2012–13 Leeds United F.C. season
# 2012–13 Leeds United F.C. season

The 2012–13 season was Leeds United F.C.'s third season back in the second tier of English football which saw a minor flirtation with play-offs and later with relegation, but ended with a mid-table finish. In other competitions, the squad recorded their best finish in the League Cup for 18 years, reaching the quarter-finals only to be knocked out by rivals Chelsea. Similar progression was seen in the FA Cup as the team reached the fifth round for the first time since the 1999–00 season.

## Season summary

The manager's office was vacated in April by Neil Warnock after his promise of promotion appeared dead in the water, and the club actually on the fringes of the relegation battle. The club officials relieved him of his duties and after a brief period with caretaker manager Neil Redfearn in charge, appointed Brian McDermott as the club's eight manager in ten years. Pre-season saw a big change in the playing staff with no more than ten players departing Elland Road and twelve players brought in. New signing Lee Peltier became club captain after existing leader Robert Snodgrass departed for Norwich City in the summer and was joined in the winter by fan favourite Luciano Becchio – both transfers much to the chagrin of the supporters. With Becchio gone, the club's top scorers were last year's star Ross McCormack with eight goals and controversial winger El Hadji Diouf with seven who Warnock picked up on a free transfer at the start of the season. Academy product Sam Byram would be the surprise of the season making his debut in the first game of the year and going on to scoop all the major awards at both the official, supporters' and Yorkshire Post's Player of the Year Awards. Other youngsters to take the field included Dominic Poleon who managed two goals and Chris Dawson who has since been awarded a three-year professional contract.

The talk of the season though was undoubtedly the protracted takeover of the club. The eight month, £52m takeover by Bahrain based GFH Capital saw the investment bank secure 100% shares of the club's parent company with four of its party joining the board of directors. In March, GFH would sell a 10% stake to the International Investment Bank and announced the company were looking for additional investors to boost the club's finances. The takeover would seemingly inject morale into the supporters with the club's short term finances secured and higher value incoming transfers promised. GFH deputy-CEO David Haigh become the public face for the boardroom with departing chairman Ken Bates taking a step back with a promise of the title club president secured for the end of the season.

## Events

This is a list of the significant events to occur at the club during the 2012–13 season, presented in chronological order, starting on 29 April 2012 and ending on the final day of the club's final match in the 2012–13 season. This list does not include transfers or new contracts, which are listed in the transfers section below, or match results, which are in the matches section.

### November

* 21 November: Middle East-based private equity group GFH Capital finalise a deal for a protracted takeover of Leeds.

### December

* 21 December: GFH Capital officially become the new owners of Leeds after completing a takeover of the club.

### January

* 24 January: Longest serving player and top goalscorer, Luciano Becchio, hands in a transfer request.

### April

* 1 April: After a 1–2 home loss to Derby County, Manager Neil Warnock departs from Leeds United.
* 12 April: Leeds United appoint Brian McDermott as new manager.

### May

* 4 May: Leeds United end the 2012–13 Championship season 13th, 7 points behind the playoffs and 7 points above the relegation zone.

