Leeds United chairman Peter Ridsdale has dismissed as "nonsense" claims that manager David O'Leary is having a rethink over signing a new five-year contract.
Ridsdale was responding to speculation that O'Leary is reconsidering his future at Elland Road after Leeds's failure to sign Dutch midfielder Willem Korsten.
"To suggest David is having second thoughts is nonsense," said Ridsdale. "I made it clear that the board was going to back him all the way in the transfer market and over contracts for himself and players whose terms are due to be renegotiated.
"We have already budgeted for it and will meet David's advisers in the next day or two.
Ridsdale rejected claims that Leeds were being too reluctant to make transfer funds available.
"George Graham spent almost £20 million on players, this season we have spent £7.4 million on David Batty, Clyde Wijnhard and Danny Granville and we have earmarked £1.5 million for Korsten. More is still available," Ridsdale said.
O'Leary has also stressed that he will soon sign a new contract at Elland Road. "I was approached six or seven weeks ago about signing a new contract. I said I would and that is the situation," O'Leary said.
Graeme Souness has blamed Benfica for not backing him financially after he was sacked by the Portuguese giants.
The former Liverpool and Southampton manager will leave the Lisbon side at the end of the season to be replaced by German Jupp Heynckes, said Benfica president Joao Vale e Azevedo.
Souness (45) took over as coach of Benfica 18 months ago and was given a contract until June 2000. But he has been fiercely criticised by media and fans in Portugal with the club in third place in the League, trailing leaders Porto by nine points.
Souness has come under fire for his tendency to field British players and play with what are seen as British-style tactics. He has repeatedly complained that the debt-ridden club did not provide cash to buy quality players.
He recruited several players from England, including Welsh internationals Mark Pembridge and Dean Saunders, and former Liverpool and Arsenal midfielder Michael Thomas. Brian Deane and Scott Minto both returned from Portugal after spells under Souness.
Heynckes, who has signed a twoyear contract, steered Real Madrid to the Champions' Cup last season but was sacked for only finishing fifth in the Spanish league.
John Hendrie yesterday paid the price for failing to take Barnsley back into the Premiership at the first time of asking after being sacked by the Yorkshire club.
Hendrie replaced Danny Wilson in the Oakwell hot-seat last summer following Wilson's departure to Sheffield Wednesday, but the Scot has been unable to revive their fortunes.
Barnsley have been in mid-table all season, with the highlight of the campaign a place in the quarterfinals of the FA Cup.
Dennis Wise was cleared yesterday by UEFA disciplinary bosses of biting Real Mallorca defender Elena Marcelino. Wise escaped punishment following his clash with the centreback in the first leg between the sides at Stamford Bridge on April 8th.
The Chelsea captain could have been fined or banned by UEFA, but they said in a statement: "Although the player's unsporting gesture warrants clear disapproval, there is no legal basis in UEFA's disciplinary regulations for imposing a disciplinary sanction."
The captain of Berwick Rangers yesterday admitted he has been playing football with a drug problem for more than a decade. Martin Neil has decided to speak openly about his problem in a bid to salvage his career.
The 29-year-old claims that at no time in his spell with the Scottish third division club has he been drug-tested - but wishes he had been.
In an interview, Neil said he has taken amphetamines, LSD and cocaine, and fears his addiction will kill him.
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