NEW manager Neil Warnock has already seen plenty to get stuck into as he aims to revive Leeds United’s fortunes following his appointment last weekend.

The Warnock era officially starts at Portsmouth on Saturday, although he could not resist the temptation to get his feelings across to the new players under his command at last Saturday’s Npower Championship game against Doncaster rovers.

The new manager’s half-time pep talk certainly had the desired effect as a fired up United hit back from two down to win 3-2 with goals from Andros Townsend, Adam Clayton and Luciano Becchio.

Warnock’s suggested tactical changes to give Robert Snodgrass a new role just behind front man Luciano Becchio also played a part while he has already said that he wants the Whites to play the ball up front earlier than they have been of late to suit Becchio’s style.

It was almost the perfect start for the man who took Sheffield United and QPR up from this division as his new team won to keep their play-off hopes alive yet were so poor in the first half that he saw for himself the problems he has inherited.

Defensive frailties, weak midfield play and a front line that lacked pace gave cause for concern in all the areas of the side and a lack of leadership was clear. But a much improved second half display, not for the first time this season, saw them through in the end and gave Warnock cause for optimism as well.

He knows he has plenty of work to do, but believes the Whites can still achieve their promotion aim this season if everyone pulls together.

He said: “There are areas we have to improve if we’re not to write this season off. I don’t want to write this season off, not just yet – even though the bookies aren’t giving us much opportunity.”

“It’s an opportunity now to put to bed these differences and the problems they’ve had over the past few months. Everyone get behind the team.

“We’ve only got 14 games left for heaven’s sake. Let’s put that all to bed and everyone be like they were on Saturday. It’s a great club when it’s like that.”

Warnock has made his first appointment with Mick Jones being named as his assistant. He is also looking to the loan market to bolster the playing squad at his disposal with former Whites midfielder Shaun Derry one of the potential targets.

But Fabian Delph will not be rejoining on loan after it was revealed today that his ankle injury is likely to keep him out of action for the rest of the season.

Victory over Doncaster left Leeds in tenth place in the table, but they have closed the gap a little on the teams in the play-off places and will see their next game as a winnable one as they travel to play a Portsmouth team with huge financial worries again, having gone into administration.

Pompey’s 10-point penalty has seen them drop into the bottom three, but they still have a strong first team with several players with Premiership experience even if their squad is a little thin.

Leeds will be looking to do the double over Portsmouth, having beaten them 1-0 in October and after their first week in training with their new manager the players will be keen to impress with all the shirts up for grabs.

Warnock will obviously have his own ideas on team selection with experienced midfielder Michael Brown expected to be recalled to the starting line-up for starters. Other changes will be harder for him to make so soon, although the likes of Andy O’Brien, Leigh Bromby and Lloyd Sam, who for one reason or another have not featured in recent weeks, could come into contention.

LIVERSEDGE FC have a hastily re-arranged Northern Counties East League Premier Division game against title chasing Staveley MW this Thursday (February 23), kick off 7.45pm.

The match was due to be played on Saturday March 3 but Staveley will meet St Ives in the FA Vase quarter-final on that day, so the league game against Liversedge has been brought forward to Thursday.

Liversedge played well last Saturday but conceded a late goal as they went down 1-0 at Bridlington Town.

Match report and pictures from the Bridlington game, plus latest news from Clayborn in Friday’s Guardian.

]]> 1.4269630 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:56:02 +0000 http://www.spenboroughguardian.co.uk/cleckheaton_ru_tackle_morpeth_this_saturday_1_4269477

CLECKHEATON RU Club have a re-arranged North One East game away to Morpeth this Saturday.

The match was originally postponed on February 4.

The Moorenders’ trip to Durham City, postponed twice on January 14 and February 11, will now take place on March 17.

Preview to Saturday’s game and latest from the club see this week’s Spenborough Guardian - out Friday.

The Rugby Football League has today confirmed that Hemel Stags will join the Co-operative Championship One competition in 2013.

The Stags will line up with Northampton and two other clubs who have yet to be announced in making the step up to semi-professional level in a re-vamped Championship One from next season.

The Hertfordshire club’s elevation is part of the RFL’s strategic objective to develop the sport’s geographical footprint by giving more players the opportunity to play in the Championships.

]]> 1.4269467 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:52:11 +0000 http://www.spenboroughguardian.co.uk/update_tuesday_am_former_leeds_united_boss_simon_grayson_takes_over_as_manager_of_huddersfield_town_1_4266754

The Terriers sacked Lee Clark last week and on Monday evening Grayson was confirmed as the new manager at Huddersfield.

