Ross McCormack left Leeds United in Massimo Cellino’s first summer at the club in 2014 after four years, and he has now revealed more about his move to Fulham.
Leeds paid Cardiff City a small amount to sign McCormack in 2010. The star went on to enjoy four really successful seasons at Leeds, becoming one of the most underappreciated Leeds signings in the recent two decades.
He captained The Whites for 157 games, scoring 58 goals and providing 31 assists at a period when Leeds had become stagnant in England’s second division.
Fast forward four years, and McCormack was sold to Fulham for a reported £12 million in Cellino’s first transfer window at the club. This summer, Cellino signed 14 new players, including Liam Cooper.
It was a regrettable sell, but one that the club needed to make given the club’s financial situation following Cellino’s acquisition. McCormack has now revealed what it was like leading up to his resignation.
Cellino ordered McCormack not to train before the Leeds sale.
Because Leeds’ financial situation was spiraling out of control, McCormack believes that Dave Hockaday, who was unexpectedly named manager by Cellino in 2014, told him he wasn’t permitted to train.
“They did not have any money. They had to preserve their assets because the situation was so dire. “When I arrived on the first day of pre-season, you walk out in your trainers and carry your boots,” McCormack explained.
Indeed, Scotland international McCormack was not permitted to risk an injury with Leeds eager to trade him, and Fulham eventually came calling. Leeds couldn’t miss out on such a large sum of money.
He told Open Goal, “If I hadn’t left, the club would have been in serious danger.” They fired the kitchen workers, individuals packed their lunches, the staff and players were not paid, and there was no money.
“Dave Hockaday claimed you wouldn’t need them, and the owner stated you couldn’t train. He wanted to make sure I wasn’t hurt. When I left, he said I refused to train. “Just trying to cover their back.”
McCormack played the most games for Leeds during his career.
McCormack undertakes occasional punditry work for BBC Radio Leeds. He may have only been at Elland Road for four years, but he is unquestionably one of the most influential players of the last two decades.
McCormack not only captained Leeds and contributed 88 goals in just 157 games, a ratio of less than one goal or assist every two games, but he also saved the club from financial ruin.
He started with Fulham following Leeds, failed at Villa, and went on loan to Forest, Central Coast, Melbourne, and Motherwell. Given his career path, McCormack may have wished he had stayed at Elland Road.
