Take Us Home: Leeds United (2019–…): Season 1, Episode 3 - Spygate - full transcript

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Former Derby manager Brian Clough,

during his very brief tenure
as Leeds United manager,

once famously told the players

they could put
their medals and trophies in the bin

because, as far as he was concerned,
they'd won them by cheating.

One could only imagine what Cloughie
would have made of Spygate.

It's January and Leeds United

have completed 26
of a 46-game-long season.

They're two points clear
at the top of the league,

despite two recent defeats.

Leeds, Leeds, Leeds!



Head coach Marcelo Bielsa's
attacking style continues to entertain

and energise their passionate supporters.

But they have started to concede goals,

with young keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell
coming in for criticism.

The final transfer window
of the season is open

and Leeds have just two weeks left
to buy and sell players

before their squad is locked
for the remainder of the campaign.

Owner Andrea Radrizzani and his board

need to decide
if they are to strengthen their squad.

- Hi. How are you?
- How are you?

In English football, recruitment was once

the sole responsibility
of the head coach,

but now the director of football
makes many of the key decisions.

Today, Leeds director
of football Victor Orta



is reporting back to the board,

which now includes investors
from the San Francisco 49ers.

Good to see you.

How are we doing? Everything good?

I didn't get the memo on the uniform.

For me, the most important person
in a club is the head coach.

And my only goal
is to try and enrich his work,

with a lot of work
around him in terms of players.

But not only this, organisation,
a lot of things that require a lot of time

and obviously there needs
to be a club vision about this,

and this is, for me,
the job of the director of football.

But it's true that, in England,

my position is not really known

but there are still a lot of people
doing it and doing it very well.

Victor is like my brother.
I mean, he is...

and whatever we achieve,
we are going to achieve together.

The guy, his commitment, his passion
and how personally he takes the results,

there is nobody more vested
in the club's success than Victor.

He's the heartbeat of the club.

...things we need to do in January.

Now, the goalkeeper
is obviously the priority.

I have a team working behind me
that is really important.

It's more important than me.

Because they have the real knowledge,
they have the real analysis.

Four eyes is better than two,
eight eyes is better than four

and sixteen eyes is better than eight.

Victor, Marcelo Bielsa
and the Leeds board

have decided they need to try and recruit
a left-sided winger

and an experienced, top-class goalkeeper.

I have a very good board behind me
and we are really quick with decisions.

This is good because you can anticipate.

If you take your time,
you lose your player.

Victor has quickly identified
his number-one target

for the goalkeeping position.

And it's an ambitious one.

Triple Champions League-winning
Spanish international Kiko Casilla

has arrived in Leeds from Real Madrid.

Leeds have negotiated a no-fee deal
with the Spanish club

but must take on
Casilla's substantial wages,

which will make him
the highest-paid player at the club.

If anybody had told me that in December

Kiko Casilla would be available
and would be part of our squad,

I'd have called him crazy.
Because it's impossible, but it's true.

At this moment in his career,
I feel that he wants a new challenge.

And he feels like Leeds United
can be a really good new challenge for him

and it's bringing a world-class keeper
to Leeds United.

First, Casilla must pass a medical.

So, the doctor's gonna have
a look at him now.

From what we've looked at before,
and from the reports from Real Madrid,

there doesn't seem to be
any great major previous history,

but we'll check that through
and get Rubén to translate.

Yep, that's fine.

I've been involved in a couple of medicals
where the club have not signed the player

as a result of something
that's been found,

but it's not me saying, "Don't sign them."

We just present to the board and say,
"Look - he's got these problems,

this is the chance that this
gets worse in this period of time."

But, you'll find something
on every player.

In this case, he's had different surgeries
to his knees previously,

so they're not going to look normal.

It's risk assessment
of the chances of that breaking down

over the next one year, three years,
five years, ten years,

so that the club
can make an informed decision.

Well, I'm happy, above all,
to come to a club

that gives me the opportunity
to come here to England,

to an historic club in England,

where they do things well,
and want to continue to do things well,

and I think that is key
to me signing here,

and, well, I'm certain we will do
great things together.

