2012–13 Leeds United F.C. season explained

Club:Leeds United
Season:2012–13
Manager:Neil Warnock
(until 1 April)[1]
Neil Redfearn
(caretaker, until 12 April)
Brian McDermott
(from 12 April) [2]
Chairman:Ken Bates
Stadium:Elland Road
League Result:13th
Cup1:FA Cup
Cup1 Result:Fifth round
Cup2:League Cup
Cup2 Result:Quarter-finals
League Topscorer:
Season Topscorer:
Highest Attendance:33,816 vs Chelsea
(19 December 2012, League Cup)
Lowest Attendance:
(5 January 2013, FA Cup)
Average Attendance:21,572
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Prevseason:2011–12
Nextseason:2013–14

The 2012–13 season was Leeds United's third consecutive season in the Championship, which saw a minor flirtation with the play-offs and later with relegation, but ended with a mid-table finish.

Season summary

The manager's office was vacated in April by Neil Warnock after his promise of promotion appeared dead in the water, and the club actually on the fringes of the relegation battle. The club officials relieved him of his duties and after a brief period with caretaker manager Neil Redfearn in charge, appointed Brian McDermott as the club's eight manager in ten years. Pre-season saw a big change in the playing staff with no more than ten players departing Elland Road and twelve players brought in. New signing Lee Peltier became club captain after existing leader Robert Snodgrass departed for Norwich City in the summer and was joined in the winter by fan favourite Luciano Becchio – both transfers much to the chagrin of the supporters. With Becchio gone, the club's top scorers were last year's star Ross McCormack with eight goals and controversial winger El Hadji Diouf with seven who Warnock picked up on a free transfer at the start of the season. Academy product Sam Byram would be the surprise of the season making his debut in the first game of the year and going on to scoop all the major awards at both the official, supporters' and Yorkshire Post's Player of the Year Awards. Other youngsters to take the field included Dominic Poleon who managed two goals and Chris Dawson who has since been awarded a three-year professional contract.

The talk of the season though was undoubtedly the protracted takeover of the club. The eight month, £52m takeover by Bahrain based GFH Capital saw the investment bank secure 100% shares of the club's parent company with four of its party joining the board of directors. In March, GFH would sell a 10% stake to the International Investment Bank and announced the company were looking for additional investors to boost the club's finances. The takeover would seemingly inject morale into the supporters with the club's short term finances secured and higher value incoming transfers promised. GFH deputy-CEO David Haigh become the public face for the boardroom with departing chairman Ken Bates taking a step back with a promise of the title club president secured for the end of the season.

Events

This is a list of the significant events to occur at the club during the 2012–13 season, presented in chronological order, starting on 29 April 2012 and ending on the final day of the club's final match in the 2012–13 season. This list does not include transfers or new contracts, which are listed in the transfers section below, or match results, which are in the matches section.

November

December

January

April

May

Competitions

Championship

See main article: 2012–13 Football League Championship.

Matches

FA Cup

See main article: 2012–13 FA Cup.

League Cup

See main article: 2012–13 Football League Cup.

First-team squad

Squad information

|-|colspan="17"|Players who have been available for selection this season, but have now permanently left the club:

Appearances (starts and substitute appearances) and goals include those in the Championship (and playoffs), League One (and playoffs), FA Cup, League Cup and Football League Trophy.

1On loan at Ipswich Town[6]
2On loan from SV Zulte Waregem
3Currently on loan at Inverness CT[7]

Transfer-listed players

Appearances (starts and substitute appearances) and goals include those in the Championship (and playoffs), League One (and playoffs), FA Cup, League Cup and Football League Trophy.

1Player made fifty eight appearances (scoring six goals) for the club during his first spell at the club[8]
2Player is currently on loan at Sheffield Wednesday[9]
3Player is currently on loan at Preston North End[10]
4Player is currently on loan at Accrington Stanley[11]

Transfers

New contracts


1The contract includes the option to extend the contract by a further year.
2Option to extend by further year taken up later in season.
3Contract extended by further year after making 30 appearances.

Awards

Internal Awards

Official Player of the Year Awards

The results of the 2012–13 Leeds United A.F.C. Player of the Year Awards were announced at a dinner on 27 April 2013 at Elland Road.[12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 1 April 2013 . Club Statement: Neil Warnock Departs . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130403234003/http://www.leedsunited.com/news/20130401/club-statement-neil-warnock-departs_2247585_3129001 . 3 April 2013 . 1 April 2013 . Leeds United F.C..
  2. Web site: 12 April 2013 . Brian McDermott appointed Leeds United manager . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20130413221056/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22107062 . 13 April 2013 . 12 April 2013 . BBC News.
  3. Web site: 21 November 2012 . Leeds United: GFH Capital finalise takeover deal . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160118023833/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20240262 . 18 January 2016 . 21 November 2012 . BBC Sport.
  4. News: 21 December 2012 . Leeds United: GFH Capital completes takeover . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160118023832/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20809027 . 18 January 2016 . 21 December 2012 . BBC Sport . BBC.
  5. Web site: 24 January 2013 . Leeds United: Becchio hands in transfer request . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130126083909/http://www.leedsunited.com/news/20130124/a-club-statement-luciano-becchio_2247585_3051941 . 26 January 2013 . 24 January 2013 . Leeds United.
  6. Web site: 3 January 2013 . Paddy Kisnorbo joins Ipswich on loan . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130105190643/http://www.leedsunited.com/news/20130103/paddy-makes-loan-move_2247585_3025703 . 5 January 2013 . 3 January 2013 . Leeds United F.C..
  7. Web site: 25 January 2013 . Charlie Taylor joins Inverness on loan . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130128021541/http://www.leedsunited.com/news/20130125/charlie-takes-the-high-road_2247585_3052741 . 28 January 2013 . 25 January 2013 . Leeds United F.C..
  8. Web site: 22 September 2011 . Danny Pugh . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121104120530/http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=33084 . 4 November 2012 . 22 September 2011 . Soccerbase.
  9. Web site: 25 January 2013 . Danny Pugh loan . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130128021549/http://www.leedsunited.com/news/20130125/dannys-wednesdays-boy-for-the-short-term_2247585_3053276 . 28 January 2013 . 25 January 2013 . Leeds United F.C..
  10. Web site: 15 January 2013 . Paul Connolly loan . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130117160209/http://www.leedsunited.com/news/20130115/defender-makes-preston-move_2247585_3042301 . 17 January 2013 . 15 January 2013 . Leeds United F.C..
  11. Web site: 31 January 2013 . Paul Rachubka loan . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130203020534/http://www.leedsunited.com/news/20130131/keeper-joins-stanley-on-loan_2247585_3059924 . 3 February 2013 . 31 January 2013 . Leeds United F.C..
  12. Web site: 27 April 2013 . Sam Wins The Big Prizes . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130501103422/http://www.leedsunited.com/news/20130427/sam-wins-the-big-prizes_2247585_3159534 . 1 May 2013 . 27 April 2013 . Leeds United F.C..