While we understand the importance of maximising revenue streams off the pitch, our members want the Leeds United board to focus the lion’s share of their efforts on the pitch. A successful Leeds team playing in the Premier League will earn much more for the club than any non-football related operations, and will in turn allow non-football related income to grow more rapidly. Premier League football will immediately increase the attractiveness of corporate hospitality for those who want it, and will be the tide that takes the club’s non-football related operations to new levels. Fans want to see forward movement, to see Leeds United building a squad both to get us promoted and to stay there. The goal of Premier League football cannot be achieved by the repeated sale of our best players, or by continually allowing player’s contracts to run down. We want young players at our academy, and players who join us from other clubs, to see their future at Leeds United; and not leave for clubs who have made it to the Premier League before us. We believe that our fans and players would like to see Leeds United show ambition, and to make timely and competitive contract offers that reflect the capabilities of a well run, financially stable club with a bright future. Part of that stable future mandates that we once again own our own ground and our own training facilities, rather than continue to pay rent to offshore entities in tax havens - outgoing money that could be better spent improving the squad and academy resources. 

2. We also appreciate the need to spend wisely and within our means. We do not want a return to the boom-and-bust policies of recent history. However, past mistakes are not an excuse to fail to move forward, and constant reminders of the shortcomings of previous boards are not relevant to planning for the future. We have to stop looking backwards, and march on together. The time has now come for a more forward-looking approach. 

3. Positive relations with fans' groups of all kinds are necessary for financial success. We want to focus on bringing back fans that have felt increasingly disenfranchised and alienated by the unnecessary turmoil on and off the pitch. We want the club to also attract new fans by offering a positive match day experience. We want to work in partnership with the club and all local bodies to give the City of Leeds a club to be proud of. We want to help Leeds United have positive working relations with Leeds City Council, West Yorkshire Police and the local media, free from bans, lawsuits and public spats. We want a club that will listen to and that cares about its fans, and a club that is eager to engage in sustained two-way dialogue regarding issues of importance and genuine concern to supporters. 

4. We yearn for a return to the traditional, enjoyable match day experience; our members tell us that attending games at Elland Road has almost become a chore.. The atmosphere inside the ground has become as negative as we can ever remember it, and relations with the stewards have deteriorated to an extent that it adversely affects the match day for many of our members. Events off the field are overshadowing events on the pitch, and the effect of this is being felt in the stands and creating an unpleasant atmosphere in the ground. Our members also tell us they feel alienated from their club, and see themselves merely as cash cows with no say in how their hard-earned money is being spent. This is reflected, we are told, in an increasing unwillingness to buy club merchandise and refreshments within the ground, as fans are unwilling to spend money that they do not believe will be used to improve the most important part of Leeds United: the football team. The most financially successful clubs in the game maximise their matchday income and Leeds United need to grow this part of the business and not let it wither away. Our members want their emotional and financial investment in Leeds United to be recognised by once again being able to feel they are a valued and vital part of Leeds United Football Club, not merely customers who must put up or shut up.

LUFC is first and foremost a football club, but the spirit of our football club has been lost somewhere along the way. Leeds fans are amongst the most loyal and proud in the world, but that loyalty and pride is entwined with our history of success on the football pitch - and the hope of more in the future - and with the unique experience of match days at Elland Road. That is where our loyalty, our pride, and the potential for the greatest commercial successes lie. By showing ambition on the football pitch, without repeating the mistakes of the past; by improving relations between the club and its supporters, and with the city as a whole; and by involving the supporters in bringing back a positive atmosphere at Elland Road, we believe Leeds United can once more enjoy the great days we all want to be part of. We are Leeds, and we believe that now is the time for a sustained effort to move forward together; we believe that now is the time for change. 

Leeds United fans can become members of the Leeds United Supporters Trust by visiting:

www.lufctrust.org

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25 Jan, 2012 18:04

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Unofficial Leeds United (IP Logged) Unregistered User

Leeds Supporters Trust release statement

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25 Jan, 2012 19:42

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pjh603 (IP Logged) Registered User

Date Joined: Nov, 2010 Location: Posts: 573

Re: Leeds Supporters Trust release statement

Sums it up really. Some people on here have criticized the guys at the LUFC supporters trust. To be honest I don't really know any of them but they seem to be talking a lot of sense IMO.

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25 Jan, 2012 19:44

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PapaSmurf (IP Logged) Registered User

Date Joined: Dec, 2011 Location: Co. Down, Northern Ireland Posts: 423

Re: Leeds Supporters Trust release statement

I think our players are already overpaid.

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25 Jan, 2012 20:55

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steakandsidney (IP Logged) Registered User

Date Joined: Aug, 2011 Location: Posts: 43

LUST

...By all accounts had a pretty productive meeting at The Magic Sponge last night.

Not always agreed or seen eye to eye with a lot of what their about,but at moment it seems the biggest proactive group- and the anti Bates protests DO need a vehicle to carry it's self off on in order to keep growing and to make it's voice louder - Not dozens of splinter movements trying to steal each others thunder.
If everything's under one roof surely the chances of more effective coordinated protests will increase ?

The host parasite is Bates not each other -anyin-house fighting should be put to one side until he's been purged.

membership is free - join here

[lufctrust.squarespace.com]

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26 Jan, 2012 02:13

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Pablito (IP Logged) Registered User

Date Joined: Feb, 2007 Location: Posts: 3896

Re: Leeds Supporters Trust release statement

Happy for these guys to continue what they are doing it's their right.

I just hope for two things.

1. It focuses the "Bates out" chants etc. out of Elland Road and the game. Outside the game before and after is fine but once you step foot in that stadium, Get behind the lads 100%

2. They never try to gather the resources for a fan takeover. It will never work.

---

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26 Jan, 2012 09:58

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andyl (IP Logged) Registered User

Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: South Cheshire Posts: 1821

Re: Leeds Supporters Trust release statement

Pretty much what we all want but can't think that Bates will react positively and that will only serve to reinforce what is within the article.
It's a well written piece that deserves answers. Whether they are forthcoming is a different issue!

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26 Jan, 2012 15:00

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Fredster (IP Logged) A principled NOB

Date Joined: Jan, 2012 Location: Posts: 527

Re: Leeds Supporters Trust release statement

Hard to disagree with what they say but it comes across as been a little but airey fairey and niaive. I am sure Ken will continue to treat then with the disdain that he thinks they deserve.

I am sure Chelsea supporters used the arguments that investment in the team would bring more investment into the club and improve the overall financial position of the club. Well Bates tenure at Chelsea saw him buy the club for £1 and end up with an £80m debt and being forced to sell it. For most of those years they were in the top flight and invested heavily in top class players..for a time Matthew Hardings money kept them solvent.

The pressure of achieving then trying to stay in the premier league for a team like Leeds would be immense and require a massive financial committment over many seasons. Ken doesnt have the money and he cant easily borrow it becasue of past issues with both himself and the club so what does he do ?

The only option would be to market the club to suitable buyers and move it on. As much as I like Ken and the stability he has brought to the club things wont get much better than they are now unless the club is sold. He must know this but at the moment I think Leeds United is his retirement play thing to keep his mind ticking over...it might take something dramatic like illness etc to make him reflect that he needs to slow down and spend whatever time he has left with family rather than taking flak from angry football fans week in week out.

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