Morris to continue playing at Leeds

LEEDS will allow Jody Morris to continue playing for the club pending the outcome of legal proceedings into a charge of rape.

The midfielder, along with Kristofer Dickie, has been remanded on bail after his appearance at Leeds magistrates court yesterday morning charged with raping a 20-year-old woman on October 7. Leeds have decided to take the stance of "innocent until proven guilty".

Morris and Dickie spoke only to confirm their personal details during a 35-minute hearing at Leeds Magistrates' Court and stood in silence as the rape allegations were put to them. They will next appear at Leeds Crown Court on December 17.

Meanwhile, Leeds caretaker boss Eddie Gray remains in the running to be his club's next full-time manager despite not possessing the necessary qualifications.

Gray, who stepped into the Leeds hot-seat nine days ago following the sacking of Peter Reid, learned only on Monday he requires a management diploma or a UEFA Pro Licence to take charge of a Barclaycard Premiership team. Despite a previous managerial stint with Leeds from 1982-85 and spells at Rotherham and Hull, Gray is unqualified following an agreement drawn up by the Premier League and the League Managers' Association, which came into force over the summer.

The Premier League have, however, granted Gray and Leeds special dispensation, allowing him to manage the club for no more than three months.