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April 1, 2002 (Monday) from Jonathan
Woodgate Club
Woodgate takes
five
LEEDS have shown how
much Jonathan Woodgate means to them with a bumper new contract offer.
The England defender is considering a five-year deal at Elland Road, which will
help ease his anguish over being axed from World Cup contention by the FA after
his conviction for affray.
Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale, who condemned Woodgate's treatment - considering
he had completed his sentence - last night emphasised how highly manager David
O'Leary rates the player by acting to prevent any chance of him "doing a
Sol Campbell".
The deal shows how Leeds are tightening up on contracts to keep their
"Crown Jewels", as Ridsdale calls them, under lock and key.
Woodgate, who has completed 100 hours of community service for his part in an
attack on an Asian student, can count himself among those prized possessions...
alongside Robbie Fowler and Rio Ferdinand.
Ridsdale told People Sport: "It's club policy not to sign any players for
less than five years. We are a plc company and we don't want any of our players
to do a Campbell.
"Jonathan is in that category. He'll be out of contract in a year's time
and we don't want him to leave on a Bosman. Negotiations are progressing
well."
Leeds are holding similar talks with Lee Bowyer, who was also implicated in the
notorious nightclub incident before being cleared.
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