Leeds dismiss reports of Venables-Martyn row

Leeds insist there has been no bust-up between Terry Venables and Nigel Martyn over the goalkeeper's decision to pull out of the club's pre-season tour of the Far East and Australia.

It had been reported that Venables has axed Martyn as his first-choice keeper because he has not travelled and that the England international will soon be on his way from Elland Road.

However, the club stress that there has been no row between the pair and that Venables agreed with Martyn's request that he could remain in England for family reasons.

Martyn's decision to stay at home, though, even if it is with Venables' blessing, could signal a change in who starts the new season in the Leeds goal.

It has long seemed only a matter of time before Paul Robinson replaced Martyn, who is 36 next month, at Elland Road and that changeover could now happen.

Robinson has a chance in pre-season to prove to his new manager that he should be Leeds' first-choice goalkeeper.

If that happens then Martyn may feel he does not want to sit on the bench at this late stage of his career and he could ask for a move.