Woodgate quits Selland Road

IF the footballing equivalent of Hans Blix was assigned to search the Premiership he would only have to stop off at Elland Road to find weapons of sporting destruction.

He would discover a club stockpiled with financial incompetence and so riddled with explosive acrimony and angst that it is on the verge of a conflagration of its own making. In short, he would witness the archetypal example of how not to run a football club.

How else can we view yesterday's events when Robbie Fowler joined Manchester City for £3 million up front with another £3m dependent on appearances £1.5m less than the fee agreed just a fortnight ago Jonathan Woodgate, the club's shining defensive jewel, set to depart for Newcastle for £9m and manager Terry Venables left pondering his future at a club where the tools of his trade have been systematically wrenched from his hands. It was like the last couple of days at a corner shop closing down sale when anything not nailed down has a price and the sign above the door reads Everything Must Go.

Whether that includes the manager remains to be seen. Terry Venables was last night still Leeds manager despite the club's plc board ignoring his pleas not to sell Woodgate to Newcastle. Venables categorically stated last week he would consider his future if Woodgate was allowed to leave. When asked, as he left Leeds' Thorp Arch training complex yesterday, whether he would be staying, Venables replied: "There's a press conference tomorrow." Leeds have switched Venables' customary pre-match media conference from Thorp Arch to Elland Road, with a 12.45 pm start.

Venables met with Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale and the club's other directors yesterday at Thorp Arch to discuss the ramifications of the imminent Woodgate departure after the 23-year-old had first been informed he was being allowed to talk to Newcastle regarding personal terms.

England defender Woodgate was locked in talks last night with Newcastle as Bobby Robson closed in on his number one transfer target.

The 23-year-old headed north after the Magpies and Leeds agreed a £9m deal less than 36 hours before the closure of the transfer window. Newcastle now face a race against the clock to agree personal terms and carry out a stringent medical on a player who is currently sidelined by a thigh injury.

"Newcastle United confirmed this afternoon that they have agreed a fee with Leeds United for the transfer of Jonathan Woodgate," a club spokesman said. "The completion of the transfer is subject to the player agreeing personal terms with Newcastle United." Robson will keep his fingers crossed that there are no late hitches in a saga which has been shrouded in uncertainty for days.

Woodgate emerged as the 69-year-old's preferred choice as long ago as New Year's Day amid speculation that Jaap Stam, William Gallas and John Terry were on his shopping list. Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd could not disguise his glee at the imminent arrival of Woodgate on

Tyneside. "He's a current England international and a north east boy who understands Newcastle and the passion of the club. We're looking forward to seeing him tomorrow," Shepherd told reporters. "It could be one of the biggest signings in Newcastle's history. He's only 23 and he's got a long way to go. He's got all the ingredients to be a top international."

Shepherd admitted Newcastle's battle to land Woodgate had been anything but straightforward. He added: "It's been an awkward one (transfer). It's obviously a difficult time for Leeds at the moment and I have to thank them for their co-operation.

It is believed Venables has stated he will remain in the Leeds hot-seat for tomorrow's clash against Everton at Goodison Park, and possibly beyond until the end of the season.

Venables' profile from less than two months ago has certainly risen in stock in the eyes of the Leeds fans whose anger is now being directed firmly at Ridsdale and the other plc board members, deputy chairman Allan Leighton, finance director Stephen Harrison, Neil Holloway and David Spencer. Should he decide to walk no-one would criticise him for doing so given he has been seriously undermined by the Board, and if he stays then the fans will applaud him for soldiering on in a time of undoubted crisis. Venables genuinely believed, as he stated in the wake of Tuesday's 3-2 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, that Fowler's £6m departure to Manchester City £3m down and £3m dependent on appearances would guarantee Woodgate not be sold. But Leeds' dire financial situation has forced the board's hand, and, to the fury of the fans, Woodgate is on the brink of returning to his native north-east as he was born in Middlesbrough and joining the Magpies' push for the Premier League title.

A number of supporters, upon hearing about Woodgate's potential departure, carried out a threat made last week and handed back their season tickets. Others later gathered at the ground to voice their anger, chanting "Ridsdale out" and "Sack the board," as well as brandishing banners which read "We want the truth."

Another stated "Rio, Keane, Bowyer, Dacourt, Fowler and now Woodgate. Who's next? Ridsdale out." Ridsdale said last night: "Tomorrow I'll be able to say exactly what the facts are. I know how the fans are feeling but I'm paid to look after the shareholders and the financial side of the club."

Asked if he was optimistic of continuing as chairman, he added: "I have a responsibility to the supporters and the shareholders and it's a case of getting the balance right."