Marcelo, well, I played against him

in the Spanish League
when he was with Athletic Bilbao.

So I already know him a little and also,

I have had managers
such as Pochettino and Solari

that have also been trained by him
and have spoken a bit about him as well.

He's not a manager
that takes me by surprise.

I know how he works.

I know how everything operates,
so no problem.

Marcelo's been clear
with the players he wants.

He's not going to take anyone
who's not better than what we've got,

and what a great player
to be learning off.

He has two or three Champions League
winners medals and that speaks for itself.

He just seems like a dead normal guy,
no ego or anything like that.

Welcome to Leeds.

How he'll cope with the cold weather,
we'll see in a few more months.

He's going to be
a great credit to the club

and a great coup for us as well
and hopefully he can push us on

LIAM COOPER
CAPTAIN, LEEDS UNITED

and get us to where we want to be.

The aim is to be promoted
at the end of the season

and that's what
we're all fighting for every day.

He's coming from one of the biggest
and best clubs in the world

to the next biggest and best really,

so, nah, it'll be good, you know,
to have his experience.

It's a good group here.
He'll get on really well.

It's probably not easy
going to a new team,

it never is really for any player

but we've got a good squad here
and he'll be made to feel very welcome.

For sure we needed an alternative
for the goalkeeper position.

For a goalkeeper to come from Real Madrid
and choose Leeds,

my conclusion
is that the owner of the club

should feel proud to own an institution
that is worthy of such a decision.

When you bring a player from Real Madrid

that won the last three
European Champions Leagues

and he accepts this project,
it's a message for everyone in this club

and now we need to build again
this Leeds winner

and this is the reason that players
like Kiko can accept our challenge.

Casilla has signed
a four-and-a-half-year contract.

The message of intent is clear.

Leeds are going all out
for a return to the top flight.

But controversy
is never too far away at Elland Road.

So, today the EFL announced
they were going to launch an investigation

into the spying row which saw
Bielsa send a spy to look at Derby.

Marcelo Bielsa can count Pep Guardiola,
Mauricio Pochettino and, until yesterday,

Frank Lampard amongst his many admirers,

but his reputation
faces being tarnished by Spygate.

A concerned member of the public
called police to Derby County's academy

when they spotted someone
acting suspiciously near one of its fences

during a training session.

The Leeds manager
has since admitted he sent the spy.

I think I read it first on Facebook,

and I just remember thinking,
"Ah, here we go."

You know, they love
to conjure something up against Leeds,

don't they, the papers and the news,

and then obviously Bielsa had admitted it

and I thought, "They'll throw
everything at Leeds now."

'Cos it's Leeds, isn't it, they do.

"Spygate", Sky Sports News reported it,

and then random things come in
about like someone had been caught

with some secateurs
cutting the fence, etcetera.

On his hands and knees with pliers.

It surely happens with other clubs,
and nobody says owt about it.

The Argentinian, once called
the "World's Greatest Coach" by Guardiola,

says he's done this for years.

And that in South America,
it's no big deal.

I think the fact that it was us, Leeds,
that were doing it,

and that it was "Frank Lampard's Derby".

Yeah, the golden boy.

The golden boy of Sky,
that had the biggest impact on it.

If it had been another,
any other two clubs in the Championship,

then it probably wouldn't have been
brought to so much attention.

Them bagpipes are going off.

When I started watching Leeds
they were in League One.

I never saw the glory days.

There is still that energy
and atmosphere around

of incoming promotion.

It feels different.

We've got one of the best managers
in this division. By a mile.

And one of the best squads in general.

It's going to be fiery. The whole,
"Leeds member of staff spying on us,"

it's the most overblown thing ever.

It's the half-way point in the season.

If Leeds can beat Derby County

they'll go five points clear
of second-placed Norwich City.

- Can she have a high five?
- Of course you can.

Sorry, didn't mean to miss you.

While the Leeds players seem relaxed

and focused only
on performing on the pitch,

the spying story bubbles to the surface
and becomes a focal point for discussion.

