Premiership: Leeds set to announce move away from Elland Road
Leeds are expected to confirm on Friday that they will be leaving Elland Road, and move to a new multi-million pound stadium.
Leeds shareholders and season-ticket holders have been voting on whether the club should remain at their present ground or move to the 50,000-plus capacity complex.
The stadium would be built on a 50-acre site close to the A1(M) at Skelton, on the outskirts of the city. It would be ready in time for the start of the 2004-05 season.
Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale is convinced leaving Elland Road represents the logical step forward for Leeds, particularly if they are to compete on an equal financial footing with Europe's top clubs. He is supported by manager David O'Leary.
Supporters' Club chairman Ray Fell has also given his endorsement to the proposed move, while 87% of Leeds fans in general - of more than 1,000 who voted on the club's website - are behind the plan.
The only disappointing aspect for Ridsdale is that at the start of the week, only just over 50% of the ballot papers had been returned, with the official voting due to close this evening.
"We've consulted with the supporters all the way on this one and it is still their choice. As soon as we've counted the votes we will waste no time in revealing the decision."
Ridsdale was the subject of a vicious hate-mail campaign after announcing proposals for the ground earlier this year.
The plans for the new ground include a memorial garden with turf from Elland Road and a statue of Billy Bremner.
Two of the access roads to the new stadium would be named after Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight. The two men were stabbed to death in Istanbul on the eve of the first leg of Leeds' Uefa Cup semi-final against Galatasaray last April.
