retired_jkat116

Cheers Brian, I hope so too, our next result didn't help us much tho



Monday 3rd May

Our match against Everton that day ended in a 2-2 draw. A double from fat scouser Wayne Rooney ensured a frustrating struggle. The harrowing, swirling wind meant that it was not the most exciting of matches for the neutral, with most of the game spent with both sides attempting to keep the ball under control and try, at least, to play football. On the plus side, Eirik Bakke marked his return to side with a goal, as he did more than enough to convince me that he was sufficient cover for Seth.

We remained in fourth place – just. Liverpool were hot on our trails, and their remaining two games were favourable – a trip to already relegated Bolton, and at home on the last day of the season to an Aston Villa side suffering a similar fate. Sore toe ‘n’ all, I took training the next day confident we weren’t about to let our hard work come undone.



Tuesday 4th May


The wolf whistles and jeers made me turn. As I was setting up cones around the penalty box during training, I spotted a loose football. I strode over to it, and lashed at it gleefully, I suppose you could say ‘towards’ goal. As it squirmed feebly wide, Lionel and Jose de la Cuesta led the chorus of ‘What the f*ckin’ hell was that?!’ coupled with some more senior members displaying their thoughts on my attempt.

‘I meant it!’ I blasted, red-faced, fuming at not only the hopelessness of my effort, but the fact that everyone had seen it. 'Concentrate on your own soddin' jobs!'

What ensued was an uncomfortable, cringe-worthy silence spread across the terrain, one that would not have been out of place in BBC’s The Office. I barked orders at them to begin a drill, and they turned and duly got on with it, mumbling to themselves as they left.

Way to go, Dan I thought. I gritted my teeth, limping off, head down, partly due to embarrassment, partly due to the throbbing of my toe having receiving another stump upon contact with the floor during that dismal attempt. I must get that checked out.

retired_jkat116

Thursday 6th May

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>

Daily Mirror

Carter: I was this close

Darren Carter has today revealed he was just hours away from joining high-flying Leeds United, before his club Birmingham City blocked the move.

‘It is quite annoying that I was so close,’ Carter told MirrorSport . ‘I had agreed terms with them, set to pass a medical, but I was told the next day I was going nowhere’

‘The slightly annoying thing was that I had been told the previous week they were prepared to let me go.’

But Carter, who was voted April’s Young Player of the Month, remains upbeat about his future at St. Andrew’s.

‘I’m still committed to Birmingham. I have no direct intentions to leave, and I’ve told Steve Bruce that the club is my number one priority,’ he said.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>

Wednesday 26th November
The Daily Mirror

Leeds furious over indecision

Darren Carter’s move to Leeds United has collapsed after Birmingham decided to pull the plug on the youngsters switch.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
The story in November when MirrorSport were the first to bring the news of the collapsed deal



<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

retired_jkat116

Saturday 8th May
Premier League Game 37
Fulham vs. Leeds United
Starting XI: Robinson, Kelly, Harte, de la Cuesta, Radebe (c), Milner, Batty, Bakke, Morgan, Bridges, Viduka (Smith ’76)


Our record against Fulham so far had not been pleasing. It was helpful to note, however, that thorn-in-our-side Junichi Inamoto was sidelined for this encounter.

Mark Viduka was back in the side, and it took him only fourteen minutes to bag. A wonderful nutmeg and shimmy took him through on goal, and as van der Sar committed himself, Mark lifted the ball over his legs to guide us in front. It was a moment that deep down made me realise once again how much this club would miss him.

We controlled the game, and despite a scare when Sylvain Legwinski had the ball in the net, we were able to put the game beyond doubt later in the second half. Lionel, dangerous throughout, demonstrated true old fashioned wing play when he beat his marker and stood the ball up to the back post. Eirik Bakke rose like a salmon on crack to bury his header past the keeper and Moritz Volz on the goal line.

We held on for the 2-0 win, and although Salvador Carmona and Ian Harte both saw red late on for a nasty clash on the touchline, we were delighted to be coming out of the capital with a nice return for our hard work.

Fulham 0
Leeds United 2 - Viduka 14’, Bakke 73’
Attendance: 19,133
MoM: Eirik Bakke (8)

retired_jkat116

Monday 10th May

My decision to quit Leeds United came fairly easily. I was approaching the end of my one-year deal, yet despite the board’s offers of healthy extensions, I had made up my mind that Arsenal at home was to be my last game in the Elland Road dugout. My baby girl Jen had fallen ill, and it left me with a lot of thinking to do.

It is such situations that help to outline life’s true priorities. So what if Mark Viduka leaves Leeds? So what if we don’t make a Champions League spot? So flamin' what. I was becoming bitter at the situation Jen was in, and it was putting considerable strain upon my own health and my relationship with others I loved. It was time to leave football. For now at least.

