The 2013-14 season was another challenging chapter for Leeds United, culminating in a disappointing 15th position in the Championship. This season was marked by off-field turmoil and a struggle for consistency on the pitch.
Change at the Top
In a significant shift for the club, Ken Bates stepped down as chairman on July 1, with Salah Nooruddin taking over. This transition reflected the ongoing changes within the club’s management, as Leeds sought stability amid financial uncertainty.
Domestic Competitions
Leeds United faced challenges in both the FA Cup and the League Cup, exiting at the third round in both competitions. These early exits highlighted the difficulties the team faced as they tried to navigate a tumultuous season.
Key Player: Ross McCormack
One of the few bright spots for Leeds during the season was Ross McCormack, who emerged as the Championship’s top scorer with an impressive 28 goals. His contributions were vital in keeping the team afloat and avoiding a relegation battle.
Promising Start, Troubling Mid-Season
Leeds began the season strongly, building on the momentum that had helped them avoid relegation the previous year. By Christmas Day, the team found themselves in the play-off places, leading fans to believe that manager Brian McDermott could guide them back to the Premier League for the first time in a decade.
However, the optimism was short-lived. The club faced significant turmoil as GFH Capital, the ownership group that had purchased Leeds the previous year, announced they lacked the funds to sustain operations. This announcement led to the sale of the club to Massimo Cellino, an Italian businessman who soon found himself at odds with the Football Association due to past legal issues.
Disruption on the Field
The off-field turmoil had a clear impact on the players, causing their form to nosedive. Leeds won only three games between Christmas Day and April 8, a streak that put their season in jeopardy. In a bizarre turn of events, McDermott was sacked, only to be reinstated days later. This instability reflected the chaos surrounding the club at that time.
Despite a late-season rally that brought ten points from their final five matches, Leeds ended the season in a position that was far from satisfactory. The poor form of the teams at the bottom of the table meant they would have survived even without the late points.
End of the Season Turmoil
After the season concluded, McDermott parted ways with the club. Shortly after, club captain Ross McCormack submitted a transfer request, underscoring the discontent within the squad and the uncertain future of the club.
Conclusion
The 2013-14 season for Leeds United was characterized by inconsistency on the pitch, management upheaval, and a lack of clarity in ownership. As they finished in 15th place in the Championship, the club faced an uncertain future, one that would require significant changes to regain its status as a competitive force in English football.
With a top scorer like McCormack leading the charge, Leeds fans could only hope for brighter days ahead.
Championship 2013-14 Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leicester City (C, P) | 46 | 31 | 9 | 6 | 83 | 43 | +40 | 102 |
| 2 | Burnley (P) | 46 | 26 | 15 | 5 | 72 | 37 | +35 | 93 |
| 3 | Derby County | 46 | 25 | 10 | 11 | 84 | 52 | +32 | 85 |
| 4 | Queens Park Rangers (O, P) | 46 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 60 | 44 | +16 | 80 |
| 5 | Wigan Athletic | 46 | 21 | 10 | 15 | 61 | 48 | +13 | 73 |
| 6 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 46 | 19 | 15 | 12 | 55 | 40 | +15 | 72 |
| 7 | Reading | 46 | 19 | 14 | 13 | 70 | 56 | +14 | 71 |
| 8 | Blackburn Rovers | 46 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 70 | 62 | +8 | 70 |
| 9 | Ipswich Town | 46 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 60 | 54 | +6 | 68 |
| 10 | Bournemouth | 46 | 18 | 12 | 16 | 67 | 66 | +1 | 66 |
| 11 | Nottingham Forest | 46 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 67 | 64 | +3 | 65 |
| 12 | Middlesbrough | 46 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 62 | 50 | +12 | 64 |
| 13 | Watford | 46 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 74 | 64 | +10 | 60 |
| 14 | Bolton Wanderers | 46 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 59 | 60 | −1 | 59 |
| 15 | Leeds United | 46 | 16 | 9 | 21 | 59 | 67 | −8 | 57 |
| 16 | Sheffield Wednesday | 46 | 13 | 14 | 19 | 63 | 65 | −2 | 53 |
| 17 | Huddersfield Town | 46 | 14 | 11 | 21 | 58 | 65 | −7 | 53 |
