Reid insists sinking Leeds are too good to go down

The Leeds United caretaker manager Peter Reid is convinced there is enough quality in his side to avoid relegation from the Premiership.

With seven matches to go, Leeds are in 16th place, just four points above the bottom three, and have only won once in the past nine League games. Relegation would also raise the fearsome prospect of administration after the Yorkshire club revealed losses of £17.2m this week, and an overall debt of £78.9m.

However, Reid believes the squad he is currently working with should not be in their current predicament and is too good to go down.

"You just shake your head at how good this club is," said Reid, who has been surprised at the quality of players he has at his disposal at Elland Road. "I look around the place in amazement. The only place for this great club is to be in the Premiership.

"There's more than enough here to improve the situation. You've got to impress that working hard ethic and that's what I'm here to do.

"There are some good players here," the former Sunderland manager continued. "If you look at this squad and some that are above us then this squad is better. That tells you we have to prove it.

"We have the ammunition. You don't beat teams like Manchester United and Newcastle if you are no good – that's no fluke, but we have to start proving it again."

Leeds travel to play Charlton on Saturday with the knowledge they have lost their last five matches, while fellow strugglers Bolton and West Ham are beginning to find form and are closing the gap.

As for the club's off-field predicament, the former Leeds player Peter Lorimer conceded earlier this week it has to take its toll on the players. Yet Reid feels it should not concern his squad.

"I know some financial results came out which weren't good, but that side of things is nothing to do with me and I'm sure the board will sort it out," Reid said. "There's no extra pressure. This club has to be in the Premiership next season and I'm not thinking about anything else."

Reid is buoyed by the news that Gary Kelly, David Batty and Michael Duberry all played 90 minutes for the reserves in a 2-2 draw at home to Sunderland on Tuesday.

Kelly and Duberry are fit again after hamstring injuries and could be recalled to the defence for the game at The Valley, while Batty is close to full match-fitness and is pushing for a place in midfield following an entire season in exile under the former manager Terry Venables.