I returned from the hospital and knocked on Prof. John McKenzie’s door. The news I was about to deliver would not please him, but he was fully supportive.
“I’m sorry to have to do this to you John,” I said. He shook my hand, and told me I was doing the right thing. I was leaving Leeds United, but I realised that I at least owed them a Champions League place before I departed. He had placed so much trust in me giving me a chance here. I had to repay him somehow.

retired_jkat116

Saturday 15th May
Premier League Game 38
Leeds United vs. Arsenal
Starting XI: Robinson, Kelly, Harte, de la Cuesta, Radebe (c), Milner, Batty, Bakke (Johnson 55’), Morgan, Bridges, Viduka (Smith 71)

I had spoken to the lads during the week regarding my future. They seemed disappointed, and although temptation was there to leave it until after the game to inform them, I had to be honest with a bunch of players who had served me so well.

“This is the last time we’ll be thought of as the same group, lads. The last time we’ll be in this position together, with the future at our feet.” I said. “Let’s do it.”

There were no heads down; I was delighted, they were all intently focused on what they had to do, no moping. We had to win to assure a place for Leeds United in the Champions League next season.

It was not the time to be thinking about me; the job to be done was tough, but I knew we had the ability to overcome Arsenal. The qualities possessed by the Gunners however were enough to sink any side. Power, pace, determination, flair, guile; it was surprising that with all these on offer, Wenger’s side were ‘underachieving’ in 2nd place. The side’s features were extremely impressive, making fourth place seem harder to maintain.

However it was neither, power, flair, nor guile, but lankiness that sent us behind after 14 minutes. Thierry Henry taught ageing Lucas Radebe a thing or two, not only about how to run, but how to do it fast, before a teasing ball confused our defence as Kanu’s outstretched leg poked the ball home to give the visitors the lead.

Nevertheless, a fantastic response saw us on level terms within minutes. Lionel Morgan proved to be too sharp for Jens Lehmann, who brought the dazzling winger crashing to the ground inside the area, for Mark Viduka to convert the resulting penalty kick. A goal-a-piece at half time.

As I sent the lads left the dressing room for part II, I sat alone, eyes darting around the empty room. I got up, and whilst shutting the door realised, I had completed my last team talk. I wandered slowly away from the dressing room, out to the dugout, for the last time.

Seth Johnson’s comeback gave us a massive boost in the second half, and he was on hand to give us the lead, nodding home Lionel’s beautifully whipped in corner after sixty-three minutes. Better still; Darius Vassell has given his side the lead at Anfield.

News of a Liverpool equaliser filtered through with four minutes remaining. One more for them, and an Arsenal reply would mean we were out of fourth spot. Luckily for us Lionel Morgan was stood over the ball, 25 yards out. Graham Poll gave him permission to take an early kick, and a scrambling Lehmann couldn’t get a strong enough hand to the ball. 3-1, game over. Liverpool couldn’t get that elusive winner against Aston Villa, not that it mattered; Leeds United would be playing Champions League football next season.


Leeds United 3 – Viduka 16’, Johnson 63’, Morgan 86’
Arsenal 1 - Kanu 14’
Attendance: 39,856
MoM: Lionel Morgan (9)

retired_jkat116

Thanks AlanL

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | Chelsea | | 38 | 29 | 6 | 3 | 80 | 23 | +57 | 93 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Arsenal | | 38 | 26 | 4 | 8 | 76 | 39 | +37 | 82 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | LEEDS ** | | 38 | 20 | 8 | 10 | 59 | 40 | +19 | 68 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Man Utd | | 38 | 18 | 13 | 7 | 51 | 20 | +31 | 67 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Liverpool | | 38 | 20 | 6 | 12 | 52 | 36 | +16 | 66 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>



So that was how it finished. My final appearance on the turf of Elland Road was an emotional one, as I waved goodbye to 35,000 who had stuck by me despite initial hesitancy. Manchester United had slipped up on the final day of the season, as we finished an unbelievable 3rd.

I sat in the office of Prof. John McKenzie, as we reflected on the season.

“We all appreciate what you’ve done here, Dan,” he told me. Infact, it was me who needed to express gratitude, as I’d been given the chance to experience something special in the form of football management.

“Get your arse down here to watch whenever you can,” he smiled, “there’ll always be a pint and some Doritos waiting for you.”

With that, I stood up, and we shook hands. His grip was as tight as on the day he congratulated me on my appointment. A quick “thanks for everything,” was all I could manage at this moment, as emotions rattled around inside me. I couldn’t believe that the doing right thing would be so hard. I left his room. I had left football.


It’s odd the way things turn out. My hand had been forced, and I was leaving the game I loved. I had no intention to return to management, as I now had to follow other paths to achieve my goals. It was all fairly abrupt, and under different circumstances I would have stayed on to see Leeds United into the next few seasons. But these things happen.

I unlocked my car, and threw in my suit jacket. Before I climbed in, I glared at the main doors of Elland Road, feeling a sense of accomplishment, pride even. Winding the clocks back 6 months I’d never have dreamed of walking out given the recent achievement. But as I sat down and put the key in the ignition, I never looked back. I was on my way, to the doctors to finally get my dodgy toe seen to, and to live a life away from football. As it turned out, all I got was a season.

retired_jkat116

Thanks Jarvo, it was a story I enjoyed writing, but a new adventure inspired me to move to the next one! Thanks for reading

VinnyB

excellent story! You really did well!