'Venables can keep Ferdinand and Bowyer at Leeds'

LEEDS legend Peter Lorimer believes Terry Venables can keep Rio Ferdinand and Lee Bowyer at the club.

Speculation has been rife all summer that the Elland Road side would be forced to cash in on record signing Ferdinand to help balance the books with Manchester United reportedly ready to launch a £30m-plus bid, while Bowyer has signalled his intention to leave regardless of the new appointment. However, Lorimer is confident that the new boss has the charisma and the pulling power to persuade both those players and the board that they should stay where they are.

''I think it's a great appointment personally,'' he said. ''He's a top coach, he has charisma, everything that you would expect a club of Leeds' stature to have, a high-profile manager.