## Players

### First team squad information

| N | Pos. | Name | Age | Since | App | Goals | Ends | Transfer fee | Notes |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | GK | Paddy Kenny | 34 | 2012 | 47 | 0 | 2015 | £400,000 | Leeds United |
| 2 | DF | Lee Peltier | 26 | 2012 | 48 | 0 | 2015 | £800,000 | Leeds United |
| 3 | DF | Adam Drury | 34 | 2012 | 15 | 0 | 2014 | Free | Leeds United |
| 4 | DF | Tom Lees | 22 | 2008 | 93 | 4 | 2016 | Youth system | Leeds United |
| 5 | DF | Jason Pearce | 25 | 2012 | 41 | 0 | 2016 | £500,000 | Leeds United |
| 6 | DF | Patrick Kisnorbo $^1$ | 32 | 2009 | 58 | 1 | 2013 | Free | Leeds United |
| 7 | MF | Paul Green | 30 | 2012 | 36 | 4 | 2014 | Free | Leeds United |
| 8 | MF | Rodolph Austin | 27 | 2012 | 38 | 4 | 2015 | £300,000 | Leeds United |
| 9 | FW | Steve Morison | 29 | 2013 | 16 | 3 | 2016 | PX | Leeds United |
| 11 | MF | Luke Varney | 30 | 2012 | 39 | 6 | 2014 | £300,000 | Leeds United |
| 12 | GK | Jamie Ashdown | 30 | 2012 | 8 | 0 | 2014 | Free | BBC Sport |
| 14 | DF | Aidan White | 21 | 2008 | 98 | 2 | 2015 | Youth system | Leeds United |
| 15 | DF | Stephen Warnock | 31 | 2013 | 17 | 1 | 2015 | Free | Leeds United |
| 17 | MF | Michael Brown | 36 | 2011 | 60 | 2 | 2014 | Free | Yorkshire Evening Post |
| 18 | MF | Michael Tonge | 30 | 2012 | 39 | 5 | 2015 | £200,000 | Leeds United |
| 19 | MF | David Norris | 32 | 2012 | 34 | 4 | 2015 | Free | Leeds United |
| 21 | FW | El-Hadji Diouf | 32 | 2012 | 45 | 7 | 2014 | Free | Leeds United |
| 22 | FW | Habib Habibou $^2$ | 26 | 2013 | 4 | 0 | 2013 | N/A | Leeds United |
| 23 | DF | Zac Thompson | 20 | 2011 | 11 | 0 | 2015 | Free | Leeds United |
| 25 | DF | Sam Byram | 19 | 2012 | 53 | 4 | 2016 | Youth system | Leeds United |
| 26 | FW | Dominic Poleon | 19 | 2010 | 8 | 2 | 2015 | Youth system | Leeds United |
| 27 | MF | Sanchez Payne | 20 | 2010 | 0 | 0 | 2013 | Youth system | |
| 28 | FW | Davide Somma | 28 | 2009 | 40 | 13 | 2013 | Free | Leeds United |
| 30 | MF | Ryan Hall | 25 | 2012 | 8 | 0 | 2015 | £150,000 | Leeds United |
| 32 | MF | Chris Dawson | 18 | 2012 | 1 | 0 | 2016 | Youth system | Leeds United |
| 33 | GK | Alex Cairns | 20 | 2011 | 1 | 0 | 2014 | Youth system | Leeds United |
| 34 | DF | Ross Killock | 18 | 2012 | 0 | 0 | 2014 | Youth system | Leeds United |
| 44 | FW | Ross McCormack | 26 | 2010 | 108 | 29 | 2015 | £350,000 | Leeds United |
| 55 | MF | Simon Lenighan | 18 | 2012 | 0 | 0 | 2014 | Youth system | Yorkshire Evening Post |
| — | DF | Leigh Bromby | 32 | 2009 | 62 | 1 | 2013 | £250,000 | Leeds United |
| — | DF | Charlie Taylor $^3$ | 19 | 2011 | 4 | 0 | 2014 | Youth system | Leeds United |
| Players who have been available for selection this season, but have now permanently left the club: |||||||||||
| 9 | MF | Jerome Thomas | 30 | 2012 | 7 | 1 | Jan 2013 | N/A | Leeds United |
| 10 | FW | Luciano Becchio | 29 | 2008 | 221 | 86 | 2014 | £300,000 | Leeds United |
| 15 | DF | Alan Tate | 30 | 2012 | 11 | 0 | Jan 2013 | N/A | Leeds United |
| 20 | FW | Andy Gray | 35 | 2012 1995 | 38 | 1 | 2013 1998 | Free YS | Leeds United |
| 20 | MF | Ross Barkley | 19 | 2013 | 4 | 0 | Feb 2013 | N/A | Leeds United |
| 22 | MF | Robbie Rogers | 25 | 2012 | 4 | 0 | 2013 | Free | Leeds United |
| — | MF | Ramón Núñez | 27 | 2010 | 25 | 5 | 2015 | Free | Leeds United |

* Last updated: 8 April 2014
* Source: Wikipedia players' articles, Leeds United, Sky Sports
* Ordered by Squad Number.

Appearances (starts and substitute appearances) and goals include those in the Championship (and playoffs), League One (and playoffs), FA Cup, League Cup and Football League Trophy. $^1On$ loan at Ipswich Town $^2On$ loan from SV Zulte Waregem $^3Currently$ on loan at Inverness CT

### Transfer-listed players

| N | Pos. | Name | Age | Since | App | Goals | Ends | Transfer fee | Notes |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 16 | MF | Danny $Pugh^1$ $^2$ | 30 | 2011 2004 | 98 | 8 | 2014 2006 | £500,000 PX | Leeds United |
| 24 | DF | Paul $Connolly^3$ | 29 | 2010 | 63 | 0 | 2013 | Free | Leeds United |
| 31 | GK | Paul Rachubka $^4$ | 31 | 2011 | 7 | 0 | 2013 | Free | Leeds United |

* Last updated: 2 May 2012
* Source: Wikipedia players' articles, Leeds United, Sky Sports
* Ordered by Squad number.

