Leeds United Takeover Deal Collapses

Leeds United Supporters' Trust (LUST) has confirmed that a proposed deal to buy the club has collapsed after more than two months of negotiations.

Talks between the consortium, believed to comprise of Middle East-based investors and owner and chairman Ken Bates, have broken down.

A club statement said they welcomed new interest after the period of exclusivity for the consortium ended.

However, talks could continue with the group on a non-exclusive basis.

In the meantime, the club has confirmed Robbie Rogers and Danny Pugh have been put on the transfer list as manager Neil Warnock attempts to generate cash to bring in a new striker.

Winger Rogers and utility player Pugh join Billy Paynter, Paul Rachubka, Paul Connolly and Ramon Nunez in being available for transfer.

Warnock told the club website: "You have to look at what you can do. We're looking at forward players and it might be that we have to move one or two on."

The Supporters' Trust has been looking for alternative investment in the Championship club since February.

But it took until late May for Leeds to first confirm they were in talks with potential investors, after LUST said in a statement that a number of parties had expressed 'firm interest' in the club.

It appeared that Leeds, who were confirmed to be in Bates' ownership in 2011, were finally closing in on new investment when they reached an exclusivity agreement with one consortium in June.

LUST chairman Gary Cooper told BBC Radio Leeds at the time that he believed the deal was all but done.

Bates purchased Leeds, who finished 14th in the Championship last season, following a buy-out from former owners FSF Limited, but fans have voiced concerns over the side's future.

Raddy Ups Leeds Antic

Former Real Madrid and Barcelona coach Raddy Antic has thrown his hat into the ring to become the next manager of Leeds United.

The Championship club sacked Simon Grayson earlier in the week and revealed on Friday that they had been inundated with applications.

Huddersfield Town boss Lee Clark has played down speculation linking him with the position, while former Queens Park Rangers manager Neil Warnock is rumoured to be a contender.

Neil Redfearn is currently in caretaker charge of the Whites, but the hugely experienced Antic has now shown an interest in the Elland Road vacancy.

Antic's press agent Paul Gough said: "Radomir will undoubtedly be one of the most experienced and qualified coaches to apply for the Leeds job.

"He is hugely qualified and immensely hungry for the opportunity. He would love the chance to boss at Elland Road - it is something he knows he would be very successful at."

Antic, who spent four years at Luton Town during his playing days, launched his coaching career at Real Zaragoza, and his impressive CV since has seen him take the helm at Real Madrid, Real Oviedo, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Celta Vigo before he was appointed as Serbia coach in 2008.

He guided his side to the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa but, after a disappointingly early exit, lost his job in September of the same year.

After an opening defeat by Ghana, the Serbians stunned Germany - who went on to reach the semi-finals - with a 1-0 victory in Port Elizabeth, before a 2-1 loss to Australia ended their Group D campaign and ensured a swift return home.

Antic received a four-game touchline ban and a fine for unruly behaviour as a result of comments made in the wake of the final game.

Leeds United Sack Grayson

Leeds United have sacked manager Simon Grayson after three years in charge at Elland Road.

Youth team boss Neil Redfearn has been placed in temporary control of first-team affairs.

The former Leeds trainee's final match as United boss saw the club slump to a 4-1 defeat at home to promotion rivals Birmingham City .

Former Sheffield United and Queens Park Rangers boss Neil Warnock has been linked with the post.

Tuesday's defeat by Birmingham leaves Leeds in 10th place in the Championship, three points off the play-offs.

Grayson left Blackpool to take over at Elland Road in December 2008

following the sacking of Gary McAllister .

He led the club to promotion from League One in his first full season in charge before finishing in seventh place in the second tier last season.

Chief executive Shaun Harvey told the club website: "We have 18 games to go this season and are still within touching distance of the play-offs.

"We felt with the transfer window closed we needed to make the change at this time in the belief that a new managerial team will be able to get more out of the existing squad of players and make the difference."

After leaving Leeds in 1992, Grayson went on to play for Leicester City, Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers and Blackpool.

He took over as manager at Bloomfield Road in 2005, succeeding Colin Hendry.