BRIAN CLOUGH is returning to Leeds almost 30 years after his controversial sacking.

Clough lasted just 44 days as Don Revie's successor in 1974 before player power cost him his job. Now he is back as chief speaker at a dinner to be held at Elland Road on Friday, October 3.

John McGovern, Clough's captain at Leeds, will also be speaking.

Leeds won just one league match out of six with Clough in charge and lost the FA Charity Shield to Liverpool.

Meanwhile, United are to send a £100,000 bill to the Norwegian FA to cover the costs of Eirik Bakke's knee surgery and travel to America.

Bakke played for Norway in two Euro 2004 qualifiers this summer after Leeds told the Norwegian FA not to play him because he needed to rest his knee.

Now the midfielder faces six months on the sidelines despite successful surgery in America by renowned surgeon Dr Richard Steadman.

A largely inexperienced Leeds reserve side made it two wins out of three so far this season when they defeated Blackburn Rovers 2-1 at Morecambe last night.

Updated: 11:03 Thursday, September 04, 2003