03/02/2014 Look North (Yorkshire)

feel fresh in the breeze. More rain on Thursday night.

Welcome to Monday's Look North. On the programme tonight ` Mac is back.

After a weekend of turmoil at Leeds United, Brian McDermott returns as

manager with a warning for anyone who wants to take the club over.

Those people first and foremost in their minds. Nothing else matters.

There are new developments tonight. We'll hear more from McDermott, fans

and the current owners to try and find out where the club goes from

here. Also tonight. The pupils excluded from school for wearing

cancer charity badges on their uniforms. And we get up close and

personal with West Yorkshire's police horses on one of their most

challenging days. And this is a great looking Castle Hill earlier.

They should be some brightness around. The forecast follows

shortly. First, the ongoing saga at Leeds United. After 72 hours of

chaos and confusion, the club still has no clear owner. On Thursday last

week, managing director David Haigh failed in a bid to buy the club with

a consortium called Sport Capital. The following day the reasons for

that became clear as it was revealed that Italian businessman Massimo

Cellino had agreed a deal to takeover Leeds. Later that day, on

the eve of a Yorkshire derby, word spread that Cellino had sacked

manager Brian McDermott. That didn't stop Leeds thrashing Huddersfield

5`1. But minutes after the final whistle, a statement on the club

website said McDermott had not been sacked. Today, the BBC learned an

11th`hour rival takeover bid was made by a local consortium,

including Sport Capital. So it seems the future ownership of Leeds United

is still up for grabs. Something Brian McDermott says needs sorting

out, as Ian Bucknell reports. One part of the picture became clearer.

Brian McDermott, for now, at least, is the Leeds United manager. He

explained why he was back after being sacked. The reason I am

sitting here, this is Leeds United, I want to be Leeds United manager. I

have spoken to people in the game, important people, who said you

should not go back. But if you saw the support the team got, the staff

got, and the personal support I got, it was incredible. Some Leeds United

fans had gathered to protest against the sacking before the game. The

last week has been the latest round of familiar embarrassment and

disappointment. We get managers being sacked, the company sold. We

want the truth. If there is no money, let us know, we are sick of

the lies and cannot take any more. Despite the turmoil off the pitch,

the players on it held their nerve, none more so than Ross MacCormack,

who scored a hat`trick against Huddersfield. The most important

thing is what happens on the pitch and we put everything to the back of

our head and put on a good show. An investment bank became owners just

every year ago and directors, including David Haigh, celebrated.

Yesterday Mr Patel told the BBC he had no regrets. We are proud of what

we achieved and have grown to love Leeds United. But they have been the

king to sell a majority share and has reached an agreement in

principle with an Italian businessman, Massimo Cellino. As a

convicted fraudster he is not certain to pass tests. News today of

two other bidders joining forces to make an offer. They want to get

involved to take a majority share and they believe that's the Italian

businessman is the right man. These troubles date back to over a decade,

after being in the Premier League. After a battling week, the nightmare

continues. We've been made aware of some developments tonight. Tanya's

here along with Leeds United supporter Michael Michaelson. In

London, we have Italian football pundit Mina Razuki. What has been

happening? The lawyer acting for Massimo

Cellino made the phone call to Brian McDermott that led to the sacking.

