Sport

Leeds only to consider British managers for post

Peter Ridsdale, the Leeds United chairman, said yesterday that he would consider only British managers to replace George Graham…

Sat Oct 03 1998 - 01:00

Peter Ridsdale, the Leeds United chairman, said yesterday that he would consider only British managers to replace George Graham and that he expected to name one within two weeks.

He said he had drawn up a short list of three preferred candidates. None is a foreigner but David O'Leary is on the list despite reports that Graham's number two at Elland Road does not want the job.

Ridsdale warned Graham not to try to sign Leeds players for Tottenham. He fears that Graham will be interested in the striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, the goalkeeper Nigel Martyn and the captain Lucas Radebe, all of whom might want to leave.

The chairman has not approached any of those on his short list - thought to include Martin O'Neill and Gordon Strachan as well as O'Leary. O'Neill, favourite to replace Graham at Elland Road, yesterday refused to commit himself to Leicester City.

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"I have not been contacted by Leeds officials, either officially or unofficially, but it would be stupid for me to say I would never leave Leicester because I was very close to walking out in the summer," he said.

Paul Alcock, the referee at the centre of the Paolo Di Canio push controversy, has rejected Martin Keown's appeal to overturn the red card he showed to the Arsenal defender against Sheffield Wednesday last weekend.

Keown was hoping that Alcock, who is being afforded the special protection of a fourth official by the FA when he takes charge of Wimbledon's match against Everton at Selhurst Park today, would change his mind after studying video evidence, but the official is standing by his original decision.

Football Association spokesman Steve Double said: "The Football Association sent a video to Paul Alcock who was standing by his original decision. We therefore are asking Arsenal if they wish us to have a further hearing on the matter."

The FA has received a report from police regarding an incident involving Arsenal's Patrick Vieira at the end of the same match.

Double said: "We have received the South Yorkshire Police report on Patrick Vieira and that will be considered early next week."

Jimmy Quinn, Swindon's new manager, may have to delay plans to retire to help solve an injury crisis for his first game in charge against Stockport. The strikers Chris Hay, Iffy Onuora and George Ndah are all nursing injuries.