The official website today confirmed that BBC Radio Leeds will return to the gantry to provide commentary for the forthcoming season and the following two thereafter, but does this mean that Yorkshire Radio will be silenced for good?

Our beloved then chairman Ken Bates famously fell-out with the Beeb back in 2008 over the price they were prepared to pay to broadcast Leeds' matches live. Bates bullishly went ahead to form his own station Yorkshire Radio, available by DAB and online only however he would team up with York based Minster FM to broadcast matches on the FM frequency - arguably whilst we have seen massive strides in technology over the past ten years or so, I feel as a nation we have yet to fall in love with DAB and can only think of one person who has installed it in their car.

Now its all smiles again as "Aunty" is welcomed back to ER with open arms. David Haigh, himself a former BBC Radio Cornwall employee said "The BBC and Leeds United are a natural fit as two great institutions, both locally and nationally. It's a good deal for our fans, many of whose association with the club was forged through listening to BBC commentaries."

Helen Thomas, Head of BBC Yorkshire, says: "This is excellent news for BBC Radio Leeds and we very much look forward to working with Leeds United over the next three years."

Whilst this move will be welcomed by many, in the wake of the scandals surrounding Jimmy Savile and Stuart Hall, I refuse to get dewy eyed over anything to do with the corporation these days and the only advantage I can see is it will reach a wider audience as the reception on Minster FM was pretty horrendous particularly around the ground on the A653 heading towards the M62.

Saying that though, when I could hear it I did enjoy listening to Thom Kirwin, Eddie Gray and even Ben Fry!

I understand like Howard's Restaurant, Yorkshire Radio was pretty much a loss-making drain on the clubs resources, now it appears the BBC are back on board which will surely effect it's listening figures on match day and appeal to advertisers, will the new management team pull the plug on it once and for all?

Photo: Action Images

Max added 18:41 - Jul 12 Re Mr Kirwin, and sympathy for him, see his role in the Levi affair: http://www.thesquareball.net/2012/06/07/chilling-lack-of-concern-the-bates-v-lev ... money for which by the way ultimately came out of the club, as has the money to set up and support the loss-making Yorkshire Radio. Bates wanted YR to be one more way of bleeding more money from the Leeds United brand, at the same time he was setting about alienating the support base which is the ultimate source of that money. I think GFH are doing the right thing by thinking about the support base first and rebuilding that base before they try to monetise it.

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