It's Leeds United versus Derby County,

another crucial fixture
in the Championship's race for promotion,

but there's only one story
people are talking about.

And that's Spygate.

There are certain rules and etiquettes
and laws that we abide by.

It's just human nature, you know.
You play sport and you want to win,

but there are lines that you cross
and I think a line's been crossed.

As a coach, there's a level of respect
you have for your opposition,

and also it does have
a bearing on the game.

If you know the exact team that are gonna
play against you a day before,

the set-piece routines
and the system they're going to play,

you have an unfair advantage
if you've initiated that.

Douglas with the throw. Cooper, oh!

How has he missed that
from just inches out?

He's put it over the bar.

Clarke again, looking to cross deep...
it's Roofe!

Oh, they've scored and are ahead.

Spygate may be the story

but it's the man with 007 on his back
who's creating the headlines.

Kemar Roofe has Leeds in front. One-nil.

That was the best
I think I've seen us play.

That's the closest to Man City I've seen.

Every player ran their socks off,
you could see at the end

how much it meant to everyone
because they put everything in.

That's the good thing about this team.

Now we've got the belief, every player
would die for each other out there.

Leeds have produced one
of their most commanding performances

in well over a decade
and remain top of the league.

But the headlines that follow

are not about their dazzling performance
against a promotion rival.

The term "Spygate"
dominates the sports pages

and trends around the world
on social media.

Yet again, Leeds are in the news
for all the wrong reasons.

At a sportsman's level, it's bad.
I don't care if it's cultural.

It's a disrespect in our country.

He says they do it in his country.
I'm glad I don't live there.

It's damaged his reputation.

The reputation of him and his club
has severely been tarnished.

...it's not illegal, the fact is
it wasn't peeking over a fence.

It was on hands and knees with pliers.

I think Leeds have overstepped the mark.

Five days after the Derby game,

Marcelo Bielsa calls an emergency
press conference at Thorp Arch.

And Leeds fans
brace themselves for the worst.

The last time he called
a press conference like this,

Marcelo Bielsa resigned
from a previous club.

I thought, right, he's gonna quit,
he's gonna go. He's gonna walk.

They started talking about it
on the radio and the telly

and you're getting updates on your phone.

You think,
"Christ, something's gonna happen here."

There were people... Jermaine Jenas
was talking about a points deduction.

Do you know what I mean? And you think,
stranger things have happened.

I have called this conference

because tomorrow
is the usual press conference

relating to the Stoke game

and it seemed to me that the spying matter

was going to take up time that I think

I want to dedicate to the game.

Well, there was no indication beforehand
that he was resigning

but a lot of people thought that,
didn't they?

Oh, there was a total storm, wasn't there.

A lot of people wondered if he'd do
what he'd done at Marseille, at Bilbao

and also at Lazio.
Nothing coming from the club saying that,

but I think we all had it in our heads
that something of that scale could go on.

I don't think
he could have handled it any better.

In his own way, he sort of made a mockery
of other clubs about it, didn't he?

It's like, "Yeah, I have done it,
and I'll tell you what, it's irrelevant,

this is my presentation to show you
exactly what I do with every team,"

basically told every other team
how to beat Derby.

Instead of resigning, Marcelo Bielsa

gives one of the most extraordinary press
conferences in football history.

He spends 70 minutes
explaining the forensic details

he goes into
when researching an opponent,

and admits to spying on every other team
Leeds have faced this season.

Bielsa takes full and total
responsibility for the spying incident.

Pretty much the most...
I'd say one of the most bizarre

but maybe genius moments
of my career in football media so far.

I think the point Marcelo was trying
to get over was that, you know,

a young intern,
stood on a public footpath,

peering through a fence at training
is not why we are where we are.

In fact, it's a bit offensive
to even think that.

We are where we are because of
the huge level of intense analysis

that goes into every single game.

Watching a training session
doesn't win a game.

It's totally different
on the pitch, you know.

The Leeds players
would have gone into that game,

off the back of Spygate,
and been up for it.

So, in a way, it sort of made us,
you know, more ready for this -

we need to win this now
or we're gonna be made a laughing stock.

