Gillingham angered by Venables snub

The Gillingham coach Wayne Jones has joined forces with his player-manager Andy Hessenthaler in criticising Terry Venables over the Leeds United's manager's failure to shake their hands after the FA Cup tie on Tuesday.

Jones claimed he had lost some of the respect he had for Venables after the former England coach headed straight to the dressing room at the final whistle of Leeds' 2-1 fourth-round replay victory over the Gills at Elland Road. Venables did likewise in the initial tie at the Priestfield Stadium, although then he had cause for grievance after seeing Mark Viduka sent off for elbowing Hessenthaler before Leeds immediately conceded a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw.

Hessenthaler was disappointed by the reaction of Venables in not shaking hands with his coaches as he himself was still on the pitch at the time congratulating the Leeds players.

Hessenthaler suggested that Venables' previous positions at "Barcelona and other big clubs" had made the 60-year-old "a little too big for us".

Jones endorsed Hessenthaler's accusations, saying: "Brian Kidd, Eddie Gray and Roy Aitken all came straight over, as they did at our place, and obviously they were more disappointed down there than they were after this game.

"They all shook hands and said 'well done', but Mr Venables didn't. Now that's his prerogative. Whether he does it every week with the Premier boys I don't know, but he never looked to us to shake our hands which, whether you win, lose or draw, it's always nice to do that.

"We've always done it, so in that respect it was disappointing. But then he didn't do it at the end of the first game either. They drew that game against a lower division club and had a lad sent off which he was disappointed with, but there's still no reason not to shake hands.

"You've got to be big when you lose and you've got to be nice and smiley and shake hands when you win. So we were disappointed because we've looked up to Terry Venables for years.But it's not as if [fellow coach] Richard [Hill] or I will lose any sleep over it."

Meanwhile, the Leeds striker Mark Viduka has lost his appeal against his sending-off for violent conduct in the first game at Gillingham on 25 January. The Football Association's Video Advisory Panel reviewed the incident in which the Australian appeared to elbow Hessenthaler and decided the red card should stand. Viduka will therefore serve a three-match ban, starting on Saturday, which means the striker will miss the return of Lee Bowyer to Elland Road with West Ham.

Unhappy Leeds fans were set to be told last night that the removal of chairman Peter Ridsdale is the only way the club can restore much-needed confidence in the City. Speculation surrounding Ridsdale's position is growing, with the suggestion being put forward that his role of chief executive is under threat and he will continue at the club only as a figurehead. Ridsdale has come under fire for his part in the club's dire financial position, which culminated in the decision to sell Jonathan Woodgate to Newcastle for £9m.

With officials claiming they are unable to offer precise information on the club's finances because of the impending release of half-year figures, supporters' groups summoned a financial analyst, Bill Gerrard, to address last night's meeting.

Gerrard, a lecturer in economics at Leeds University Business School and regarded as the most authoritative financial voice on the club outside Elland Road, said before the meeting: "Peter's position is untenable. The final straw was last week when he said he would prefer the £9m from Woodgate over 10,000 fans renewing their season tickets.

"In terms of crass statements it was on the same level as Gerald Ratner and Freddie Shepherd. The fans feel disillusioned and alienated. They have not been kept in the picture, and it is crazy to think I have to address a fans' meeting because there isn't a representative of Leeds United who can do it on their behalf."