| 18 | Charlton Athletic | 46 | 13 | 12 | 21 | 41 | 61 | −20 | 51 |
| 19 | Millwall | 46 | 11 | 15 | 20 | 46 | 74 | −28 | 48 |
| 20 | Blackpool | 46 | 11 | 13 | 22 | 38 | 66 | −28 | 46 |
| 21 | Birmingham City | 46 | 11 | 11 | 24 | 58 | 74 | −16 | 44 |
| 22 | Doncaster Rovers (R) | 46 | 11 | 11 | 24 | 39 | 70 | −31 | 44 |
| 23 | Barnsley (R) | 46 | 9 | 12 | 25 | 44 | 77 | −33 | 39 |
| 24 | Yeovil Town (R) | 46 | 8 | 13 | 25 | 44 | 75 | −31 | 37 |
Leeds United 2013-14 Fixtures and Results
| Competition | Date | Match | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| League Championship | 03 Aug 2013 | Leeds United v Brighton and Hove Albion | W | 2-1 |
| League Cup | 07 Aug 2013 | Leeds United v Chesterfield | W | 2-1 |
| League Championship | 11 Aug 2013 | Leicester City v Leeds United | D | 0-0 |
| League Championship | 17 Aug 2013 | Leeds United v Sheffield Wednesday | D | 1-1 |
| League Championship | 24 Aug 2013 | Ipswich Town v Leeds United | W | 1-2 |
| League Cup | 27 Aug 2013 | Doncaster Rovers v Leeds United | W | 1-3 |
| League Championship | 31 Aug 2013 | Leeds United v Queens Park Rangers | L | 0-1 |
| League Championship | 14 Sep 2013 | Bolton Wanderers v Leeds United | W | 0-1 |
| League Championship | 18 Sep 2013 | Reading v Leeds United | L | 1-0 |
| League Championship | 21 Sep 2013 | Leeds United v Burnley | L | 1-2 |
| League Cup | 25 Sep 2013 | Newcastle United v Leeds United | L | 2-0 |
| League Championship | 28 Sep 2013 | Millwall v Leeds United | L | 2-0 |
| League Championship | 01 Oct 2013 | Leeds United v AFC Bournemouth | W | 2-1 |
| League Championship | 05 Oct 2013 | Derby County v Leeds United | L | 3-1 |
| League Championship | 20 Oct 2013 | Leeds United v Birmingham City | W | 4-0 |
| League Championship | 26 Oct 2013 | Huddersfield Town v Leeds United | L | 3-2 |
| League Championship | 02 Nov 2013 | Leeds United v Yeovil Town | W | 2-0 |
| League Championship | 09 Nov 2013 | Charlton Athletic v Leeds United | W | 2-4 |
| League Championship | 23 Nov 2013 | Leeds United v Middlesbrough | W | 2-1 |
| League Championship | 30 Nov 2013 | Blackburn Rovers v Leeds United | L | 1-0 |
| League Championship | 04 Dec 2013 | Leeds United v Wigan Athletic | W | 2-0 |
| League Championship | 07 Dec 2013 | Leeds United v Watford | D | 3-3 |
| League Championship | 14 Dec 2013 | Doncaster Rovers v Leeds United | W | 0-3 |
| League Championship | 21 Dec 2013 | Leeds United v Barnsley | D | 0-0 |
| League Championship | 26 Dec 2013 | Blackpool v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| League Championship | 29 Dec 2013 | Nottingham Forest v Leeds United | L | 2-1 |
| League Championship | 01 Jan 2014 | Leeds United v Blackburn Rovers | L | 1-2 |
| FA Cup | 04 Jan 2014 | Rochdale v Leeds United | L | 2-0 |
| League Championship | 11 Jan 2014 | Sheffield Wednesday v Leeds United | L | 6-0 |
| League Championship | 18 Jan 2014 | Leeds United v Leicester City | L | 0-1 |
| League Championship | 28 Jan 2014 | Leeds United v Ipswich Town | D | 1-1 |
| League Championship | 01 Feb 2014 | Leeds United v Huddersfield Town | W | 5-1 |
| League Championship | 08 Feb 2014 | Yeovil Town v Leeds United | W | 1-2 |
| League Championship | 11 Feb 2014 | Brighton and Hove Albion v Leeds United | L | 1-0 |
| League Championship | 22 Feb 2014 | Middlesbrough v Leeds United | D | 0-0 |
| League Championship | 01 Mar 2014 | Queens Park Rangers v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| League Championship | 08 Mar 2014 | Leeds United v Bolton Wanderers | L | 1-5 |
| League Championship | 11 Mar 2014 | Leeds United v Reading | L | 2-4 |
| League Championship | 15 Mar 2014 | Burnley v Leeds United | L | 2-1 |
| League Championship | 22 Mar 2014 | Leeds United v Millwall | W | 2-1 |
| League Championship | 25 Mar 2014 | AFC Bournemouth v Leeds United | L | 4-1 |
| League Championship | 29 Mar 2014 | Leeds United v Doncaster Rovers | L | 1-2 |
| League Championship | 01 Apr 2014 | Leeds United v Charlton Athletic | L | 0-1 |
| League Championship | 05 Apr 2014 | Wigan Athletic v Leeds United | L | 1-0 |
| League Championship | 08 Apr 2014 | Watford v Leeds United | L | 3-0 |
| League Championship | 12 Apr 2014 | Leeds United v Blackpool | W | 2-0 |
| League Championship | 19 Apr 2014 | Barnsley v Leeds United | W | 0-1 |
| League Championship | 21 Apr 2014 | Leeds United v Nottingham Forest | L | 0-2 |
| League Championship | 26 Apr 2014 | Birmingham City v Leeds United | W | 1-3 |
| League Championship | 03 May 2014 | Leeds United v Derby County | D | 1-1 |
