Ridsdale may bow to fan power

Ian Parkes

During more than five years in the position, Ridsdale has been no stranger to the vitriol of Leeds fans he has been the victim of hate mail.

The nadir, though, came last year when his wife and two daughters were threatened after it was decided the club would leave Elland Road and relocate to a new stadium.

Ridsdale was on the verge of quitting then, but being a Leeds fan chose to persevere.

The fans can perhaps forgive Ridsdale for allowing Rio Ferdinand to leave given the £12 million profit made on the England international they signed for £18 million just 20 months previously despite him joining rivals Manchester United.

Robbie Keane and Lee Bowyer decided they no longer wanted to remain at Leeds, while Olivier Dacourt's very public fallout with Terry Venables ensured he no longer played a part in the manager's thinking.

The supporters could also let go, without too much questioning, Robbie Fowler, but Woodgate's £9 million switch to Newcastle is likely to prompt vociferous protests.

Although determined to defend his record and the sale of Woodgate, Ridsdale feels the reaction of the supporters to the latter could determine whether he stays or goes.

"If the supporters believe this wouldn't have happened if I had not been here, then they need to think again because this decision was right for the football club," said Ridsdale.

"I've a responsibility to make sure I do as good a job as I can and that I enjoy what I am doing, although I haven't particularly enjoyed January 2003.

"But I feel I made the right decision, so I can live with myself. I have taken the decision as chairman of a public company and not as a fan of Leeds United.

"It's simple to say 'let's change the chairman' and the finances change, but the finances are what they are and we can now look to the future with confidence.

"But whether the fans want me to stay or not is another question They might determine my future. Ridsdale believes with Woodgate's departure, Leeds can breathe easy again despite the announcement of £77 million debts to the year ending July as they have since recouped £52 million in transfers, with another £6 million to come in the summer if Roma agree to sign Dacourt on a permanent basis.

He concedes mistakes have been made in the past regarding player deals, but as far as he is concerned, it is now time to start building again for the future, with Ridsdale hoping Venables remains in charge.

"Should we have spent what we did? Probably not," said Ridsdale. "But we lived the dream, enjoyed the dream and only by making the right decisions today can we rekindle the dreams again in the future. "The mistake we made was believing we could sustain Champions League football.

"We didn't. Now I accept my share of the blame, but to suggest it was uniquely down to me is a little fanciful. What we will do now is to cut our cloth to meet our income, regroup, reinvest in a market that is heavily discounted and we're the ones with money in the bank.