Kevin Blackwell has signed a new three-year contract at Elland Road.
He arrived as number two to Peter Reid in June 2003 before taking sole charge a year later. It was thought chairman Ken Bates had other plans, but this week the pair met in Monaco to thrash out a deal.
It has been a tough period for Blackwell, because despite a healthy position in the league, Bates announced ‘ex-goalkeepers did not make good managers’.
Blackwell: ‘I’m delighted. I feel the club is only at the start of something good. I’m positive we can go on and achieve good things.
‘The other interest has been flattering, but there is nowhere else I’d rather be than Leeds United. I’m happy at this football club. It’s a great place to be and it’s a great honour to be manager here.
‘I can look to the future now and we can make plans – but my immediate focus is on getting Leeds out of the Championship and back where we belong, in the Premiership.
‘I wouldn’t have signed this if it wasn’t for Ken Bates.
A lot of people were quick to write us off in terms of working together, but I really feel I’m part of the future at Leeds now.
‘I never spoke to the chairman about a new contract. He said he would do something when he felt the time was right and I took him at his word.’
Bates: ‘I’m a big believer that if it ain’t broke you don’t mend it. Kevin wasn’t going to be allowed to go anywhere else.’
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