Appearances (starts and substitute appearances) and goals include those in the Championship (and playoffs), League One (and playoffs), FA Cup, League Cup and Football League Trophy. $^1Player$ made fifty eight appearances (scoring six goals) for the club during his first spell at the club $^2Player$ is currently on loan at Sheffield Wednesday $^3Player$ is currently on loan at Preston North End $^4Player$ is currently on loan at Accrington Stanley

## Transfers

### In

| No. | Pos. | Name | Age | EU | Moving from | Type | Transfer window | Ends | Transfer fee | Source |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 5 | DF | Jason Pearce | 24 | EU | Portsmouth | Transfer | Summer | 2016 | £500,000 | Leeds United |
| 3 | DF | Adam Drury | 33 | EU | Norwich City | Transfer | Summer | 2014 | Free | Leeds United |
| 7 | MF | Paul Green | 29 | EU | Derby County | Transfer | Summer | 2014 | Free | Leeds United |
| 1 | GK | Paddy Kenny | 34 | EU | Queens Park Rangers | Transfer | Summer | 2015 | £400,000 | Leeds United |
| 20 | FW | Andy Gray | 34 | EU | Barnsley | Transfer | Summer | 2013 | Free | Leeds United |
| 12 | GK | Jamie Ashdown | 31 | EU | Portsmouth | Transfer | Summer | 2014 | Free | Leeds United |
| 11 | MF | Luke Varney | 29 | EU | Portsmouth | Transfer | Summer | 2014 | £300,000 | Leeds United |
| 19 | MF | David Norris | 31 | EU | Portsmouth | Transfer | Summer | 2015 | Free | Portsmouth |
| 8 | MF | Rodolph Austin | 27 | Non-EU | Brann | Transfer | Summer | 2015 | £300,000 | Leeds United |
| 2 | DF | Lee Peltier | 25 | EU | Leicester City | Transfer | Summer | 2015 | £800,000 | Leeds United |
| 21 | FW | El-Hadji Diouf | 31 | Non-EU | Doncaster Rovers | Transfer | Summer | Jan 2013 | Free | Leeds United |
| 18 | MF | Michael Tonge | 29 | EU | Stoke City | Loan | Summer | 23 December 2012 | — | Leeds United |
| 30 | MF | Ryan Hall | 24 | EU | Southend United | Loan | Summer | Jan 2013 | — | Leeds United |
| 15 | DF | Alan Tate | 30 | EU | Swansea City | Loan | Summer | 26 January 2013 | — | Leeds United |
| 9 | MF | Jerome Thomas | 29 | EU | West Bromwich Albion | Loan | Summer | 2 January 2013 | — | Leeds United |
| 30 | MF | Ryan Hall | 24 | EU | Southend United | Transfer | Winter | 2015 | £150,000 | Leeds United |
| 18 | MF | Michael Tonge | 29 | EU | Stoke City | Transfer | Winter | 2015 | £200,000 | Leeds United |
| 20 | MF | Ross Barkley | 19 | EU | Everton | Loan | Winter | 12 February 2013 | — | Leeds United |
| 9 | FW | Steve Morison | 29 | EU | Norwich City | Transfer | Winter | 2016 | Player Exchange | Leeds United |
| 15 | DF | Stephen Warnock | 31 | EU | Aston Villa | Transfer | Winter | 2015 | Free | Leeds United |
| 22 | FW | Habib Habibou | 25 | Non-EU | Zulte Waregem | Loan | Winter | May 2013 | — | Leeds United |

