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Leeds United fails in training ground bid
Leeds United Football Club (LUFC) has failed to re-acquire the Thorp Arch training facility after it was unable to secure the full support of the local authority ahead of a 15 October deadline.
Leeds City Council (LCC) was poised to purchase the site for £6m and lease it back to the League One club, but the deal fell through due to "uncertainties surrounding the deal" that couldn't be resolved by the deadline. However, LUFC has now confirmed that it will remain a tenant at Thorp Arch for a further 20-year period under the terms of its agreement with the site's current owner, Barraway Limited.
LCC leader Andrew Carter said: "Both parties worked hard to remove the uncertainties surrounding the deal and only a small number remained outstanding yesterday. "We concur with the club that, given more time, these uncertainties could have been removed. Unfortunately, the two parties didn't have that time."
LUFC chair Ken Bates added: "It wasn't worth periling the club after all the hard work we have put in over the last five years and we decided to not to proceed. "A lot of people in the council worked very hard, but in the end it came down to red tape that no one could resolve, but that's beside us. We have the 2018 World Cup bid which we are working on."
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