He was marched off the premises at Elland Road this afternoon and said

he would not be back unless the Italian took over. An e`mail was

issued to staff by the chairman stressing that GSH capital remains

in ownership and said that no instructions or direction should be

taken from anyone outside the existing management structure. The

Leeds city councillor Keith Wakefield implored them to vet

properly any potential new owners and they talk about the fit and

proper person test. You might think that's the Italian businessman, with

charges of fraud, would he felt that? But the two convictions are

more than ten years old. The rehabilitation act, I understand,

makes them spent convictions. As for the existing charge over him, you

are innocent until proven guilty. We can speak to an Italian football

pundit. Just who is Massimo Cellino? He is one of the most

beloved characters in Italian football. He inspires a lot of fans

to love him. He believes in improving. A lot of the reasons his

team has been in trouble is because he wanted them to have a better

stadium and that is when he got into trouble for it. They have been

playing and training in different stadiums and they are back to where

they started. He is a character with the past. Some of the players love

him, some of them despise him. You only have two ask one goalkeeper who

was put on the bench after asking to leave. Would he be good for Leeds

United? He would bring character and he would bring investment. But he

might get tired of it if it does not go his way. He has character, he

would be all right believed united, if he money? He might get tired of

it. We are all tired of it. We have had enough. But for too long it has

been in the wrong hands. We are in a complete mess. The club is in a

terrible position. Something needs to be done. Is Massimo Cellino the

right man? It is a gamble. He can bring money, but will he put the

right infrastructure in? Will he be the right man long term this

wonderful club? What is the next move if he is not the right man?

There is a great possibility of administration, you would have to

think. The local consortia might be good and have good intentions, but

if they do not have the money, I say to you, gentle men, do not come to

the club, we do not need a million here and a millionaire. We have had

that. We need new people with investment, patient, who care about

the club. They have to love and care about the club because it is a

wonderful club. Thanks for joining us.

Next, the school pupils from North Nottinghamshire, suspended for

wearing charity badges on their uniforms. The 14`year`olds have both

recently lost family members to cancer. The school, Outwood Academy

Portland, in Worksop, says they are free to wear the badges on their

bags and outdoor coats, but not on their blazers. But because the girls

have refused to remove them, they have been temporarily excluded. Kate

Bradbrook has this exclusive report. These 14`year`old friends should be

at school, but instead they are working from home after being

suspended for wearing charity badges on their blazer. We were asked to

take the Cancer research badges. We said no, it is show `` to show

respect to those who have lost their lives to cancel. Caley wears hers in

honour of her auntie. I have what it for a year, since we found out what

was happening with my auntie's cancer and my grandad got cancer.

The trust said a statement saying the school has a proud track record

of supporting charity, but some were wearing five or six badges at one

time. It said it is happy for students to wear the badges on their

bags or outside Coates. I understand the school has rules and regulations

but I have never heard of this. They've... It is like they woke up

and did not want to see them any more and they take them off. The

families now have to decide whether to back down and remove the badges,

or, to find another school with not such strict rules.

Later on Look North: Remember Parkinson's disease sufferer James

DeLittle? We catch up with him following his controversial stem

cell treatment in the Ukraine. Now for a planning battle worthy of a

detective novel. When Brian McNeil bought his dream retirement home on

the North York Moors 17 years ago, it was a return to the farm where he

had worked as a boy. But what Brian, himself a retired detective, didn't

realise was the work he carried out to restore the place was in fact

illegal. He removed a dilapidated spiral staircase when he moved in,

which planning officials said he should have replaced. He has now

lost his case in court and faces losing his home. Michelle Lyons

reports. Hundreds of correspondence filed,

documenting a 17 year battle with the North York Moors National Park

authority. The grade two listed farmhouse near Whitby has been

restored by Brian McNeil. But the couple's life has been blighted with

an ongoing argument over a staircase. They bought the place in

1996 and the house was derelict. Brian McNeil and his brother

renovated the property following a brief conversation with a planning

officer. They had inspected the exterior and were quite happy with

the work. She was adamant that the national parks were not interested

in the interior. Nothing was confirmed in writing and when Brian

ripped out a rotten staircase and replaced it, his nightmare began. It

was impossible to use it. In fact, there was a notice, posted at the

side, handwritten, as I recall, which warned people as to its

dangerous condition. The house has been rebuilt around the new

staircase and so when Brian was asked to replace it with a spiral

one, . Now the National park authorities say they welcome the

latest ruling pointing out that independent officials are found in

their favour. independent officials are found in

their While legal action is a last resort, ignoring the matter could

set a dangerous precedent, it said. This was a lovely place. I was

looking forward to living around here but this has blighted my life.

It is really depressing. It was a dream, it is a nightmare now. The

couple had hoped to see out their days in this house but now they fear

they will have to sell up to pay legal bills. The mother of missing

York student Megan Roberts has said the disappearance of her daughter

appears to be the result of a tragic run of events with no`one to blame.