### Out

| N | P | Name | Age | Type | Moving to | Transfer window | Transfer fee | Apps | Goals | Source |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 4 | DF | Alex Bruce | 27 | Out of contract | Hull City | Summer | n/a | 31 | 4 | Leeds United |
| 11 | MF | Lloyd Sam | 27 | Out of contract | New York Red Bulls | Summer | n/a | 39 | 3 | Leeds United |
| 18 | FW | Mikael Forssell | 31 | Out of contract | HJK | Summer | n/a | 17 | 0 | Leeds United |
| 25 | MF | Danny Webber | 30 | Out of contract | Doncaster Rovers | Summer | n/a | 13 | 1 | Leeds United |
| 24 | GK | Maik Taylor | 40 | Out of contract | Millwall | Summer | n/a | 0 | 0 | Leeds United |
| 15 | MF | Adam Clayton | 23 | Transfer | Huddersfield Town | Summer | £500,000 | 49 | 6 | Leeds United |
| 1 | GK | Andy Lonergan | 28 | Transfer | Bolton Wanderers | Summer | £300,000 | 38 | 0 | Leeds United |
| 23 | MF | Robert Snodgrass | 24 | Transfer | Norwich City | Summer | £3,000,000 | 190 | 41 | Leeds United |
| 5 | DF | Andy O'Brien | 33 | Transfer | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | Summer | Free | 38 | 2 | Leeds United |
| 9 | FW | Billy Paynter | 28 | Transfer | Doncaster Rovers | Summer | Free | 28 | 3 | Leeds United |
| 24 | DF | Paul Connolly | 28 | One month Loan | Portsmouth | Summer | n/a | 63 | 0 | Leeds United |
| — | GK | Alex Cairns | 19 | Two month loan | Stalybridge Celtic | Summer | n/a | 1 | 0 | Football Conference |
| 22 | FW | Robbie Rogers | 25 | Loan till January | Stevenage | Summer | n/a | 4 | 0 | Leeds United |
| — | DF | Charlie Taylor | 18 | Two month loan | York City | Summer | n/a | 4 | 0 | Leeds United |
| — | DF | Ross Killock | 18 | One month loan | Alfreton Town | Summer | n/a | 0 | 0 | BBC Sport |
| 23 | MF | Zac Thompson | 19 | Loan till end of season | Bury | Summer | n/a | 11 | 0 | Leeds United |
| 26 | FW | Dominic Poleon | 19 | One month loan | Bury | Summer | n/a | 6 | 1 | Leeds United |
| 28 | MF | Nathan Turner | 20 | Loan till End of Season | Chester | Summer | n/a | 0 | 0 | Leeds United |
| 33 | DF | Lewis Turner | 20 | One month loan | Harrogate Town | Summer | n/a | 0 | 0 | Leeds United |
| 31 | GK | Paul Rachubka | 31 | Loan till end of the season | Accrington Stanley | Summer | n/a | 7 | 0 | Leeds United |
| 6 | DF | Patrick Kisnorbo | 31 | Loan till End of Season | Ipswich Town | Winter | n/a | 57 | 1 | Leeds United |
| 20 | FW | Andy Gray | 35 | Released | Bradford City | Winter | n/a | 38 | 1 | Leeds United |
| 22 | FW | Robbie Rogers | 25 | Released | LA Galaxy | Winter | n/a | 4 | 0 | Leeds United |
| 24 | DF | Paul Connolly | 29 | Loan till End of April | Preston North End | Winter | n/a | 63 | 0 | Leeds United |
| 33 | DF | Lewis Turner | 20 | Loan till End of Season | Chester | Summer | n/a | 0 | 0 | Cheshire-Today |
| — | DF | Charlie Taylor | 19 | Loan till End of Season | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | Winter | n/a | 4 | 0 | Leeds United |
| 16 | MF | Danny Pugh | 30 | Loan till End of Season | Sheffield Wednesday | Winter | n/a | 98 | 8 | Leeds United |
| — | MF | Ramón Núñez | 27 | Released | FC Dallas | Winter | n/a | 25 | 5 | Leeds United |
| 10 | FW | Luciano Becchio | 29 | Transfer | Norwich City | Winter | £200,000 + Player | 221 | 86 | Leeds United |
| 26 | FW | Dominic Poleon | 19 | Loan till End of Season | Sheffield United | Winter | n/a | 7 | 1 | Leeds United |

EU = if holds or not a European Union passport; Country: when 2 flags, 1st flag = country that plays for internationally, 2nd flag = country of birth; N = number on jersey; P = Position (for position name, pause mouse pointer on abbreviation); Name = Name on jersey (for more extensive name, pause mouse pointer on name); Age = age on the day of the signing; Moving from = only indicate the club the player was playing before start playing for this club in this season, for the type of the moving see Status column; Moving to = only indicates the club the player is going to play next, for the type of the moving see Status column; Ends = when the player's current contract ends; n/a = Not applicable.