Because I know
that I am not trying to gain an advantage,

because the information I need,
I already have the information.

And I repeat, why do I do that?
I think because I am stupid.

This is all.
I thank you for your presence.

Okay, I think we're done!

- Thank you.
- Thank you!

It's genius, it's...

you saw the level of analysis
that goes into what he's just delivered.

We've just sat there for over an hour,

he's just absolutely showcased
what Derby County are all about

to a room full of journalists
just to prove a point.

I don't think it's...
I don't think it's crazy.

I think he's a genius.

I think the kids call it a mic drop,
don't they?

Unbelievable.

He's opened Pandora's Box to us,
hasn't he here,

and shown us things, but you can tell,

having been around football
for a long time now, both of us,

that he's on a different,
well, he's on a different echelon

when it comes to research,
and that was the point, wasn't it?

That was the clear thing that was made,

that sending someone
to watch a bit of training

from a public footpath or whatever...

was almost incidental
to what he already knew about Derby County

and every other bit of opposition
that he comes up against.

While many admire
Bielsa's attention to detail

when sizing up opponents,

others consider his tactics
unsportsmanlike.

Eleven rival clubs have demanded

that the Football League
fully investigate the matter

and a hefty fine
or even a points deduction

is now a real possibility for Leeds.

While Spygate rumbles on,
the small PR team at Elland Road

do their best
to keep things upbeat and positive.

It's a mixture
of all emotions, to be honest.

Manic, pretty manic.

You'd rather it be quiet,
everything go okay, smoothly,

and not have massive crises...
if you want to call it a crisis.

That's the back of the Guardian today,
following yesterday's press conference.

Front page on the Yorkshire Evening Post,
as well.

It's just everywhere,
and yeah, absolutely taken off.

It's mid-January.

Leeds have lost two
of their last three games.

A shock home defeat to Hull

followed by a four-two beating
at Nottingham Forest.

They are now without
defensive midfielder Kalvin Philips...

That's a crazy challenge
from Phillips and he could see red here.

...who must serve a three-game ban
for his sending off in the Forest defeat.

Despite the losses, Leeds are still
one point clear at the top of the table.

Next up are pre-season
promotion favourites Stoke City,

who Leeds beat comprehensively
in the first game of the season.

Bielsa has decided
new signing Kiko Casilla,

who only arrived
from Real Madrid last week,

is not ready to make his debut.

And Leeds face Stoke

with many key players
out injured and suspended.

With the arrival of obviously Kiko,
the new signing,

brought a lot of confidence
into the squad,

and hopefully a lot of experience.

If Bailey has a good game he'll stay in,

if not a good game then you know,
the options are Kiko.

But it's always good
to have options like that.

I think it'll keep Bailey on his guard
and he'll want to play even better.

Just the way that everything's happened,

I think the lads were just desperate
to get out there

and just prove everyone wrong

and basically stick twos up or ones up
in peoples' faces

so I think it just eggs us on
to do even better now.

Leeds United now face Stoke City,

the side they convincingly beat
on the opening day of the season.

The Spygate row is rumbling on.

Bielsa may be under fire
from the football authorities.

But there is no doubt the fans
are backing him to the hilt.

We'll spy where we want
We're Leeds United

We'll spy where we want!

Leeds make a nervy start to the game.

Stoke are going to pump it long,
looking to try and break the deadlock.

Chance comes in,
save from Peacock-Farrell.

Stoke coming forward in numbers again.
Jansson blocks off his man.

And he's going to be in trouble here
with the referee.

He's arguing away...

and that will be a yellow.

It's an intense atmosphere
in the Stoke ground

and Leeds cannot find their rhythm.

Klich needs to deal
with this one if he can...

oh, he hasn't cleared his line...

Clucas low past Peacock-Farrell
and Stoke take the lead.

Leeds fall behind
four minutes into the second half.

Then, it gets much worse.

Oh, the chase is on here between Jansson
and Benik Afobe and Jansson sees red.

It's a second yellow.

He's not happy with it
and again it's a suspension for Leeds.

