Leeds United received an offer from a consortium headed by Sheikh Abdel Rahman Ben Moubarak Al-Khalifa today. Sheikh Al-Khalifa, a member of the Bahraini Royal Family, said the consortium made up of two Saudi Arabian businessmen and an Asiatic company had put the offer to the Leeds board - whose club is a reported 78 million pounds in debt - and were awaiting a response.
"The group put an offer to Leeds United and we are awaiting a reply in the next few days," Al-Kkhalifa, who is a lifelong Leeds fan, told AFP. "The two Saudis are notable personalities and there are no Arabic shareholders in the Asiatic company. Our offer is in the hands of the Leeds board. Another group has entered the race and also presented an offer to the club. I would urge the Leeds directors to make a decision as quickly as possible so it would allow us to buy new players when the transfer window opens on January 1," added the Sheikh, who refused to divulge any details of the bid.
Sheikh Al-Khalifa said the improved performance of the team on the pitch in their two latest matches - beating highflying Charlton 1-0 and a 1-1 draw with leaders Chelsea - showed what a morale boost his interest in the club had had. "Those results bear witness to the relief of the players that the announcement of an interest in investing in the club has had," he said.
Filed by Barry J Whyte