### New contracts

| N | Pos. | Name | Age | Status | Contract length | Expiry date | Source |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| — | MF | Nathan Turner | 30 | Signed | 1 $year^1$ | June 2013 | Leeds United |
| — | DF | Lewis Turner | 30 | Signed | 1 $year^1$ | June 2013 | Leeds United |
| 25 | DF | Sam Byram | 29 | Signed | 3½ years | June 2016 | Leeds United |
| 55 | MF | Simon Lenighan | 18 | Signed | 1 $year^2$ | June 2014 | Yorkshire Evening Post |
| 34 | DF | Ross Killock | 29 | Signed | 1 $year^2$ | June 2014 | Leeds United |
| — | MF | Charlie Clamp | 29 | Signed | 1 $year^1$ | June 2013 | Leeds United |
| 26 | FW | Dominic Poleon | 29 | Signed | 2½ years | June 2015 | Leeds United |
| — | DF | Monty Gimpel | 29 | Signed | 1 $year^1$ | June 2013 | Leeds United |
| — | MF | Robert Snodgrass | 35 | Rejected | 1 year | June 2014 | Leeds United |
| 44 | FW | Ross McCormack | 36 | Signed | 3 years | June 2015 | Leeds United |
| 14 | MF | Aidan White | 31 | Signed | 3 years | June 2015 | Leeds United |
| 4 | DF | Tom Lees | 32 | Signed | 4 Years | June 2016 | Leeds United |
| 23 | MF | Zac Thompson | 30 | Signed | 3 years | June 2015 | Leeds United |
| 17 | MF | Michael Brown | 46 | Signed | 1 $year^3$ | June 2014 | Yorkshire Evening Post |
| 32 | MF | Chris Dawson | 28 | Signed | 3 years | June 2016 | Leeds United |
| 21 | FW | El-Hadji Diouf | 42 | Signed | 1½ years | June 2014 | Leeds United |
| 10 | FW | Luciano Becchio | 39 | Rejected | 3½ years | June 2016 | Leeds United |
| — | FW | Lewis Walters | 28 | Signed | 2 years | June 2015 | Leeds United |
| — | GK | Eric Grimes | 28 | Signed | 2 years | June 2015 | Leeds United |
| — | FW | Luke Parkin | 27 | Signed | 2 years | June 2015 | Leeds United |
| — | MF | Alex Mowatt | 28 | Signed | 2 years | June 2015 | Leeds United |

$^1The$ contract includes the option to extend the contract by a further year. $^2Option$ to extend by further year taken up later in season. $^3Contract$ extended by further year after making 30 appearances.

## Competitions

### Overall summary

| Competition | Started round | Final position / round | First match | Last match |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Football League Championship | — | 13th | 18 August 2012 | 4 May 2013 |
| League Cup | First round | Quarter-finals | 11 August 2012 | 19 December 2012 |
| FA Cup | Third round | Fifth round | 5 January 2013 | 17 February 2013 |

Updated to match played 4 May 2013 Source: Competitions

### Championship

**Table**

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 11 | Burnley | 46 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 62 | 60 | +2 | 61 |
| 12 | Birmingham City | 46 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 63 | 69 | −6 | 61 |
| 13 | Leeds United | 46 | 17 | 10 | 19 | 57 | 66 | −9 | 61 |
| 14 | Ipswich Town | 46 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 48 | 61 | −13 | 60 |
| 15 | Blackpool | 46 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 62 | 63 | −1 | 59 |

**Results summary**

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |

Last updated: 4 May 2013. Source: The Football League

**Results by round**

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Ground | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A |
| Result | W | L | W | D | L | L | W | W | D | W | D | D | L | D | L | L | L | W | W | W | L | W | W | L | L | W | L | W | L | D | L | W | D | W | D | D | D | L | L | L | L | W | W | L | L | W |
| Position | 5 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 10 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 10 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 16 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 16 | 13 |

Win  Draw  Loss  Void

## Awards

### Internal Awards

**Official Player of the Year Awards**

The results of the 2012–13 Leeds United A.F.C. Player of the Year Awards were announced at a dinner on 27 April 2013 at Elland Road.

* Player of the Year: Sam Byram
* Young Player of the Year: Sam Byram
* Players' Player of the Year: Sam Byram
* Goal of the Season: Ross McCormack (vs Tottenham, 27 January)
* Fastest Goal of the Season: Aidan White (vs Everton, 25 September)
* Best Contribution to Community: Leigh Bromby
* Chairman's Special Award: Tom Lees
