Ridsdale escapes punishment for walkabout

The Football Association have confirmed they will be taking no action against Leeds United chairman Peter Ridsdale following …

The Football Association have confirmed they will be taking no action against Leeds United chairman Peter Ridsdale following his decision to confront angry fans in the wake of Sunday's goalless draw at Everton.

Leeds supporters rounded on their head coach Brian Kidd - they blame him on the club's current loss of form and resent his Manchester United past - during the match.

Ridsdale apologised to the police, who were unhappy with the incident, and the FA are satisfied his actions were intended to calm, rather than provoke the fans.

Meanwhile, manager David O'Leary has said that he will resume control of training sessions, despite publicly backing Kidd after the Everton game.

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O'Leary said he was returning to the training pitch because of what he felt were shortcomings in Kidd's approach. "Brian is going to be there for training but I am going to take the sessions from the very start," he said.

"When the boss is not there, training is never the same. There's always more tempo when the boss is there.

"Brian's sessions are interesting. But if he is one per cent short from being the complete coach, it is that he could be a little bit more confrontational with players."

Kidd's former boss Alex Ferguson has called for the Premier League to introduce professional assistant referees in the wake of Manchester United's controversial match at Derby.

Ferguson was angry with the performance of the linesmen during the controversial 2-2 draw at Pride Park and felt they failed to spot that Derby's opening goal was offside.

The United manager claims it is a nonsense for the Premier League to have a 24-man select group of referees, which excludes assistant referees.

"We have paid referees and yet the linesmen are interfering with the game," he said. "It's so stupid. The whole system is cock-eyed to be honest. "Somebody in authority has to address the fact that linesmen don't know the rules of the game. Every time you watch a Sky game there are at least six occasions where a linesman has got the offside wrong.

"You may as well have professional linesmen as well who double up as referees on alternate weekends."

Fulham and Everton have been fined by the FA following a mass brawl during their league match last December. Fulham were fined £30,000 sterling, while Everton were fined £25,000, both for disorderly conduct.

Everton have accepted the punishment but Fulham, who were also ordered to pay costs, may appeal.

The incident involved almost every player on the pitch and ended with the dismissal of Everton defender David Weir and Fulham striker Luis Boa Morte.

Everton, meanwhile, have told Paul Gascoigne that he will remain at the club until the end of the season.

The former England midfielder has been the subject of more than a dozen enquiries about his availability - with first division Burnley confirming their interest - but Everton boss Walter Smith has dismissed all speculation about the player's future.

Juan Pablo Angel has indicated that he is happy to stay at Aston Villa, news which may come as something of a surprise to manager Graham Taylor who at the weekend expressed doubts as to whether the Colombian striker would be around next season.

Angel, Villa's record signing at £9.5 million, has scored 15 times this season. "I am a Villa player and I will remain here until I complete my contract. Mr Taylor has spoken to me and he told me that I am an important member of the squad," he said.

Blackburn Rovers will offer manager Graeme Souness a new contract in the summer - even if the club are relegated.

Souness, whose current deal expires at the end of next season, will clock up two years at Ewood Park next week, and in that time he has guided Blackburn to the Premiership and won the Worthington Cup.