If this season
hasn't been hard enough with injuries,

it's another red card

and Leeds United
are down to ten men against Stoke

and trailing by a goal to nil.

Wanker, wanker, wanker!

Pablo Hernandez
has a penalty claim turned down.

And Stoke counter attack again.

It's McClean for Stoke,
he's looking for Allan

and he's sneaked past Forshaw there.

That's a second for Stoke.

They look like they've got their revenge
for the opening day defeat.

It's Stoke City two, Leeds United nil.

Leeds United's lead at the top
of the table is now a slender one point.

Head coach Marcelo Bielsa

admits it's their worst performance
of the season.

We played our worst game of the year

after having played
our best game of the year.

It has been very difficult
to understand our last performance.

Back at Elland Road, Andrea and Victor
are debating whether Spygate

and Marcelo Bielsa's emergency press
conference has affected the team's form.

We had three losses in four games

and this Spygate didn't help
to keep everyone calm.

I think, for me, the last game, Stoke,

for me, it was the worst game

because it was the consequence
of the week of the media.

- Yeah.
- So, in the end, it's normal.

If you are in a team,
your mindset goes somewhere else,

you're not focused
and that was the result.

If the main guy is not focused,

because obviously it is human
to not be focused

when you are under pressure
and you need to justify yourself,

and you need to explain things,
disclose everything you have done.

When you go to training every day,
maybe you're not the same guy.

Even if you think you are,
maybe you're not.

I don't know. And then it transfers
to people... as a leader.

I think after all this situation
I feel more together, the locker room.

- Yeah, that's for sure.
- I feel...

it's difficult to say, they feel together.

Oh, one hundred percent.

And it's true that this is a consequence

of a bad situation
but it's a good consequence.

I still believe
the conference was unnecessary,

but, in the end, yes, we are all together.

For me, I think,
it's a historic press conference

and, in the end, if the consequences
are positive... why not?

- Why not? It's true that...
- Unnecessary.

- I think...
- I mean...

he could explain the same content
to the federation and the league,

why to the public?

For me, we are more together now.

Yeah, that's for sure,
I was together before but even more now.

Let's go guys, I need to go. Cheers.

Leeds now face a tough fixture
at local rivals Rotherham United,

twenty places below Leeds
and fighting to stay in the Championship.

Kalvin Philips, sorely missed
during his three-game ban, returns

and there's a debut for Spanish
international keeper Kiko Casilla.

Another Yorkshire derby, then,
for Leeds United

against relegation-threatened Rotherham.

It's a game they are expected to win,
but who knows what the outcome will be?

Leeds start the game on the back foot.

Rotherham coming forward again.

It breaks for Ajayi,
he's a long way out...

oh, he's lashed it past Casilla.

That is some strike and Rotherham
take the lead against Leeds United

and Casilla is beaten.

They start the second half a goal down,
but come out fighting.

Leeds pressing for the equaliser now,

trying to make something work
inside the Rotherham penalty area.

It's going to fall for Klich.

And he's scored.
It's a scramble over the line.

Four minutes remain on the clock.

Poland International Klich on it again.

Chance... scores!
Low into the bottom left-hand corner

and Klich has done it again.
Two for him and two for Leeds.

They've turned it around
at the New York Stadium.

Klich with a brace

and Leeds United
heading for all three points

in a vital Yorkshire derby.

Rotherham one, Leeds two.

Leeds show their resilience
and a fighting spirit once again.

Well, it's a scrappy victory
that will be celebrated by the fans.

It's one that sends them
to the top of the table.

With Leeds' closest rivals
playing out a draw earlier in the day,

Leeds extend their lead
at the top to three points.

Chairman Andrea Radrizzani

is reviewing options
for next season's kits,

which he hopes
will be worn in the Premier League.

Next season
is Leeds United's centenary year,

and if they return to the top flight,

it will be the most lucrative season
in the club's history.

I'm not saying it's not nice,
I'm not saying it's...

- It's okay, it's cool.
- This one has more structure to it.

No, this is the one
we use for the centenary.

