Leeds spring forward

By Paul Fletcher

Blackburn 1-2 Leeds

The driving Yorkshire rain soaking Leeds supporters on the way to the game against Middlesbrough in January seemed a perfect metaphor.

It seemed to illustrate the events at the club around that time: lodged at the bottom of the Premiership, more than £100m in debt and with the very real prospect of going bust.

Gallows humour meant discussion was limited to what the club would be called after reforming, rather than whether relegation could be avoided.

Yet four months later, and having won two games in succession for the first time this season, salvation is in sight for the beleaguered Yorkshire club.

A takeover at the club has wiped out a substantial portion of the club's gargantuan debts.

New chairman Gerald Krasner is talking long-term, arguing that the club is off life support and in recuperation.

Although early days, Krasner insists he has a plan to revive the club who just three years ago were Champions League semi-finalists.

And he maintains that he is open to any further offers that may help the club's cause.

"I will talk to anybody who wants to put money into this club," said Krasner at a recent fans' forum.

"Nobody will be turned away."

The players are to receive full payment of the wages they are owed following their deferral earlier in the season and with Peter Lorimer on the new board, supporters have someone they feel they can trust at the heart of the club.

But most crucially of all, the good news behind the scenes coincides with a real up-turn of form on the pitch.

Krasner is hoping to bring stability to Leeds

After defeating Blackburn on Saturday - which followed last Monday's win over Leicester - Leeds have won four and drawn two of their last eight Premiership games.

The Yorkshire club may still be in the bottom three but they are now level on points with the two teams above them - Blackburn and Portsmouth - and in with a real chance of avoiding the drop.

After Leeds conceded their third goal against Middlesbrough on that January day, the home supporters started streaming out of Elland Road.

The rain continued to fall and it seemed a situation totally beyond hope.

But as spring approaches and the season moves into its final furlong, a glimmer of light has finally appeared through the black clouds hanging over Elland Road.