Tom Hark Preston Park
Will Post For Cash
- Jul 6, 2003
- 72,358
(from today's Sunday Mirror, font of all Sunday football knowledge)
Exclusive: Leeds fans fuming as star Harry Kewells signs to Galatasaray
By Michael Morgan 6/07/2008
Harry Kewell has sparked outrage at his old club Leeds by joining Galatasaray on a free transfer from Liverpool.
Kewell, a serial underachiever at Anfield following his £5million switch from Elland Road five years ago, controversially signed a two-year £40,000-a-week deal with the Turkish champions.
The Aussie international winger, 29, opted for a move to Istanbul even though Roma, Portsmouth, Celtic and Spartak Moscow also wanted him.
And his decision has left horrified Leeds fans furious with their one-time hero.
Eight years ago, Kewell was a member of the Leeds side beaten 2-0 by Galatasaray in a UEFA Cup semi-final first leg in Istanbul which went ahead just 24 hours after two Leeds fans, Kevin Speight and Christopher Loftus, had been murdered by hooligan Galatasaray followers.
Ray Fell, chairman of Leeds United Supporters Club, said: "Many of our fans will be appalled by Kewell's decision.
They will see this as callous, uncaring and a real kick in the teeth to them, the two lads who so tragically lost their lives and the football club.
Advertisement"I am shocked and extremely disappointed that a member of that Leeds squad, who along with his team-mates, the families of Kevin and Christopher and everyone else connected with the club went through the trauma and sadness of that occasion, has signed for Galatasaray.
"For us now to have to see one of our ex-players from that sad time taking the applause of Galatasaray fans will be sickening." Asked whether he thought the club would make any official statement on the matter, Fell replied: "I have no idea - they might decide to let sleeping dogs lie.
"But that will certainly not be the attitude of our fans. Let us just say that, from their point of view, Harry Kewell will not be welcome back in Leeds."
Exclusive: Leeds fans fuming as star Harry Kewells signs to Galatasaray
By Michael Morgan 6/07/2008
Harry Kewell has sparked outrage at his old club Leeds by joining Galatasaray on a free transfer from Liverpool.
Kewell, a serial underachiever at Anfield following his £5million switch from Elland Road five years ago, controversially signed a two-year £40,000-a-week deal with the Turkish champions.
The Aussie international winger, 29, opted for a move to Istanbul even though Roma, Portsmouth, Celtic and Spartak Moscow also wanted him.
And his decision has left horrified Leeds fans furious with their one-time hero.
Eight years ago, Kewell was a member of the Leeds side beaten 2-0 by Galatasaray in a UEFA Cup semi-final first leg in Istanbul which went ahead just 24 hours after two Leeds fans, Kevin Speight and Christopher Loftus, had been murdered by hooligan Galatasaray followers.
Ray Fell, chairman of Leeds United Supporters Club, said: "Many of our fans will be appalled by Kewell's decision.
They will see this as callous, uncaring and a real kick in the teeth to them, the two lads who so tragically lost their lives and the football club.
Advertisement"I am shocked and extremely disappointed that a member of that Leeds squad, who along with his team-mates, the families of Kevin and Christopher and everyone else connected with the club went through the trauma and sadness of that occasion, has signed for Galatasaray.
"For us now to have to see one of our ex-players from that sad time taking the applause of Galatasaray fans will be sickening." Asked whether he thought the club would make any official statement on the matter, Fell replied: "I have no idea - they might decide to let sleeping dogs lie.
"But that will certainly not be the attitude of our fans. Let us just say that, from their point of view, Harry Kewell will not be welcome back in Leeds."
