Source: FOOTYMAD
2010: Return to The Championship
Leeds are set to begin the 2010-11 season in the Championship after ending a run of spiralling down the divisions. Long serving players such as Rui Marques and Casper Ankergren were released. Jermaine Beckford, Leeds' top scorer in the last three seasons, had his contract cancelled before he joined Premier League club Everton after being hotly tipped to move to the Premier League for several months previously. Leeds however did have something of a transfer coup when they signed highly rated goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, son of legendary 'keeper Peter. Leeds moved for a replacement for Beckford when they signed Swindon Town striker Billy Paynter on a three-year-deal after his contract had expired at the County Ground. Paynter scored 29 goals in the previous season and one more than Beckford in last season's League One campaign. Patrick Kisnorbo, who suffered a ruptured achilles tendon, will miss the first few months of the league campaign and is looking to return to action around Christmas. Leeds brought in right-back and former Derby County captain Paul Connolly and made their fourth signing of the summer by bringing in Swansea left- back Fede Bessone who, like Luciano Becchio, had trained at Barcelona earlier in his career. Leeds brought in their 5th and 6th signings of the summer when they re-signed Neill Collins from Preston North End for an undisclosed fee following his earlier loan spell; and he was followed by Leeds-born winger Lloyd Sam who arrived on a free transfer from Charlton Athletic.
