ANDY GRAY COLUMN: Ridsdale's cocked up but Terry's failed too

LEEDS have stumbled from crisis to crisis all season, so nothing they do these days surprises me.

It's been obvious since that bizarre press conference in January to explain the sale of Jonathan Woodgate to Newcastle that the relationship between Terry Venables and Peter Ridsdale was on its last legs. The body language was all wrong.

So when Sheffield United knocked Leeds out of the FA Cup and cut off the only port in the Elland Road storm it was only a matter of time before Terry followed Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Keane, Jonathan Woodgate, Lee Bowyer, Robbie Fowler and Olivier Dacourt out of the door.

Ridsdale, who hailed Terry as the saviour after he sacked David O'Leary, is still there despite growing calls for him to fall on his sword.

Leeds fans are absolutely right to question Peter's judgment. He has made some dreadful mistakes but the only way he is going to leave Elland Road is if he is forced out by the board.

He's not the type of person who is going to hold up his hands, admit he has cocked it up and sack himself.

There is a strong argument that the best thing that could happen to Leeds is that they start next season with a new manager and a new chairman. That way the people responsible for this season's nightmare will be history and some fresh blood can concentrate on the future.

Plenty of people would love to see a complete clear-out but I can't see it happening.

I think Ridsdale will dig in and hope he can turn things around but there is no question that he is now in last chance saloon. If he doesn't get the choice of manager right this time he will have no option but to quit.

In the meantime let's not be too hasty to dump all the blame on Ridsdale's doorstep. Whatever you say about him, he has done his best for a club he loves.

Terry Venables got the job because he has a reputation as a great coach and whichever way you choose to look at it he failed to deliver.

Tel could say he was stabbed in the back, misled and forced to watch his best players sold to pay off horrendous debts.

He can throw up as many excuses as he likes but I still look at that team and I see lads like Paul Robinson, Danny Mills, Dominic Matteo, Ian Harte, Alan Smith, Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka and Seth Johnson.

You're not telling me he was left with a squad of duff players! These boys are quality, so the brutal fact is that Terry failed to get the best out of the nucleus of a very good team.

I've got a lot of time for Terry, he's a great guy and I honestly thought he would make a success of Leeds. Perhaps the players couldn't adapt to his style of play, or maybe his reputation as a good coach was simply based on his success with Spurs and Barcelona a long time ago.

Players love the guy but there comes a time in everyone's lifetime when it just isn't happening any more and unless a giant club comes in with a big offer - and there's not much chance of that - I think we have seen the last of Terry in football management.

It's a shame his career has ended on a low but we can look forward to seeing him back on our television screens as a fellow pundit, where he is guaranteed to be a success.

The temporary appointment of Peter Reid to ensure Leeds don't get dragged into the relegation zone is a good one. If the players were feeling sorry for themselves they certainly won't be after Reidy has spoken to them.

He is exactly the kind of in-your-face manager Leeds need for their remaining games. Whether he does enough to get the job permanently remains to be seen but he is perfect for the short term.

In the meantime other names will be thrown into the frame for the job. I think you can rule out Martin O'Neill. He might have taken it a year ago but not now, especially as he is enjoying some success with Celtic.

Gordon Strachan would be a good choice, Paul Hart is Leeds through and through and Gary McAllister might sneak into the reckoning although it is probably a little bit early in his managerial career.

David O'Leary is still looking for a job but I just don't think Leeds would risk becoming the laughing stock of football by taking him back.

What Leeds need now is some stability. They need to get to the end of the season by surviving in the Premiership and come back next season with a new manager and new hope.

And if Ridsdale picks the wrong bloke to replace Tel they will also be looking for a new chairman.

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