Beleaguered Leeds manager Terry Venables said on Saturday he may still leave the cash-strapped club following a 2-0 loss at Everton.
In a week that saw Leeds sell off two more star players -- Jonathan Woodgate to Newcastle and Robbie Fowler to Man City -- Venables was still fuming about being left with the skeleton of a team.
Asked if he had made up his mind about remaining at Leeds, he replied, ``No I haven't, no.''
PHOTO: AP
The former England and Barcelona manager wavered on Friday when asked about his future at Leeds, first saying he thought he would go and then suggesting he might stay.
He said the quick sale of the two players -- a half dozen have now been sold by Leeds since Venables took over six months ago -- shocked him.
``I think it's been difficult for everybody, everybody involved,'' Venables said of the departure of Fowler and Woodgate. ``It's not an easy situation.
PHOTO: REUTERS
He said the sale of Woodgate in particular had struck him like ``a bolt out of the blue. And everyone expects an answer to my situation. It's been a fight for players all year and I just felt it was a different situation completely.''
Not a chirpy
cockney
``Obviously, I'm not very happy about it.''
``This has been the most trying time of my managerial career,'' he added.
Leeds, which reached the semifinals of the European Champions Cup just two years ago, has missed out on Europe the last two season and has seen its income shrink.
At the start of the season it was reported with debts of about ?77 million (US$ 123.2 million) and has dropped this season to the bottom half of England's top league.
Venables was expected to be in charge for tomorrow's FA Cup replay with Gillingham with Leeds facing West Ham next Saturday at Elland Road.
Venables said he heard the jeers directed at Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale when he entered and departed Everton's Goodison Park.
Meanwhile, Robert Pires scored both goals including the winner deep into second-half injury time, giving Arsenal a 2-1 home victory over Fulham on Saturday and a six-point lead at the top of the table over Manchester United.
Pires put Arsenal ahead in the 17th minute but watched as the Gunners, looking sluggish after a
2-2 mid-week draw with Liverpool, saw Steed Malbranque level in the 29th.
With Arsenal looking like it would settle for a tie, the French winger struck in injury time to move the Gunners up to 56 points.
``We left it very late,'' Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said.
``We were frustrated on Wednesday night. We dropped two points in the last minute at Liverpool and today we gained two points in the last minute. But overall we had two good games.''
Manchester United climbed over Newcastle into second place with a 2-0 away victory at Southampton on goals by Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Ryan Giggs. The victory gave Man United 50 points, two ahead of Newcastle.
``The first half we really had to dig in and defend well,'' Man United manager Alex Ferguson said. ``And we were fortunate to get the two goals that mattered. In the second half we were far more in the comfort zone.''
Newcastle's match at Middlesbrough was called off because of a frozen pitch.
Drawing level
Chelsea and Everton wound up level on points just behind the Magpies.
Chelsea managed only a 1-1 draw at home against Tottenham. The highlight was a twisting 35m free kick scored by the Blues' striker Gianfranco Zola.
The biggest shock of the day saw West Brom upset Manchester City 2-1 at Maine Road, where new striker Fowler did little. Darren Moore got the winner in the 71st. The Baggies then had to hang on after Jason Roberts was sent off in the 81st for violent conduct.
The victory moved West Brom out of last place and up to 18th. It also puts the Baggies in good shape with the next two matches coming at home against Bolton and West Ham.
``The result was fantastic for us,'' said West Brom manager Gary Megson, whose side picked up only its second away win. ``But the last minutes with Jason sent off make it touch and go.''
Sunderland, which scored a disastrous three own-goals in seven minutes, fell 3-1 to Charlton and dropped to last place with only 19 points. West Brom improved to 20, the same as West Ham.
West Ham United was home yesterday to Liverpool with Blackburn playing at Aston Villa in the other match.
In Saturday's final game, Bolton jolted Birmingham City 4-2, giving the Wanderers 24 points.
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