Former Leeds United star says the club haven’t moved with the times – legacy of Cellino?

Former Leeds United defender David Prutton has told the YEP that Thorp Arch has suffered over the years.

In his column for the YEP, Prutton spoke about Leeds United’s training ground being left behind by other club’s facilities: “Thorp Arch is still a great complex, plush and very comfortable, but I don’t think anyone would pretend that it hasn’t suffered over the years or that it maybe hasn’t moved with the times.

“In some ways it hasn’t been able to move with the times. Leeds have had some barren years and periods where they’ve been fairly skint.”

Leeds United have suffered over the years with the ownership at the club, which wasn’t helped by financial problems. The situation wasn’t improved much by Massimo Cellino, following his three years at he the club.

Embed from Getty Images

During Cellino’s reign at the club we covered comments made by former Leeds United manager Neil Redfearn, who revealed the cost cutting measures the Italian put into place at Thorp Arch: “Cellino made the cleaners redundant, got the apprentices doing the laundry, and closed the kitchens. The swimming pool was drained because it cost £25,000 a year to heat and treat.

“The grass on the training pitches grew 3ft tall. The whole place stank,” said the former Leeds United boss.

However, with Cellino selling his remaining shares in Leeds United this summer the players will be hoping there are some improvements to the club’s facilities.

The Championship side have already changed the structure within the club, after the appointment of Victor Orta, and improvements to Thorp Arch should be expected.

ND