MX23RW : Tuesday, May 28 04:58:24| >> :120:27309:27309:

On This Day: Peter Ridsdale stands down as Leeds United chairman

On This Day: Ridsdale stands down as Leeds chairman
© PA Photos
Risdale had been in charge for five years.

Peter Ridsdale resigned as chairman of crisis club Leeds on this day in 2003.

In a statement released to the Stock Exchange, the 50-year-old announced he was standing down after five years in the post.

Ridsdale said: "After five years as chairman I have decided to step down and hand over the reins as chairman to Professor John McKenzie who has my full support."

Liverpool v Leeds Rio Ferdinand
Leeds had a team full of stars including Rio Ferdinand (John Giles/PA)

Ridsdale had come in for increasing criticism from fans after a season which had seen a host of top stars leave the club, as well as the departure of manager Terry Venables.

Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Keane, Lee Bowyer, Olivier Dacourt, Robbie Fowler and Jonathan Woodgate had all been sold off since David O'Leary's exit the previous June.

The previous 14 months had been a turbulent time for Leeds. From topping the Premier League in January 2002, the Elland Road club experienced a decline which had rapidly increased since the turn of the year.

Bolton v Leeds United
But the club were relegated in 2004 (Phil Noble/PA)

Things went from bad to worse thereafter. Leeds were relegated in 2004 and even spent two seasons in League One.

The good times are finally returning, though, after the club returned to the Premier League last season under Marcelo Bielsa. They currently lie 11th in the table.

ID:441251:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect3676:

Click here for more stories about Peter Ridsdale

Click here for more stories about Leeds United

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Leeds United's Tyler Roberts pictured in December 2018
Read Next:
Tyler Roberts: 'Taking the knee has lost its impact'
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLeicester CityLeicester463141189414897
3Leeds UnitedLeeds462791081433890
4Southampton462691187632487
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom4621121370472375
6Norwich CityNorwich4621101579641573
7Hull City461913146860870
8Middlesbrough46209177162969
9Coventry CityCoventry4617131670591164
10Preston North EndPreston46189195667-1163
11Bristol City461711185351262
12Cardiff CityCardiff46195225370-1762
13Millwall461611194555-1059
14Swansea CitySwansea461512195965-657
15Watford461317166161056
16Sunderland46168225254-256
17Stoke CityStoke461511204960-1156
18Queens Park RangersQPR461511204758-1156
19Blackburn RoversBlackburn461411216074-1453
20Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds46158234468-2453
21Plymouth ArgylePlymouth461312215970-1151
RBirmingham CityBirmingham461311225065-1550
RHuddersfield TownHuddersfield46918194877-2945
RRotherham UnitedRotherham46512293789-5227


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!