Matteo calls for United front

Leeds skipper Dominic Matteo urged his teammates to rally round manager Terry Venables and chairman Peter Ridsdale after the controversial departures of Robbie Fowler and Jonathan Woodgate.

"It's very unfortunate that the club has been forced to sell Woody," he told the club's website, leedsunited.com, on Friday.

"I think the club were within their rights in believing they had received transfer fees for Lee Bowyer and Olly Dacourt at the start of the season. Those deals didn't materialise.

"I don't think that was anybody's fault but the collapse of the world transfer market has seen the fees for players like Robbie Fowler and Seth Johnson drop.

"That seems to be the position that has led Woody to be sold as the last option. Nobody is happy that it has come to this but I can see why.

"I hope a witch-hunt against the chairman (Peter Ridsdale) doesn't develop. That would serve no purpose at all. We all know that at heart he is a Leeds fan.

"We still have enough good players to make an impact and aim to qualify for Europe for the sixth consecutive season. Right now we need everybody to stick together."

Venables said Friday he was still considering quitting after the sale of Woodgate but indicated he would probably battle on.