McKenzie severs all ties with Leeds

Former Leeds chairman Professor John McKenzie has severed all ties with the club.

McKenzie was initially appointed a non-executive director a year ago, but just six weeks later became chairman following the resignation of predecessor Peter Ridsdale.

Although McKenzie cut a swathe through the club's over-expenditure, and oversaw two rounds of redundancies at Elland Road as part of £20million cost-cutting measures, the 65-year-old was often derided for his part in two very public mistakes.

McKenzie came in for criticism for his poor handling of Harry Kewell's £5million summer move to Liverpool, while his biggest error was to discuss with former manager Peter Reid his future at the club at a Halifax hotel with the media watching.

His acceptance of £200,000 for what was described as a "consultancy fee" in the annual accounts for a period through to September this year was also widely condemned in light of the club's debts, which grossly total more than £100million.

McKenzie eventually stepped down as chairman at the club's annual general meeting just before Christmas, however, retained a role on the board as a director.

It was anticipated McKenzie would use his Far East connections to hopefully mount his own takeover of cash-strapped Leeds, although nothing has materialised.

After a quiet two months in which he has slipped into the background, with Leeds' future still very much at the forefront of footballing matters, McKenzie has decided to call it a day.