Leeds may ask Venables to keep seat warm for O'Neill

Leeds have not abandoned hope of securing Martin O'Neill as successor to David O'Leary, although they accept that the move may have to be delayed by up to a year. The Yorkshire club may be prepared to wait for the man who is understood to be their first choice and make an interim appointment in the meantime. That could be an experienced figure like Terry Venables, 60 at the turn of the year, who is a short-priced favourite with the bookmakers to be offered the job on a permanent basis.

However, that is just one of a number of possible options being considered this weekend by the Leeds chairman, Peter Ridsdale, who is taking a long-term view about the club's new manager and is determined to investigate every possibility before identifying his target.

The Republic of Ireland manager, Mick McCarthy, Middlesbrough's Steve McClaren, Southampton's Gordon Strachan and Blackburn Rovers' Graeme Souness are other possibilities, together with Manchester City's Kevin Keegan, Derby County's John Gregory and the France coach Roger Lemerre, who was dismissed on Friday, although he remains as technical director. Ridsdale hopes to have moved for his man by the middle of this week.

Apart from the coaching and managerial qualities the new man might bring to the job, Leeds will look closely at his background, particularly his past financial and transfer dealings. As a plc, the club will want to avoid any potential embarrassment in that respect.

Of the principal contenders, the Yorkshireman McCarthy has enhanced his status greatly by his handling of the Republic of Ireland team in their qualification for, and participation in, this summer's World Cup, although his club background is limited. McClaren's coaching of Manchester United and England may commend him to Ridsdale, although again he would bring with him only a year's managerial experience at Middlesbrough. However, that would not necessarily deter Ridsdale and his board. O'Leary was appointed with no managerial cv at all, other than his role as number two to Graham.

Ridsdale regards Leeds as possessing the potential to compete with Manchester United, and the Leeds' chairman's first thoughts would have been directed towards the man at Celtic Park. Having declared his interest in O'Neill in 1998, Ridsdale will not have lost enthusiasm during the intervening years in which O'Neill's stock has risen even higher.

On that initial occasion O'Neill refused to break his then contract with Leicester and O'Leary, who had been assistant to the departing George Graham, was offered the job. The former Arsenal defender succeeded in nurturing and introducing Leeds' youngsters and, despite many injuries and the fall-out from the Bowyer-Woodgate court case, managed to reach the semi-finals of the Champions' League in 2001. But last season was beset with distractions off the field, mostly concerned with that court case, and for the second season running, Leeds failed to secure a Champions' League place after heavy investment in players.

Now O'Neill is back in contention again despite the Northern Ireland international's declaration on Friday that he intended to see out the final year of his contract at Celtic. Leeds have always been aware that O'Neill would insist on honouring that agreement.

O'Neill, speaking at a fund-raising lunch for the Irish club Shelbourne, said during a question-and-answer session that there had been no approach from Leeds and added: "If Celtic do not sack me I want to see through the remaining year of my contract." However, that would not preclude him signing a pre-contract deal with Leeds.

The Scottish champions want to extend his contract, but that appears unlikely, in the knowledge that big Premiership clubs, including Manchester United, covet his expertise as one of the British game's most accomplished motivators. Any vacancy at Old Trafford would clearly appeal to O'Neill, though Sir Alex Ferguson still has just under three years of his own contract to run, having delayed his retirement. However, there is a strong belief that he will not see out that agreement beyond next summer.

In one respect, Leeds may appeal more to O'Neill. Like Wycombe, Leicester and Celtic, they offer scope for improvement. That is what the Ulsterman relishes. The next Old Trafford manager can only sustain the club's already extraordinary high levels of achievement.

The assistant manager, Eddie Gray, and first- team coach, Brian Kidd, will be in charge tomorrow when the Leeds first-team squad return for pre-season training, still wondering about the identity of their new manager.