Premiership: Leeds ready to take Intertoto Cup option

Leeds have joined the unwanted race for a place in next season's Intertoto Cup, but with hopes still high of avoiding Europe's most dreaded competition.

Peter Ridsdale has confirmed Leeds have joined Aston Villa and Ipswich in applying to compete in the Intertoto Cup.

Leeds could yet qualify for the Champions League with an unlikely top-four finish, or gain entry to the Uefa Cup by finishing fifth in the table, if they likewise fail to win the Uefa Cup this season.

But Leeds will start Thursday's Uefa Cup fourth-round first leg as outsiders at PSV Eindhoven.

"With the deadline on Monday, we have submitted our application to the Football Association - by both fax and hard copy - to compete in next season's Intertoto Cup," stated Leeds chairman Ridsdale.

"Entering the Intertoto Cup is our only way of playing in Europe next season if we don't qualify for the Champions League or Uefa Cup, although of course we still hope we don't have to go down that route."

Ridsdale has also stated the purse strings would be tightened if the club's European revenue stream is cut, possibly leading to a number of fringe players being sold, with the prospect of some of the high-profile names wanting to leave.

"A club of our size, with a wage bill that we have got and with the investment that we have made, has to be in Europe," added Ridsdale.