Peter Ridsdale

From ARFOPEDIA

Clearly not content with single-handedly forcing Leeds United to be relegated to League One, entering administration a record 41 times along the way, he is now concentrating all his efforts on ensuring that Cardiff City may live the same dream.

[edit] Examples of Genius

Offering Seth Johnson ONE BILLION POUNDS per game.

Claiming Rio Ferdinand was signed as backup to Woodgate.

Spending £11,000 on Koi Carp

On hearing of Leeds' relegation, presenting Hull's chairman with a glass of champagne

[edit] Quotes

July 15, 2000 - On his belief that David O'Leary would become the longest-serving manager in the country: 'He has four more years on his contract, and we are currently talking to him about a new deal.

'We want to extend the length of the contract and increase what he earns. Alex Ferguson joined Manchester United in 1986, and my aim is to see David O'Leary break his record.

'I want David to be the longest-serving manager in this country.

July 31, 2000 - Criticising massive overspending going on in Europe: 'Many of the teams on the continent are hugely in debt, and I don't know how they intend to finance their spending on a long-term basis.

'At some point they will be called to account.

August 16, 2001 - Giving his backing to under-pressure manager David O'Leary: 'Is there a weight of expectation? I think you need to ask other people that.

'But there's no more pressure on David than there has ever been.

'We started out with a five-year strategy - and this is only year three, with years one and two beyond our wildest dreams.'

September 10, 2001 - On his desire not to sell Leeds' best players: 'Olivier (Dacourt) only signed a new five-year contract just a few weeks ago.

'A number of people were supposed to be interested in the summer and I did turn one bid down, but we're all about team building here at Elland Road and you don't do that by selling your best players.'

December 1, 2001 - Stressing Leeds only invest what they can afford: 'A lot has been made as to whether we are on a sound financial footing.

'This is a public company run for the shareholders. It is the plc board who ensure we are on that sound financial footing and we only invest when we can afford to and in players we believe will increase in value.'

December 5, 2001 - Reiterating Leeds only spend what they can sustain: 'When players do become available that we want and can afford - and that's the crucial thing - then we will get them.

'People are making a great play of how much money we've spent. But we've spent it because we can afford it. We won't spend money we haven't got.

'There will always be money at this football club because we will trade by our gate receipts, TV receipts, European income and by selling our peripheral players to make sure David always has the funds to top up the squad.'

February 24, 2002 - Giving his backing to O'Leary: 'We have had to live for the last two years with nightmare off-the-field problems that would certainly affect anybody closely involved at this club.

'It wasn't the easiest of times and it has taken a lot out of David and me. It was a shadow hanging over both of us.

'Now, though, we both feel we have come through it much stronger mentally and with renewed energy for the challenge.

'David has a six-year contract with four years left to run and he is determined to deliver on the promise of making a regular championship challenge.

'There is no panic, nor any problems, at this moment. It doesn't take much to get us back where we belong.'

February 26, 2002 - Remaining loyal to O'Leary and assistant Brian Kidd: 'I believe, unequivocally, we have the best management team in the country at Leeds United.

'I have total faith in the work David and his team are doing and I believe they are the right people to take this club forward and achieve success.

'We have a strong squad, the best management team in the game and they are capable of providing a great future for this club.'

March 8, 2002 - Insisting the club's transfer deficit will not be repeated: 'We would expect a net income from transfers this coming summer.

'Clearly re-qualification for European competition next season is a significant element of the plan.

'The board will trade assets as required by the nature of the competition reached in order to ensure that the cost base of the business is maintained at a sustainable level, and will continue to do so as required.'

June 27, 2002 - On Rio Ferdinand staying at Elland Road and not going to Manchester United: 'Rio Ferdinand is contracted to Leeds. I have no intention of selling him. He has a clause in his contract that says he can't go to another Premiership club.

'We've had no offers for him and if I've got anything to do with it he'll see out his contract.

'I'm not stupid enough to say never is never but we've told Rio we do not want to sell him and today's decision had nothing to do with Rio.

'We are not selling Rio Ferdinand to Manchester United.'

July 17, 2002 - Further denials on Ferdinand: 'Someone, somewhere seems to be conducting this whole business through the media - and I find that very disturbing.

'How can I respond to anything when, as far as I am concerned, Rio is a contracted player with Leeds United? The only thing I can confirm is that if Rio Ferdinand hands in a transfer request it will be turned down.

'We've had no offers for Rio Ferdinand so it amazes me he has a choice to make. He is going nowhere. Where does he think he is going - into thin air?'

November 29, 2002 - On Elland Road favourite David Batty's future: 'Terry Venables has decided that David is no longer capable of playing at the top level. That is unanimous because of the problems with his knees that he has suffered.

'David O'Leary also said the same thing at a board meeting in May and I respect the views of Terry and the coaching staff.

'I would be the first to want to see David Batty back in our football shirt.'

November 29, 2002 - On restructuring the wage system at Leeds to include performance-related pay: 'It's our desire to see a realignment from basic pay to appearance money.

'There is room for performance-related pay in football but you have to balance that with attracting players and making this club attractive to play for.

'The most recent contracts we have signed have had a bigger proportion of appearance money to base pay than in the past and the balance in overheads has to improve. This is part of our payment schedule - there are already rewards for players based on where we are in the league and whether we qualify for Europe.'

November 29, 2002 - On his high-profile in the media: 'I assure you that from now on we will leave the talking to the football manager.'

December 5, 2002 - On Leeds' under-achieving stars, speaking at the opening the club's new academy: 'This is now no-excuse time because when you see the facilities the players have, there aren't any excuses.

