Leeds make Wise choice United negotiate to meet Swindon's compensation demands for former England midfielder
http://www.yorkshiretoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=89&ArticleID=1838048 Richard Sutcliffe THE MAN who has acted as a mentor to Dennis Wise during his career believes Leeds United have made the right choice in targeting the Swindon Town manager. The Elland Road club approached the League Two over the weekend to seek permission to talk to the 39-year-old about becoming Kevin Blackwell's successor. Swindon gave the go-ahead yesterday morning only to then back-track because their compensation terms were not met. However, talks last night enabled the clubs to reach agreement and United will talk terms today with Wise, who is expected to be in the crowd for tonight's Carling Cup tie with Southend. Wise, who will be joined at Leeds by his current assistant Gus Poyet, has to halt a sharp decline that has seen United lose seven of their last eight games and slip to second-bottom in the Championship. However, Dave Bassett, who first signed Wise as an 18-year-old for Wimbledon and then became part of his coaching staff at Millwall, believes Leeds are closing in on the right man in his former protege. The former Sheffield United chief told the Yorkshire Post: "Dennis is a winner and a leader, and exactly what Leeds United need. They need a complete overhaul and Dennis will have his hands full because that team is not good enough to get in the play-offs. "But I am sure Dennis will go in there and do what he does at every club he joins – stamp his authority on it and be totally honest with the players. "They will know who the boss is and what I will say is anyone who crosses Dennis makes an enemy. So, if the Leeds players think they can take him on then they will do so at their peril." Wise and Poyet signed three-year deals at the County Ground last May with a clause inserted which allowed the pair to speak to a Championship or Premiership club providing Swindon were compensated with the equivalent of one year's salary for each man. It is understood yesterday's initial delay was caused by United and the Robins haggling over the level of compensation but Bassett insists it will be money well spent. He said: "Dennis is a very determined lad and knows exactly what he wants. He understands the essence of team spirit because he was a captain. The players will appreciate his honesty. If he doesn't think a player is doing it, he will tell them – it is something he appreciated as a player and he has not forgotten that. It became a standing joke between us at Wimbledon that if I handed Dennis a mint during training on a Thursday, I was about to say 'you were rubbish last week' and drop him. "He wanted to play, of course he did. But he appreciated me being honest. I don't think he gives anyone a mint before dropping them, but every one of his players knows exactly where they stand. "It is why Dennis is not someone who picks the team at 1.45pm on a Saturday in order to avoid confrontation. The players will know on the Thursday what the team is, barring injuries. It is important things are done like that because that way everyone is clear about their job." Wise's managerial career began at Millwall in November, 2003, and within six months he had led the then Championship club to their first FA Cup final and a place in the UEFA Cup. The following season the Lions seemed on course for a play-off berth only for a boardroom shake-up to lead to Wise resigning in May, 2005. Twelve months later, he took charge of newly-relegated Swindon and along with Poyet has led the club to third place in League Two with just two defeats in the opening 15 games. Bassett said: "There are no airs or graces about Dennis. What you get is what you see because Dennis wears his heart on his sleeve. "I am certain that if he had been given the support he deserved by the board at Millwall, they would have got in the play-offs. It was the year West Ham went on to win the play-offs (2004-05) and Dennis wanted to bring three lads in on loan but the chairman would not sanction it." [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________ the Leeds List is an unmoderated mailing list and the list administrators accept no liability for the personal views and opinions of contributors. Leedslist mailing list [email protected] http://list.zetnet.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist oh alright then :-)