Okay... for 100 years, hmmm.
No, I don't like.

I think, maybe we put the number,
the years, 1919 - 2020...

So, remember it's on the back, yeah?
Look at the back.

Woven in the fabric.
It's going to be darker.

Okay, so just leave
"marching on together", that's it.

Okay.

Without 100 years.
It's already everywhere else.

Leeds United's
fine run of form this season

is attracting interest
from potential new sponsors.

- We should talk about this. So...
- What? 32Red?

We're starting... Paul's starting
to get offers for Premier League.

People are saying now,
could we do the deal?

- Yes, 100%.
- On the premise of going up.

Yes. Who is the sponsor? Another betting?

32Red would be one, or another better.

Because also we can go
into production as soon as possible.

Yeah.

We can plan activities with the sponsor,

so we can involve them
in the tour in Australia.

Yeah, definitely, yes.

New kit sponsors are not
the only business Andrea is in Leeds for.

Since securing the services
of Kiko Casilla

earlier in the January transfer window,

Leeds have been busy finalizing
the signing of their final target -

Swansea City's Dan James.

I trust Victor implicitly, and he says
James can make the difference.

The speedy left-winger has been in fine
form for the Welsh club this season,

scoring goals
and supplying numerous assists.

He looks a perfect fit
for Bielsa's high-energy playing style.

He was identified very early.

Marcelo and Victor really liked him.

We felt he could bring
something different to the team.

We knew that anything we did in January
had to have an impact in that season,

and we thought he was that impact player.

The discussions had been very positive.

Confidence is high the deal worth
up to seven million pounds will happen.

Both clubs have been keen to complete
since the start of the transfer window.

We have a deal
that we are monitoring really closely

and I hope that it closes
today or tomorrow.

Now I feel
that we are discussing little details.

When you are discussing little details,
it's the last part of the transfer.

But it's true that making a transfer
is not easy

because you need to agree player,

entourage of the player,
agent, club that sells, club that buys.

It's five people that need to agree.
This is not easy.

It's really tough signing a player,
it's a lot of things involved.

If they sold another player
perhaps they don't want to sell this

because they take the money for another.

It's a lot of things that are out
of your control for signing a player

and this is a frustration in my world
because many times

the influence of external situations
can ruin your transfer, but okay.

These are the rules
and we need to accept them.

I feel 80% now. I feel 80%.

I'm a bit superstitious.
I don't want to say more.

You know, there's still a lot to do
on the last day

but once you're there, in principle,
in terms of the player's desire,

the club's desire, the core financials,
it's a case of progressing the paperwork

and fine-tuning
some of the minutia in the contract.

Only twelve hours
of the transfer window remain.

It's tight,
but everything is progressing as planned.

As Angus attempts to tie up
the loose ends of the deal,

Dan James arrives at Thorp Arch
to undergo a medical.

It's been going crazy
since I've been linked.

Swansea fans saying, "Stay,"

Leeds fans saying, "Are you coming?"

Gonna get some kit printed up
for training tomorrow at Elland Road.

Any idea on numbers?
Seeing what's available?

- Twenty-one mate, to be fair.
- Twenty-one.

We're gonna get everything
printed ready for you.

The medical is passed without a hitch.

Dan James, his dad and his agent

now travel to Elland Road
to sign his contract.

They're greeted by Victor Orta,
who had identified Dan James

as the player to drive on
Leeds' promotion push.

How are you? Nice to see you again.

Hi, I'm Victor. Nice to see you.

- Nice to see you. All okay?
- Yeah, good, thank you.

All okay? Long day?
Four long days, long days.

- All okay?
- Not too bad.

Bring your camera
and get the shots for signing,

and do the photoshoot now.

Hi, you okay?

Ready to go, lads?

If we need to pin 'em, we can do.

As the deal
heads towards a conclusion,

team manager Matt Grice

begins the process
of settling the player into his new home.

I'll get some options over.

Just give me a shout wherever
'cos I don't know what's best around here.

And then we can set up some viewings.

But an unforeseen problem arises.

