Elland Road is braced for yet more turbulence in wake of Howson's likely Norwich move and McCormack in Wigan link.

Jonny Howson's proposed move to Norwich has clearly rankled Leeds' long suffering supporters.

It is understood that just a medical stands in the way of Howson's Carrow Road switch, which some reports believe wil let £2m.

The official word that the Leeds captain, out of contract in the summer clearly does not want to agree a new-deal has not washed with furious Leeds fans.

Having been around in 1993 when David Batty was sold to Blackburn Rovers, I imagine there will be even greater anger on Saturday when Leeds face Norwich's bitter rivals Ipswich.

Particularly as the latest stories doing the rounds is that Wigan Athletic are lining up a swoop for top-scorer Ross McCormack!

Even the usually-reserved Yorkshire Evening Post tonight features the headline "Howson sale reeks of lack of ambition".

Whether Bates will be in Yorkshire for Saturday's game to mark the seventh anniversary of his arrival remains to be seen? If he is then he is likely to face a vicious backlash with a protest planned for Billy Bremner's statute against the club ownership.

Other websites have urged fans going to the game not to buy any merchandise or food.

Another has asked for fans to wear pre-2005 shirts, marking the era before Bates rode into our club.

There were protests before the first home game of the season against Middlesbrough. A gritty start to the season on the field seemed to quell the organised anti-Bates stuff but there have been regular "Bates Out" chants during matches.

This has clearly rankled Bates, who accuses his crtics of being "morons" and has even declared they are putting off would-be investors in our great club.

At Derby on Boxing Day, I had the misfortune of being sat next to two more "senior Gentlemen" who took exception to me joining in the anti-Bates chants and declared "If it weren't for him there would be no Leeds United".

I dearly hope I bump into either of them on Saturday and see what they think about their saviours latest act of mismanagement an betrayal.

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