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The Leeds United Supporters Trust today announced that the proposed takeover of the club has now collapsed.
Ever since the rumours of a potential takeover started at the beginning of the summer, Leeds fans everywhere have been dreaming of life after Ken Bates but today their dreams have been crushed by a 17 word tweet.
The Leeds United Supporters Trust can confirm that the deal to buy the club has now collapsed.
— LUFC Trust (@lufctrust) August 9, 2012
The club have told us very little about what is happening and we said yesterday that if Ken Bates has programme notes this weekend then there probably has been very little going on. Well, as it has turned out we didn't have to wait till the weekend and our worse fears have been confirmed. As usual there is yet to be an official word from the club but the news that Danny Pugh and Robbie Rogers have been transfer listed to create funds for more players tells you all that you need to know.
"You have to look at what you can do. We're looking at forward players and it might be that we have to move one or two on, so we're going to circulate the names of Robbie Rogers and Pughy on the transfer list.
I've had a chat with both of them. In Pughy's case he's had a good pre-season and he's a bit unlucky, but in the areas I think he's good in I don't think he'll get much of a look in.
He needs to be playing games. It's not closing the door, but if we can generate some income it helps me with priority positions."
On other transfer listed players and Billy Paynter:
"There's been enquiries for a few, but I'm not sure of anything permanent.
Billy has spoken to a few. I'm not sure it's cut and dried with Doncaster and there's a few others in for him as well. He'll be well looked at because he that type of player."
It always seemed too good to be true but at the minute I don't really know what to say. The atmosphere at the club was going to be so much better than it has been for the last few years and everybody's energies were going to be spent on the team. Now it will probably be far worse than ever before and it is justified, at this moment in time it feels like Bates has been laughing at us all summer as we bought our season tickets thinking he wasn't going to be at the club. Whilst I am very pleased that Danny Pugh has been transfer listed, given the circumstances it is hard to smile about it. Robbie Rogers seems to be the unlucky one, the American is yet to have a real run in the first team but it seems the manager would rather bring somebody else in to the club.
It is never, ever easy being a Leeds United fan but what happens now? I really don't know where we go from here.