Mark
Jan 24 2003, 01:09 AM
IAN HARTE this morning faces up to the horrifying prospect that he may have to quit the club he loves.
Harte has spent a decade at Leeds United and is one of their longest-serving players.
He is part of the furniture and cannot imagine life anywhere else.
The Republic of Ireland star has played nearly 250 games since he arrived here as a fresh-faced 15 year old from Drogheda and amassed 48 caps for his country.
Harte's expertise from dead-balls is legendary. He is probably the most skilful exponent of the art in the country after Manchester United's England skipper David Beckham.
His tally of goals in the white shirt stands at 38 - almost unheard of for a full-back.
With such a potent weapon in his armoury, you would think that Leeds could ill-afford to do without such an option.
And the fact his club may no longer want him has driven Harte to the depths of despair.
When you consider the nightmare season Leeds have endured in the Premiership, it defies belief that Harte cannot even make the bench, let alone get a game.
He said: "I love the club and the fans. I don't want to play anywhere else, because this is like home to me.
"I've learned everything here. Leeds is all I have ever known as a footballer. My friends are here and I'm really settled.
"I don't feel I'm a scapegoat for our indifferent form, because I don't think like that. But if I'm not going to play any more, I need the club to tell me so that I can make some plans.
"It is not a good time for me to be moving, because my wife, Laura, is expecting and we don't need the upheaval. But players have to go where the work is.
"I've 3½ years left on my contract and could run around in the reserves picking up the money. Yet that's not my style."
Harte also worries his international career will be put in jeopardy if he cannot get back in the side.
He added: "Playing for the Republic is very important to me.
"But the new manager, whoever it may be, is not going to pick me if I'm not in my club side. It has become so disheartening.
"I'm travelling to games as part of an 18-man squad, and when the manager announces the line-up an hour and a half before kick-off, I am left just sitting in the stands.
"I'm not attacking Terry Venables here. He is one of the nicest men I've ever met and a terrific manager.
"His door is always open to anyone who wants to talk about things.
"But I'm not getting any answers. I just want him to be honest with me.
"The other week we beat Birmingham 2-0 and then I was dropped. I couldn't understand that at all."
Theories will abound about whether Harte is being pushed into a corner so that he demands a transfer and cash-strapped Leeds can sell him.
Since the summer, they have already parted company with Rio Ferdinand to Manchester United and Olivier Dacourt to Roma, tried to flog Robbie Fowler for £7.5million to Manchester City and might yet sell Jonathan Woodgate and Seth Johnson.
Harte revealed: "I don't know whether they want to sell me or not. They haven't said. I've not talked to the chairman about it. The only time I really see him is to say 'Hello' on match days.
"I suppose every player has his price, no matter how big they are.
"I would be so sad to leave, but it must be a possibility.
"You never know what's going to happen in football."
Harte is one of the club's most versatile players. He actually joined a decade ago as a striker and since then has operated all over midfield as well as across the back four.
Harte declared: "I'm not demanding I should play in my usual position at left-back.
"Ask any footballer and they will tell you that they will play anywhere as long as they are included in the starting XI.
"I didn't have a great time last year, though I feel I'm doing well now and I know I'm a good player. I'm just not getting the chance to prove it at the moment.
"The lads at Leeds are a great bunch and they are all telling me just to knuckle down and things will turn around.
"But if we're truthful, we all want to look after ourselves first and worry about others later.
"I need to see an outcome one way or another. It cannot go on like this."
Harte has spent a decade at Leeds United and is one of their longest-serving players.
He is part of the furniture and cannot imagine life anywhere else.
The Republic of Ireland star has played nearly 250 games since he arrived here as a fresh-faced 15 year old from Drogheda and amassed 48 caps for his country.
Harte's expertise from dead-balls is legendary. He is probably the most skilful exponent of the art in the country after Manchester United's England skipper David Beckham.
His tally of goals in the white shirt stands at 38 - almost unheard of for a full-back.
With such a potent weapon in his armoury, you would think that Leeds could ill-afford to do without such an option.
And the fact his club may no longer want him has driven Harte to the depths of despair.
When you consider the nightmare season Leeds have endured in the Premiership, it defies belief that Harte cannot even make the bench, let alone get a game.
He said: "I love the club and the fans. I don't want to play anywhere else, because this is like home to me.
"I've learned everything here. Leeds is all I have ever known as a footballer. My friends are here and I'm really settled.
"I don't feel I'm a scapegoat for our indifferent form, because I don't think like that. But if I'm not going to play any more, I need the club to tell me so that I can make some plans.
"It is not a good time for me to be moving, because my wife, Laura, is expecting and we don't need the upheaval. But players have to go where the work is.
"I've 3½ years left on my contract and could run around in the reserves picking up the money. Yet that's not my style."
Harte also worries his international career will be put in jeopardy if he cannot get back in the side.
He added: "Playing for the Republic is very important to me.
"But the new manager, whoever it may be, is not going to pick me if I'm not in my club side. It has become so disheartening.
"I'm travelling to games as part of an 18-man squad, and when the manager announces the line-up an hour and a half before kick-off, I am left just sitting in the stands.
"I'm not attacking Terry Venables here. He is one of the nicest men I've ever met and a terrific manager.
"His door is always open to anyone who wants to talk about things.
"But I'm not getting any answers. I just want him to be honest with me.
"The other week we beat Birmingham 2-0 and then I was dropped. I couldn't understand that at all."
Theories will abound about whether Harte is being pushed into a corner so that he demands a transfer and cash-strapped Leeds can sell him.
Since the summer, they have already parted company with Rio Ferdinand to Manchester United and Olivier Dacourt to Roma, tried to flog Robbie Fowler for £7.5million to Manchester City and might yet sell Jonathan Woodgate and Seth Johnson.
Harte revealed: "I don't know whether they want to sell me or not. They haven't said. I've not talked to the chairman about it. The only time I really see him is to say 'Hello' on match days.
"I suppose every player has his price, no matter how big they are.
"I would be so sad to leave, but it must be a possibility.
"You never know what's going to happen in football."
Harte is one of the club's most versatile players. He actually joined a decade ago as a striker and since then has operated all over midfield as well as across the back four.
Harte declared: "I'm not demanding I should play in my usual position at left-back.
"Ask any footballer and they will tell you that they will play anywhere as long as they are included in the starting XI.
"I didn't have a great time last year, though I feel I'm doing well now and I know I'm a good player. I'm just not getting the chance to prove it at the moment.
"The lads at Leeds are a great bunch and they are all telling me just to knuckle down and things will turn around.
"But if we're truthful, we all want to look after ourselves first and worry about others later.
"I need to see an outcome one way or another. It cannot go on like this."