By ALASTAIR TAYLOR
FOOTBALL fans have put the boot in to Leeds United — making them top of the league of the most HATED clubs in soccer.
Amazingly, a survey reveals the Yorkshire side, who went from the Premier League to League One in three years, are loathed even more than Manchester United and Chelsea.
The results were published yesterday after every English league club was asked which rival team their fans hated the most — and which team they liked best after their own.
With the new season kicking off today, Leeds chairman Ken Bates is smarting after his side became runaway “chumpions” of the most hated title. Minnows Morecambe in League Two were voted the best-liked club.
The survey had been expected to throw up Manchester United as the most disliked club because of jealousy over their worldwide fanbase, massive resources, bulging trophy cabinet and “Winker” Cristiano Ronaldo.
But when the results came in, Leeds beat Alex Ferguson’s Red Devils into second, with Roman Abramovich’s moneybags Chelsea third.
The rest of the top 10 is made up of Wolves, Millwall, Burnley, Bolton, West Ham, Stoke and Scunthorpe.
Among the best-liked clubs Arsenal came second and Liverpool third.
The survey, commissioned by sales training company Sandler Training, left Leeds officials and fans — who believed they might have had some sympathy — in shock.
A spokesman for the club said: “Everywhere we go everyone sings ‘You’re not famous any more’.
“I suppose this just shows that other teams haven’t forgotten about us. But we are surprised that the survey says we are the most hated.”
Football experts believe the club has been unable to get rid of the ‘Dirty Leeds’ tag that the team acquired in the Don Revie era of the 1970s because of their tough tackling and “win nasty” style.
Shaun Thomson, of Sandler Training, said fans look at Leeds and immediately think “they are arrogant and big-headed”.
He added: “To change the perception of other fans, Leeds must stop living up to the negative image that’s been created around the club and start doing things differently.
“Maybe that’s what Morecambe have achieved — they are new to the league, have new ideas and positive appeal.”
Leeds fan Ralph Ineson, who played Finchy in BBC hit The Office, said: “I think the whole anti-Leeds thing stems originally from jealousy of the great 70s side of Don Revie.
“But more recently — when we haven’t been quite as dominant on the pitch — the jealousy stems from how devilishly attractive Leeds fans are.”
Didier Drogba