'Apart from the fact they are all very well-paid individuals, they are all now very well-looked-after individuals.'

January 31, 2003 - On the fall-out from the sale of Jonathan Woodgate: 'If the supporters believe this wouldn't have happened if I had not been here then they need to think again because this decision was right for the football club.

'I've a responsibility to make sure I do as good a job as I can and that I enjoy what I am doing, although I haven't particularly enjoyed January 2003.

'But I feel I made the right decision, so I can live with myself. I have taken the decision as chairman of a public company and not as a fan of Leeds United.

'It's simple to say 'let's change the chairman' and the finances change, but the finances are what they are and we can now look to the future with confidence.

'But whether the fans want me to stay or not is another question. I will have to see how people respond to me. They might determine my future.

'If they do not understand why we have done what we have done then I might take a view on whether enjoyment with my family is better going forward than what I am going through at the moment.

'I just hope the fans realise that whatever decision, and however tough, I did this for them as well as the shareholders because it means they can see a financially sound football club.'

January 31, 2003 - On previous transfer policy: 'Should we have spent what we did? Probably not.

'But we lived the dream, enjoyed the dream and only by making the right decisions today we can rekindle the dreams again in the future and that is what we intend to do.

'But we have not abandoned European ambitions. If you look at the squad we still have, how can you say that?

'But unlike other teams we do not have to get over the hurdle of Champions League qualification to ensure financial stability. We can be stable without it. And if we do get there, we will be quids-in.

'The mistake we made was believing we could sustain Champions League football. We didn't. Now I accept my share of the blame, but to suggest it was uniquely down to me is a little fanciful.

'What we will be doing now is to cut our cloth to meet our income, regroup, reinvest in a market that is now heavily discounted and we're the ones with money in the bank. What we will then do is go for it again.'

January 31, 2003 - On boss Terry Venables: 'We've a manager here who has experience few other managers have and we're delighted we've a manager - with the squad we have - to get us back there (in European competition), be it this year or next.'

January 31, 2003 - Denying Leeds are a selling club, immediately following the £9 million departure of Jonathan Woodgate to Newcastle: 'I'm paid to be chairman of a public company and I owe our shareholders and supporters financial stability for Leeds United Football Club. That's what this decision (to sell Woodgate) brings.

'But we're not a selling club. Football is all about buying and selling and if you look at the last four years we've bought more often than we have sold.

'Sometimes you have to redress the balance and that's what we have done.

'I would like to feel that now we are in a financially healthy position, Leeds United Football Club will go back to adding assets when we believe they are right for the team.'

February 1, 2003 - On the reaction from supporters to Woodgate sale: 'I've not shirked my responsibility, and whatever the future holds I'll always be a fan. The future is brighter because we've taken the tough decisions.

'If fans don't understand why we've done what we've done, I might take a view on whether spending time with my family is better than going through what I'm going through at the moment.

'I can live with myself because I know I've taken the right decisions. Whether the fans want me to stay is another question.

'I can tend my garden, but whoever had been chairman had to take the right decision for the club and would have accepted the £9m.'

March 3, 2003 - On the future: 'However difficult it is at the moment, only by taking the painful decisions can we build again.

'We will build again, there is no doubt about that. The only thing that matters is that we do build again and that every Leeds fan gets the success that their loyalty deserves.

'I know that all Leeds supporters are concerned at what they see as a mass exodus of players. Despite some of the comments that have been made, the squad has reduced by only two players, with six leaving, and four joining us.'

March 3, 2003 - On future finances: 'A year ago I went on record as saying that the overheads of our playing squad had become too expensive. This was said at a time when Champions League football for the current season was still a possibility.

'Football finances are changing. The income streams previously enjoyed in many areas can no longer be taken for granted.

'The difference between fifth place last year and 15th today is £4 million.

'It is incumbent on me and my fellow directors, to ensure that we are financially viable.

'Our ambition is undiminished. We have done the right things to protect the future. I remain one of the staunchest Leeds supporters.

'That is why I was prepared to do the right, yet unpopular thing.'

March 11, 2003 - More on the future: 'We've just had nine months of difficult times.

'Now if every management team in the first period of difficulty walked away, you'd have management leaving every day of the week.

'You'd see turmoil and changeover in clubs throughout the country, the like of which you'd never seen before.

'My challenge, and that of my colleagues, is to try to put us back to where we were, to prove that I can now manage in difficult times as well as good times.'

March 11, 2003 - On finances in football in general: 'Do not believe the financial problems and issues facing this industry and Leeds United in the past, aren't affecting other clubs as we speak.

'I think you will find we have acted in advance, not because we just had the foresight, but because other clubs have not been able to benefit from bringing cash in for some of the players they are prepared to trade.

'But don't tell me there aren't 17 or 18 other football clubs out there also trying to readjust at the moment. The difference is we've managed to do it because we had assets other people wanted.'

March 11, 2003 - Ruling out future sales: 'We do not need to be in the UEFA Cup or Champions League to sustain the overheads we are now getting down to.

'We are now in a position where we have cash in the bank. I would like to feel that where we are at now is that we can smile and say 'enough is enough'. We've brought in the cash and we can look forward.'

March 17, 2003 - On his determination to remain chairman: 'My position is clear. I understand the thoughts and feelings of the supporters and it's my responsibility to sort it out.

'I don't want to leave Leeds United in the lurch and I fully intend to put things right.

'If the supporters want a scapegoat, I can only ask what that will achieve. If I was driven out, what then?

'I have no intention of running away. When I go I'd like to think it will be when Leeds are flying again.'