Ridsdale brings in bodyguards after death threats

Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale has stepped up his personal security after receiving death threats from fans.

United supporters have directed their anger at Ridsdale and the rest of the club’s board following their decision to sell defender Jonathan Woodgate.

England centre-half Woodgate joined Newcastle in a £9m deal yesterday, making him the latest in a long list of departures as the debt-ridden club try to balance their books.

Fans have staged demonstrations at Elland Road but Ridsdale has been forced to hire bodyguards after some directed serious threats at him.

The club’s media adviser Max Clifford told the Daily Express: “It’s frightening. this is the horrible face of football and I feel for him and his family.

“There have been messages like, ‘You won’t be around much longer’ and the club have taken it seriously.

“He is now surrounded by full-time security. I don’t care how fanatical the sport, Peter Ridsdale doesn’t deserve this.”

Ridsdale yesterday attempted to put on a brave face as he and manager Terry Venables tried to explain the club’s current predicament.

He admitted he regretted the sale of Woodgate and Robbie Fowler this week but said tough decisions had to be taken to protect the club’s well-being.

He conceded, however, that the fans may not be so easy to placate.

Ridsdale said: “I’ve not shirked my responsibility, and whatever the future holds I’ll always be a fan. The future is brighter because we’ve taken the tough decisions.

“If fans don’t understand why we’ve done what we’ve done, I might take a view on whether spending time with my family is better than going through what I’m going through at the moment.

“I can live with myself because I know I’ve taken the right decisions. Whether the fans want me to stay is another question.

“I can tend my garden, but whoever had been chairman had to take the right decision for the club and would have accepted the £9m.”

Leeds yesterday moved to shore up their squad by bringing in Real Madrid left-sided utility player Raul Bravo on loan until the end of the season.