Peter Reid: Leeds United’s Last-Gasp Life Raft

Appointed as interim manager on March 21, 2003, Peter Reid was essentially tasked with a rescue mission at Leeds United with just eight games remaining following the sacking of Terry Venables.

Anchored perilously in 15th, his job was to keep a debt-ridden club with a demoralised squad in the Premier League to avoid a possible financial collapse.

The fans were ultimately intrigued to see what he could do and after a dismal season what effect his arrival would have on the squad.

Surprising Start To Life At Elland Road

Despite an away defeat to Liverpool, Reid oversaw a stunning 6-1 away win at Charlton Athletic in which Mark Viduka scored a hattrick, galvanising the dressing room and the fans to boot.

This was then followed up by arguably one of the best results (and performances) of this particular era; a terrific 3-2 victory over Arsenal at Highbury, courtesy of an 88th minute stunning winner from Viduka.

It was a result that made the club mathematically safe, though which, in an ironic twist of fate, handed the Premier League title to bitter rivals, Manchester United. Following the end of the season, Reid was handed the job on a permanent basis, despite concerning instability at the club.

What followed for Reid was a summer of upheaval, with Leeds almost £80 million in debt and needing to sell players, including Harry Kewell while the club was also restricted to loan deals and European bargains in the transfer window.

World Cup winner with Brazil, centre-back, Roque Junior arrived as a star veteran, while Jermaine Pennant was secured on loan from Arsenal, with the youngster proving to be a bright spark though struggling to have a major impact.

Downward Spiral Signalled Inevitable Result

Under Reid, Leeds struggled the following season with new signings that included Zoumana Camara, Lamine Sakho, Salomon Olembe, Didier Domi, and Cyril Chapuis all struggling to gel in a squad that was a shadow of three seasons prior.

Viduka, having been persuaded to stay and help the club fight cut an increasingly frustrated figure in a team that was being beaten most weeks and the Australian striker was famously dropped for the club’s fixture against Portsmouth at Fratton Park following a training ground bust up with Reid.

It proved costly with the club losing 6-1 with Reid later branding the performance a “shambles”. Merely two days later on November 10, 2003, Reid was dismissed from his post after just 12 games, leaving the club at the bottom of the Premier League.

An Uneasy Leeds Spell

Having masterminded what was considered by many to be the “impossible” following his arrival, it was unrealistic to expect Reid to continue to work wonders with the club after the summer that followed.

There is no doubt that he made a positive impression on fans, though to pile all the blame on Reid the following season would be harsh, when understanding that he barely had anything to work with.

His departure would mark a period of misery for the club that was just the beginning in terms of what was to come.