Swansea's American owner,
who is stateside,

and their Chief Executive in Wales

cannot agree on the terms of James'
proposed transfer to Elland Road.

Neither are returning Leeds
United's calls or text messages.

- We are waiting, okay?
- Waiting, yeah.

Yeah, you know, it's America - Wales,
Wales - America, America - Wales,

- Wales - America, America - Wales...
- Yeah, crazy, huh?

- But okay... we are near, okay?
- For sure, we're nearly there.

It's that kind of thing.

No worries.

And as the night went on,
I sat there watching it,

and we're thinking, "Bloody hell,
this going to get announced soon.

How late are they gonna leave it?"

And like is it gonna be
a big thing late on,

and the later and later it got

then a few of the boys
started chucking in the group to Mooney,

like, "Mooney, like, talk to us.
Is it getting done?"

And like Mooney
still at like half-nine/ten o'clock like,

"Lads, trust me, tonight it'll get done,
but this one's,

the owner's just taking a bit longer
to get back to us, but everything's done,

so now we are just waiting
for a phone call back,

sign off on it, it's all done."

There is now only one hour
of the transfer window remaining.

To save time, Dan James
begins signing some of the paperwork

in his new Leeds United contract.

Let's start with this one. Brilliant.

- Perfect. Cheers.
- All done.

Thank you. Congratulations...

Still no, still no, we wait.

- Nope. We have one more document...
- One more, is it?

...we're just waiting for that.
You don't need to do that yet.

Finally, Angus hears back from Swansea.

It's not good news.

The boardroom problems at the Welsh club

mean Leeds are struggling
to get the deal over the line.

But we're now close.

So then, say, "Okay, it's now or nothing."
But he told me the latter!

He told me the latter.
He told me the latter.

I think that at five minutes to eleven

we were trying to apply
for the fifteen-minute extension

to get the paperwork done on the basis

that someone, somewhere in Wales
was going to answer one of my phone calls.

Huw's not answering his calls,
that's the problem.

But Jason can sign!

Can Jason sign? Can Jason sign?

Please! We accept their details!

Despite a desperate last-minute effort
from Leeds,

they cannot get the deal over the line.

Dan James remains a Swansea City player.

Right, pack up.

A tired, emotional Victor Orta
is crestfallen.

I've been here all day
and everything's done, man.

They won't sign.

I don't know
what's happening in the future now.

With him, with us.
After this situation, nobody wins.

Because Swansea having a player
after this episode is really difficult.

The player cannot get his dream.

And Leeds cannot get their player.

We really didn't get any sight

of the fact it wasn't going to happen
until the last hour,

and that's never happened to me
on a transfer before.

Whilst from a fan's perspective
it clearly looked like a fuck up,

I think we were just the victim,
an unwitting victim

of boardroom politics
at the Swansea end and it was unfortunate

because we couldn't make the deal work
for Daniel in the end

and I think it would have been
a good deal for him,

for him and his family
but also from a football perspective.

They want this? Yes.
They want this? Yes. They want this? Yes.

Respect your player.

Because you gave permission
to do the medical.

We are talking about people.

This is with people that have feelings.

And today was one of the toughest moments

where I watched a player of twenty years
and his father...

It's never happened in my career.

So, I'll see you.

Hopefully see you in the summer.

Good luck with the documentary.

- Take care, yeah.
- See you next Wednesday.

Next Wednesday, no?

It's a week on Wednesday, isn't it?
Top man.

Take care. We see you soon.

Thank you. See you later!

The transfer window is now closed

and Leeds' squad is locked
for the remainder of the season.

Next time...

Let's begin with that breaking news.

...Spygate saga
reaches a controversial conclusion...

We'll spy where we want!

...and Dan James returns to Elland Road
in a Swansea shirt...

Daniel James, he wants to be Leeds!

...and the pressure reaches
boiling point in the fight for promotion

as Leeds take on
their fiercest rivals at Elland Road.

If we don't win today,
the wheels could fall off.

Leeds Leeds are falling apart

People just forget
you're a person sometimes.

You have to have thick skin, but...

it does affect you.