Birch: survival would be perfect leaving gift

Trevor Birch believes he has one more role to fulfil at Leeds before finally departing Elland Road - seeing United remain in the Premier League.

Birch relinquished his positions as acting chairman and chief executive on Friday after the completion of a £22million takeover by Gerald Krasner and his five-man board.

Many believe without Birch, Leeds would have plunged into administration long before Krasner took control as the former Chelsea chief executive's good relationship with the creditors kept the club's head above water.

Birch is to remain at Leeds in the short term to oversee a handover period, by the end of which he hopes the Whites will have avoided relegation to the Nationwide League.

"I tried my best to do the best job I could and hopefully I have left Leeds United in better shape than I found them," said Birch.

"I have to say I am very optimistic for the future of the club and really do believe we will stay up this year.

"We have a very positive feeling now and we finally got a bit of luck on Monday night (in the 2-1 win over Manchester City), which can be as good as playing well.

"But I will only feel my job at Elland Road has been completed when we stay up."

The depth of feeling towards Birch from the supporters was underlined at Elland Road on Monday with a number bearing his name on the back of their shirts.

"I have been overwhelmed with the support and the thanks I have received and seeing people with my name on their shirts is a very humbling experience," added Birch on the official club website www.leedsunited.com.

"The supporters have been fantastic in the way they have stood by the club through what has been a very difficult time.

"I have to say they are a credit to the club and themselves. They deserve success and to stay up. They are the real Leeds United."