Leeds deny Bowyer and Dacourt leaving club

LEEDS chairman Peter Ridsdale yesterday insisted United had not accepted any bid for any player despite speculation that midfielders Lee Bowyer and Olivier Dacourt were poised to leave Elland Road.

Speaking at the press conference to present new manager Terry Venables, Ridsdale was adamant there had been no agreed price with Liverpool for Bowyer despite reports from Merseyside earlier in the day.

Liverpool assistant manager Phil Thompson confirmed on Wednesday that talks with Bowyer were ongoing.

Thompson said: "Nothing has been finalised yet but discussions are ongoing."

But Ridsdale said: "If Phil Thompson says Liverpool are talking to Lee that is news to me. I have not accepted any bid from any football club for any player. Lee is on the transfer list and so there will always be speculation where his future lies.

"There is a lot of talk that I am trying to drive him out of this football club but I would wish that Lee would stay and I hope he does. If he doesn't then we will have to see who is interested in buying him.

The chairman also confirmed that he and Terry Venables had only held brief discussions about the plans for the squad as Olivier Dacourt is linked with a move to Juventus.

Ridsdale added: "We've talked a little bit about the size and the shape of the squad and who he may be ready to let go. We will do our utmost to attempt to get everything in place in time for the first game on August 17."

Ridsdale also insisted Venables was the only man Leeds approached to replace David O'Leary.

It had been widely thought the former England coach was only third choice to fill the vacancy, with firstly Martin O'Neill and then Steve McClaren rejecting the opportunity to leave Celtic and Middlesbrough respectively.

With O'Neill having just one year left on his contract at Parkhead, it had also been suggested Venables' appointment was a short-term measure while the club waited for O'Neill to become available.

But Ridsdale described such suggestions as insulting and insists Venables could extend his Leeds' stay if he delivers the long-awaited silverware craved by the club's board and supporters.

Ridsdale said: ''We've always said that we had a very, very short list. Somebody asked me a week last Sunday if that shortlist had Terry Venables' name on it and I confirmed it did.

''Therefore Terry was the only person we approached to offer the job.''

Ridsdale also insisted the club did not have a successor lined up when the decision was made to sack the Irishman.

''When the vacancy occurred almost two weeks ago, everybody assumes you've already got a readymade replacement,'' he added.

''Had we done so I'm sure we would have been criticised for having that replacement before the vacancy was created. We spent the time asking the people who matter in football who the best person was to take us forward. Almost to a man they said Venables.

Meanwhile, England international defender Jonathan Woodgate is set to sign his new five-year contract that was finalised at the end of the last campaign and drawn up through the summer.