Grayson won promotion from League One during his time at Elland Road and also guided Blackpool out of the same division.

However, Grayson’s apopointment as the new Huddersfield boss has brought a mixed reaction from Town fans.

Tell us what you think below.

LAST Sunday’s Liversedge Half Marathon was hailed a huge success after record numbers took to the streets around Roberttown.

The race saw its biggest field with 470 runners and, despite early concerns regarding the weather, it took place in near perfect conditions.

Andrew Whittingham, of Altrincham and District AC won in 75 minutes 23 seconds, ahead of Carl Egdell (Hallamshire AC) in 76.15.

Spen AC’s Kevin Ogden, a regular top-10 finisher over the course, was third in 76.29.

Kim Threadgall (Edinburgh) won the women’s race in 86.12 with Idle’s Donna Edmondson Booker (87.36) second and Wakefield Harriers’ Jenny Latham third in 89.17.

Whittingham’s success helped Altrincham and District win the men’s team prize, while Holmfirth Harriers won the ladies’ team prize.

James Morris led the Dewsbury Road Runners’ contingent home, finishing in 15th place in 1hr 83.28 with Andrew Cottier (84.41) in 19th place and Andrew Meskimmon (85.06) in 21st place.

There was a host of veterans prizes handed out as 467 runners completed the course.

M40: Colin Hill (Leeds and Bradford Triathlon Club), M45: David Allinson (unattached), M50: Martin Firth (Queensbury Running Club), M55 Steve Shaughnessy (Stockport Harriers), M60 Roger Tolson (Spen AC).

F35: Melanie Koth (Lytham St Annes RRC), F40: Linda Haley (Steel City Striders), F45 Alison Thornbury (Pocklington Runners), F50 Sue Sunderland (Valley Striders), F55: Cathy Gurne (unattached), F60: Dot Carr (unattached).

Peter Knott, secretary of race organisers Roberttown Road Runners, said: “We couldn’t have asked for better weather for running, especially after the Dewsbury race was cancelled the week before.

“It was a little cold for the marshals standing around but it was perfect for running and the response we have had from e-mails is that everybody who took part thoroughly enjoyed it.”

There were some reports from residents in Clifton regarding mess caused by some runners disposing of their water bottles but Roberttown Road Runners acted swiftly to clean it up and have issued an apology to those who were affected.

Selected local results: 3rd Kevin Ogden (Spen AC) 76.29, 15th James Morris (Dewsbury Road Runners) 83.28, 19th Andrew Cottier (Dewsbury RR) 84.41, 21st Andrew Meskimmon (Dewsbury RR) 85.06, 30th Gerard Skippins (Spen AC) 87.17, 36th Alexis Bradbury (Dewsbury RR) 1.28.19, 51st John Calvert (Dewsbury RR) 90.07, 80th Roger Tolson (Spen AC) 93.49, 92nd Graham Walsh (Spen AC) 94.53, 129th Wayne Speight (Dewsbury RR) 99.32, 136th Samantha Boryslawsky (Spen AC) 100.23, 137th Alex Boryslawsky (Spen AC) 100.25, 169th Flora Skidmore (Dewsbury RR) 103.02, 230th Danny Mortimer (Roberttown Road Runners) 108.17, 249th Edward Wilkinson (Dewsbury RR) 109.52, 250th Gary Rhodes (Dewsbury RR) 109.52, 257th Jacqueline Carter (Spen AC) 111.55, 310th Elizabeth Smith-Calvert (Dewsbury RR) 116.09, 363rd Elizabeth Bottomley (Spen AC) 121.52, 411th Brendan Jones (Dewsbury RR) 131.40.

Dewsbury Road Runners

At the Hebden Short course (16.3 miles), Dewsbury Road Runners’ Glenn Sykes and Martin Kaye finished in 3hrs 52mins while Ian Sutcliffe and Fiona Sutcliffe clocked 4hrs 3 mins.

Sykes and Kaye then completed the Rombalds Stride (23 miles) in 4hrs 49mins 57secs while Ian Sutcliffe and Fiona Sutcliffe took 5hrs 6mins 35secs.

In the Norland Moor Orienteering Event near Halifax, Michael Wood was 24th of 43 on the green course in 58mins 59secs.

Dewsbury Road Runners meet each Tuesdays and Thursdays at Dewsbury Sports Centre at 6.40pm.