Megan, who is 20, was last seen near Lendal Bridge more than a week ago.

Police say it is most likely she fell into the river after drinking

with friends. In a Facebook message, Megan's mother Jackie thanked people

for their support and said she would remain hopeful until it was certain

her daughter had ended up in the water.

Senior councillors in York have outlined how they plan to make

millions of pounds worth of savings. Over two years, 240 posts need to be

cut and ?23 million needs to be saved. Council tax is due to rise

1.9%, just below the amount the council thinks could trigger a

referendum. Transport Secretary Patrick

McLoughlin has been in Yorkshire to see improvements at two of our

railway stations. He visited the southern entrance to Leeds station,

which is due to undergo a ?17 million revamp, so that commuters

will have direct access to the station from the riverside. He also

officially opened Wakefield Westgate, which has recently been

refurbished. A man from York with a form of

Parkinson's disease is back in the UK after undergoing controversial

stem cell therapy in Ukraine. James DeLittle opted to have the treatment

after seeing his mobility and speech deteriorate over the past ten years.

The clinic claims to have good results but experts in UK say stem

cell science is not yet that advanced to treat Parkinson's

patients. Jamie Coulson reports. James DeLittle is home after going

in search of a miracle cure. The 49`year`old has a form of

Parkinson's disease that affects movement and speech. Last week he

went to Ukraine to undergo controversial treatment using stem

cells. I needed something for myself. Ten years of feeling rotten,

I need to feel better. Until ten years ago, James was fit and active.

Now he sometimes struggles to even get dressed. Last week he travels to

Ukraine, where, the ?6,000, he was injected with stem cells harvested

from aborted foetuses. The clinic claims to see improvements in 75% of

cases. There have been no trials or published evidence.

Stem cells are the building blocks of the body and, depending on where

they come from, have the ability to transform into almost any other type

of cell. Experts believe the regenerative power of stem cells

could lead to medical breakthroughs one day, but they also warned that

the science is not yet advanced the patients with Parkinson's disease.

These have not been tested and we do not know if they are safe, if they

work. There may be risks attached to having this treatment. Since

returning home, James believes he has seen an improvement in balance.

He understands why some people might be sceptical. I know plenty of

people say it is the placebo effect. I do feel better. James is convinced

the risk was worth it and all he can do now is wait and hope.

Before seven o'clock: Behind the scenes with the horses helping to

keep the peace. And we have been given exclusive

access to the mounted section of West Yorkshire Police to see how

they police a football game. And high drama on the pitch. Three

sendings off in the South Yorkshire derby, plus the rest of the weekend

action. Two teenagers from Barnsley have set up their own business

making artisan ice cream. Even though they only went into

production last November, they are already selling double the amount

they predicted, direct to their customers' doors. They have been

helped to get going by the Rotherham Young Enterprise Scheme, as Tom

Ingall has been finding out. Meet the kitchen hands,

manufacturers, delivery boys, and chief executives of the latest

Artisan food start`up in Yorkshire. These brothers do it all. And so

far, they seem to be doing it rather well. We have always corrupted home

and enjoyed doing it. We started off making ice cream at home and we have

ended up in this factory. We cannot make it quick enough. We make a 21

flavours from vanilla, to Mango, and we have a signature flavour. We are

selling 120 litres a week and we cannot make the ice cream fast

enough. We make it one day and the next it will be gone. This is the

archetypal start`up business with equipment funded from the family,

this is where they make it, they freeze it there and it goes through

the doors to the waiting world. What's the premises might lack in

size, then make up for in terms of affordability. For the first six

months, they can stay here rent`free. They pay for electricity.

It is part of the rather run youth enterprise scheme. `` rather run we

have a good survival rate with many people trading. Their flavours are

currently delivered direct to customers doorsteps. They will soon

supply local cafes directly. Even so, their van is set to be joined by

mopeds so they can go door`to`door before demand belts away.

`` melts. Onto football now and we've already shown you the

highlights from the Leeds and Huddersfield game.

