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Your support makes all the difference.When Terry Venables returned to manage Crystal Palace four years ago, one of the England squad he took to the semi-finals of Euro 96 wondered aloud: "When will this man get a big club?"
Six years after his resignation as England coach, nine years after his dismissal by Tottenham Hotspur and 13 months after he appeared to turn his back on football management forever by refusing an extended contract at Middlesbrough, Venables will finally take charge of a club appropriate to his ability, Leeds United.
Nevertheless, the resources available once he arrives in Yorkshire tomorrow to begin his two-year contract are not as extensive as those offered to his predecessor, David O'Leary. The Leeds board has asked for a £15m profit on transfers this summer and the futures of captain Rio Ferdinand, who could attract a £30m fee if sold to Manchester United, Lee Bowyer, and Robbie Keane, who has turned down an £8m move to Sunderland, still have to be resolved.
The Leeds chairman, Peter Ridsdale, announced he had already discussed Ferdinand's future with Venables and had not abandoned hope of retaining Bowyer's controversial services. "Of course, Terry would like Rio at Elland Road," he said. "My point of view is that he is a player who is contracted to us. The door is always open for Lee to sign a new contract."
Venables admitted yesterday that he imagined Middlesbrough would be his final job in football's front line, although he claimed it was the World Cup, in which he acted as an analyst for ITV, which reawakened his desire to return to management.
"The World Cup excited me so much. I thought that if something should crop up I might just take it," he explained. "What I didn't foresee was an appointment by Leeds United. The whole business has been conducted like a whirlwind. It was irresistible; that's how it seemed to me. I can hardly believe it has been finalised so quickly.
"If people are surprised, then no more than myself. I simply didn't anticipate the outcome. I honestly felt I'd had enough of it after Middlesbrough and that's why I was concentrating more and more on other aspects of my life."
Those other aspects, which in the past have included writing a novel and a television series and running a nightclub, not to mention the chairmanship of Portsmouth and coaching Australia, may have diluted his impact on the game. Gary Mabbutt, who was Venables' captain at Tottenham when he won his only domestic trophy as a manager, the 1991 FA Cup, believes a desire to leave his imprint on English football spurred him to accept Leeds' offer.
"Terry still wants to prove himself as a manager who can win championships," Mabbutt said. "He won the FA Cup at Tottenham but that is all he has achieved in his time in English football. I'm sure he wants to build on that and what an opportunity this will be."
The deal was concluded at Venables' home in Spain, the country where he has won a championship, taking Barcelona to La Liga in 1985 and the final of the European Cup 12 months later. On his return from negotiating the contract over lunch, Ridsdale was in ebullient mood, despite again seeing Martin O'Neill, his choice to replace George Graham in 1998, slip away.
"I firmly believe we have got the best," he said. "If you wanted to draw up a comparison with the signing of Terry, then the best would be Bobby Robson. He went to Newcastle as an ex-England manager and he has transformed the club. For tangible evidence of Terry's qualities you only have to look at his incredible rescue act at Middlesbrough."
Steering Boro from bottom of the Premiership in December 2000 to 14th six months later was not "a miracle" as Ridsdale claimed but it was a significant demonstration of his talents. The Middlesbrough chairman, Steve Gibson, was unhappy at Venables' decision to leave the Riverside for ITV and has been displeased by reports of his current manager Steve McClaren's flirtation with Leeds. Gibson, who would not have welcomed the prospect of his manager leaving after a bare 12 months on Teesside, will seek reassurances about his commitment to the club.
Venables' commitment to Leeds will be demonstrated by moving to Yorkshire and giving up his television work. Given that O'Leary was sacked partly for failing to deliver a trophy, the expectations will be severe and not helped by Ridsdale's comments that Venables can "deliver unlimited success".
The attitude in Yorkshire would be best summed up by Peter Lorimer, a mainstay of Don Revie's great side. "Venables has been out of football by choice; now it's time to get out of the armchair and get on with it. We need to bring some silverware to Elland Road."
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