Venables could quit Leeds

LEEDS UNITED boss Terry Venables is refusing to nail his colours to the mast beyond this season.

Following the shock £9m departure of Jonathan Woodgate to Newcastle at the end of January, a deal which flew in the face of Venables' wishes, the 60-year-old immediately contemplated his Elland Road future.

Venables decided for the sake of the remaining players he would see out the first season of a two-year contract he signed last summer. But regardless of the rapport he seemingly has with the squad, and the faith the players have in him, Venables has no intention of looking beyond the final match of a tortuous campaign on May 11.

Venables spoke yesterday of the way ahead for Leeds, yet the question is how can United look to the future when they have no assurances as to whether he will be in charge through the summer and beyond?

"It has been a year of incredible circumstances. I've never come across anything like it," reflected Venables ahead of tonight's Old Trafford clash with Manchester United.

"As it has panned out, it is a dramatic story. Every day there is something happening and I know it was going on well before I came. But for all the disappointments and everything that has happened, there is only one way to look, and that is forward.

"Work has to be done, which they are aware of, and maybe the chairman's meetings with the supporters is one way to rebuild the confidence. That needs to happen.

"But it is possible to rebuild. It won't happen with a click of the fingers and there is no magic recipe," he said.

When pointedly asked about his future, Venables responded: "There was a matter of 24 hours (after Woodgate's departure) where I said I would say what I was going to do.

"I made that decision, so at the moment that's all there is to know. I'm not going to talk about a game in five days (the FA Cup tie with Sheffield United), so I'm not going to talk about what is going to happen in a couple of months.

Venables, meanwhile, has written off Manchester United's chances of the Premiership title as they now trail

Arsenal by eight points believing their best chance of silverware this season lies with the Champions League.

Venables is in no doubt United will have been wounded by Sunday's Worthington Cup final defeat to Liverpool, and that his side may feel the backlash, but he also feels Ferguson's side will perhaps be saving themselves for the European campaign.

"Every team that loses a game I would expect them to react, but losing a game of that magnitude then they will be very hurt," stated Venables.

Leeds' bid to throw another spanner in the works by winning at Old Trafford for the first time in 22 years, are hindered by the latest injury crisis.

Venables is without Jason Wilcox (flu), Dominic Matteo and Michael Duberry (both hamstring) and Eirik Bakke (ankle), while Harry Kewell serves a one-match suspension.

Gary Kelly is also struggling with a hamstring problem, while Lucas Radebe is again doubtful with his ongoing knee injuries, leaving Venables potentially severely handicapped.

The only bonus is that Mark Viduka returns from a three-match ban and replaces Kewell up front.