Ridsdale set to pay price for Leeds' financial gamble

Peter Ridsdale's reign as chairman of Leeds United will come under review at the end of the season with his power and position likely to change.

The man who steered Leeds to the Champions' League before their recent financial problems is set to lose out as the plc board plan a shake-up. The outcome will see Ridsdale either step down as chairman or the appointment of a chief operations executive who will take over the day-to-day running of the Elland Road club.

Senior sources at Leeds have confirmed that there will be a significant change in time for next season, with Ridsdale the main fall guy. He has been the focus for fans' demonstrations since the sale of Jonathan Woodgate to Newcastle, but it is his overall performance that will be judged by the plc chairman, Allan Leighton, and his team.

The policy of gambling heavily in the transfer market to stay in the Champions' League has failed and recent revelations about commission paid to agents has also counted against him. Although there is no suggestion of any wrongdoing in the sums paid to the likes of Rune Hauge and Pini Zahavi for Rio Ferdinand's transfers, Ridsdale's position was weakened by the impression that money was frittered away.

While Ferdinand was sold at a profit there were big losses made on Robbie Keane and Robbie Fowler. There are also fears that more players must go before rebuilding can begin. Ridsdale has defended his position, but the money men are far from impressed.

Sheffield United are to appeal against the decision to close parts of their Bramall Lane ground for next month's FA Cup quarter-final tie with Leeds.

The Blades have been told to close the lower tier of the Gordon Lamb Stand and also blocks G and H of the Laver Stand for the game on Sunday, March 9. The decision to prevent 4,400 seats being made available for use was taken by the safety advisory committee which comprises police and the local authorities.

Leeds will seek their full allocation from Sheffield United even though parts of Bramall Lane are due to be closed.

Unlike Leeds, Blackburn yesterday ruled out entering the Intertoto Cup next season in order to concentrate on their performance in the league.

Manchester City's Costa Rican striker Paulo Wanchope is out for the remainder of the season after dislocating his shoulder last Sunday in a freak accident during training.

MPs are to lobby the European Commission to drop their threat to stop English football selling television rights collectively. The EC have issued the Premier League with a statement of objection to their current TV deal with Sky, but the Labour MPs, Andy Burnham and James Purnell, are to write to EC Commissioner Mario Monti urging him to allow the system to continue on the condition that more TV revenue is spread to all parts of the game.

The Chelsea chairman, Ken Bates, has ruled out a Stamford Bridge ground-share with Fulham next season. saying: "The pitch we are laying down now is not suitable for 50 games [per season]. It is only suitable for 25."

Three West Bromwich Albion players having escaped possible suspension. The captain, Derek McInnes, wing-back Neil Clement and striker Danny Dichio have all collected four yellow cards – one away from a statutory one-match ban. But a Football Association amnesty comes into force at the end of February and, if the trio are cautioned again, they will escape with only a warning.

The Professional Footballers' Association have criticised Football League proposals to force players to accept wage cuts if their clubs are relegated. The PFA's deputy chief executive, Mick McGuire, said: "We are dead against it because it is not hitting the crux of the problem. Our experience from looking at over 30 clubs is that the level of salary is only one of a number of problems clubs have."