But elsewhere, there were goals and red cards aplenty. Here's a round`up

of the best of the rest of the weekend's action.

This partly debutante was one of three players to see red as

Sheffield Wednesday beat Barnsley 1`0. 24 hours after joining from

Arsenal, he was given two yellow cards in five first half minutes.

Johnson followed on 80 minutes while the midfielder joined them in injury

time, that was before McGuire scored in the 97th minute. The last kick of

the game. In league one, Sheffield United were

on the wrong end of a three ` zero thumping at Crewe Alexandra. Rather

run `` Rotherham. Keeping up the promotion push. A red card to

first`half bookings in this match. Chesterfield moved three points

clear at the top after a 3`1 win against Bristol ravers. `` Bristol

Rovers. York City ended Fleetwood's unbeaten run. York are up to 13th.

You can see the highlights from the games on the football league show,

which is available on the website. Back to our main story ` the rapidly

changing situation at Leeds United. For police, responsible for the

safety of supporters attending Saturday's derby with Huddersfield,

the strength of feeling represented a big challenge. Our reporter Ian

White and cameraman Malik Walton were given exclusive access to spend

a day in the life with West Yorkshire Police's horse section as

they dealt with unfolding events. It is 8am at West Yorkshire

Police's operations unit near Wakefield. This is breakfast. Eight

o'clock, the horses get the breakfast at the same time. It will

be a busy day for the mounted section, policing the local derby

between Leeds and Huddersfield. They have been planning for the game from

weak spot unfolding of events at Leeds United mean that things change

by the minute. We have the issue of possible demonstrations. The

dynamics are changed, we are trying to deal with two contingencies. With

another game to police in Newcastle, just six horses are said to Leeds,

and the first stop is city square, where the encounters were friendly.

A big role is community engagement. If we stand here we have people

coming up and we have a chat and breakdown boundaries. If you have

two officers on foot, they probably would not speak to them. At Elland

Road, tensions are running high. With Leeds United in turmoil, there

are protests and the horses are coming into their own. Things were

getting tense behind the bank and `` behind the back and a car caught

fire. The horses still continue to attract people. Sometimes, they are

wanting for something, and they think because I am on a police

horse, they think they cannot be arrested `` wanted something. 5`1

was the final score. The horses are needed to help break up rival. It is

just after 5pm and they have had a long day, but work is just starting

because the ground is emptying and there has been trouble. Officers on

foot needed help rounding up potential hooligans. The horses made

sure they went onto a bus and on their way home. You saw that little

bit of disorder but when you think 30,000 odd people, we are talking

about a maximum of 90 people, so it has been a great day. A shame we

have that, but a good day. I have been riding for five hours today. He

has had a long day and we have had a long day but the priority is to look

after them at the end of the long day, not us. When they are in bed, I

can finish. They are beautiful. They do an

amazing job will stop now the weather. Four flood warnings are in

place. Two in Scarborough. It has been incredible how the river

network has coped with what has been a wet winter. February looks set to

be almost exactly the same. This illustrates how mild it has been.

This is an oilseed rape field outside Scarborough coming into

flower. The end of January that was taken, quite remarkable. The second

is a big river. A very flashy river. The water feeds through the river

Luzon out into the North Sea. `` Ouse. Keep the pictures coming in.

Tomorrow is not too bad. Some sunny intervals and a few showers around.

This feature will bring rain on Tuesday night and Wednesday looks

unsettled. The weather front is slow`moving. It means this evening

and the first part of tonight will be dry, although cloud will

increase. A fairly narrow band of rain pushing north`east. Sleet over

the top. Latest night, in western and South Yorkshire, you might see a

sea patches. `` I `` icy patches. Sky should brighten, variable

cloud, showers coming through. The breeze will pick up later ahead of

the next weather system. Wet on Tuesday night and an

unsettled day on Wednesday. It is becoming a theme. Your job

must be very easy ` rain, rain, rain. Good night.

Why are you staring at me? Just wonder how things grow and grow

Why are you staring at me? Just wonder how things grow and grow

Yeah, well, mummies and daddies do argue sometimes.