ELLAND ROAD LEGEND GRAY STILL HAUNTED BY HIS DARKEST DAY
BY ROSS HEPPENSTALL
EDDIE GRAY is desperate not to relive the nightmare of Premier League relegation when he takes his seat in the stands at Brentford today.
The Leeds United legend was in charge of the Yorkshire giants when they were dumped out of the top flight following a highly publicised financial meltdown in 2004.
A 4-1 hammering at Bolton effectively sealed their fate and sparked a decline which saw the Whites spend 16 years in the wilderness.
Having finally returned to the top flight under Marcelo Bielsa two years ago, Gray is praying that the club he loves can somehow scrape to safety this afternoon.
Jesse Marsch’s side lie third from bottom and, due to their vastly inferior goal difference, must collect more points at Brentford than
Burnley manage at home to Newcastle if they are to survive.
Gray (above) said: “We had a long time out of the Premier League and don’t want to slip back into the Championship.
“But we’re in the position we’re in and have got to make sure we go to Brentford and get a result.
“Football’s like that – nobody has got a divine right to be in the top flight.
“You have to work hard for everything you get and I’m sure the players know the importance of the club staying in the Premier League for the fans, for the city of Leeds and for themselves.
“The atmosphere at Elland Road this season has been the best I’ve ever known it. The club worked very hard to get back to the Premier League and it’s so vital that we stay there in many respects in terms of being able to attract good players to Leeds and then competing at the highest level.
“Wherever you go, people know about the club, so it’s important to the city that Leeds United are in the Premier League and competing well.
“I’ll be there at Brentford cheering the boys on.”
Gray visited Leeds’ training ground on Thursday to offer support to Marsch as the club bid to claim a result against Thomas Frank’s Bees.
Elland Road icon Gray, 74, added: “Brentford will be a tough game but hopefully we can go there and get the result that we need to stay up.
“Leeds United is an institution and hopefully, when next season’s fixtures come out, we’re still a Premier League club.
“Like I say, I think the players understand the importance of the game.”
Gray and members of Leeds’ 1972 FA Cup-winning team, along with the 1992 First Division title-winning side, were paraded on the pitch before last Sunday’s 1-1 draw at home to Brighton.
He said: “It’s always nice to see the boys you played with and the boys from ’92.
“More importantly, Pascal Struijk’s late equaliser against Brighton could be the goal that keeps us up.
“The stadium just erupted and the sense of relief in the stands said so much about the importance of it.
“Hopefully we’ll get another moment like that at Brentford.”