I wish Bates would hurry up and sort this out!
Last week, the Daily Mirror claimed Nottingham Forest would sign Luciano Becchio next month for £1m.
Hopefully the wildly inaccurate Mirror will be way off the mark as usual, but things are taking too long for my liking.
Becchio's contract expires in the summer. He has publically said he wishes to stay, Leeds have said they want to keep him, the fans have worshipped him from day one - but are we heading for a repeat of the Jermaine Beckford fiasco 12 months ago.
With contract talks having stalled with the ex Wealdstone RAC patrolman, Leeds had to decide to resist an offer from Newcastle last January thought to be in the region of £1.25m or gamble on losing Beckford for nothing in the summer. Luckily it paid off, Beckford securing the winner and promotion clinching goal against Bristol Rovers and off he moved to Everton almost with our universal blessing.
Despite his goals and including THAT one at Old Trafford, Beckford was never universally loved by the Elland Rd regulars and here is where the drastic difference lies - Becchio IS loved, largely due to his terrific workrate.
As far as the media go, for two season's Becchio toiled whilst Beckford stole the glory banging the goals in. Now as a lone-striker, Becchio is converting goals worthy of his workrate. With Elland Road apparently lacking home-comforts this season, in the past two matches Becchio has bagged five goals making it a happy home again.
However it will be far from it if he is allowed to leave ER without a bloody good fight. Bates has long preached austerity long before George Osbourne began to grapple with the nations' books. No sane Leeds fan wishes to see a return to the Ridsdale days of boardroom fishtanks, Mercs for Typists and £37,000 a week for Seth Johnson to warm the bench.
Anti-Bates campaigns have started loudly but fizzled out. However if it is perceived that Becchio's reasonable demands were refused and he does go, then Bates better deliver up promotion this season or questions about ambition will rightfully be asked.
None of us will lose any sleep over Bradley Johnson moving on, Becchio leaving now that is the stuff of nightmares!