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February 23, 2003
(Sunday)
Gray would welcome
Woody back
Leeds assistant-boss
Eddie Gray is disappointed not to be renewing
acquaintances with Jonathan Woodgate on Saturday - but respects
Newcastle manager Sir Bobby Robson's decision to keep the £9million
defender away from Elland Road.
Woodgate proved to be the last of a long line of star Leeds names to
leave the club in recent months as the financially-troubled outfit
sought to ease crippling debts.
The move just before the closure of the transfer window last month
came as a bolt out of the blue to Leeds supporters who had already
seen Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Keane, Lee Bowyer, Olivier Dacourt and
Robbie Fowler either sold or moved on prior to that.
The outcry against chairman Peter Ridsdale was damning in its
ferocity, with the Leeds chief due to meet irate, invitation-only
fans early next month to discuss their continued grievances.
The transfer was marginally tempered, though, by the fact Leeds asked
for, and were granted, a clause in Woodgate's contract stipulating he
sit out Saturday's match for Newcastle.
A long-standing injury would have forced the centre-back onto the
sidelines anyway, however, thoughts of merely watching the game in
the stands have also been shelved by a wary Robson.
The mere sight of Woodgate looking on could have again enflamed the
passions of a Leeds crowd who had to contend with Bowyer playing for
West Ham a fortnight ago just a month after his contentious move to
Upton Park.
Gray, standing in for flu-ridden manager Terry Venables, believes
Robson has acted sensibly in telling Woodgate to stay away from a
club where he spent a decade.
"It would have been nice to have seen him back here, but that's the
way things are," reflected Gray.
"Under the circumstances it's probably a good move for our club as
well he is not here because there'll be a lot of fans disappointed he
left, so it's a wise decision."
Gray, like many others, was sorry to see Woodgate leave in the first
place, with Leeds' loss now Newcastle's gain for the Scot believes
the player's progress will continue when he finally pulls on a black
and white shirt for the first time.
"Jonathan's a great lad and everybody got on well with him, but at
this stage of his career he will have looked upon it as a good move
for him," added Gray.
"Newcastle have bought a good player and he will do well for them. He
has gone to a side who are doing very well and have a lot of young
players.
"He will be looking forward to the new challenge and I'd be surprised
if he isn't a success looking at how he plays the game and the
players they have.
"But that's in the past for Leeds. We've just got to think of the
future, although I wish Jonathan all the best at Newcastle."
In Woodgate's absence Leeds have managed to regroup, winning their
last three matches, incorporating a place in the sixth round of the
FA Cup.
Newcastle, though, have more loftier ambitions in their sights as
they are still not out of the hunt for the Barclaycard Premiership
title.
Gray recognises Leeds face a tough task if they are to build on
recent success as he said: "It will be difficult because they are
playing well and challenging.
"They do look useful, but then they've looked useful all season, and
they seem to be playing with a lot of confidence at the present.
"But on our day we can be exciting as well and we had a great victory
up at St James' Park earlier in the season, and not many teams go
there and win, so it would be nice to do the double."
Venables is hopes to have recovered to take his place in the dugout,
and with Paul Okon and Raul Bravo fit after hamstring and flu
problems recently, the Leeds manager has virtually a full squad to
choose from.
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