Former England, Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur coach Terry Venables will be appointed as Leeds United manager today, it was rumoured late last night.
Venables was due to take a holiday in the Seychelles this weekend, but is expected to cut the break short if the offer of the job is made.
Reports said that, according to "sources close to the club", Venables would take over at Elland Road after the English club sacked David O'Leary 10 days ago.
O'Leary left Leeds on June 27th, with the club saying the move was by mutual consent, but the former manager stating he was sacked.
Venables, who guided England to the semi-finals of the 1996 European Championships, was the "people's choice" to succeed Kevin Keegan as national coach after England's failure at Euro 2000.
But the Football Association ignored Venables' claims and instead turned to Sweden's Sven Goran Eriksson.
Leeds United chairman Peter Ridsdale yesterday denied newspaper reports that he was set to offer the manager's job to Middlesbrough's Steve McClaren.
"I want to make it clear that I have absolutely no intention of leaving Middlesbrough for any other club," McClaren was quoted as saying.
"Further, I can say categorically and unequivocally, that I have not spoken to Leeds United, neither have they made contact with Middlesbrough FC or myself and nor do I have interest in speaking with them."
One of O'Leary's possible replacements, Celtic manager Martin O'Neill, said on Saturday he would honour the remaining 11 months of his contract at the Scottish club. O'Leary told the Sunday People he still hoped to return to Elland Road.
