Reid's tenure in doubt as Leeds line up alternatives

Peter Reid's hopes of becoming the full-time manager of Leeds United have been dealt a blow as the board are lining up interviews with other candidates next week.

The new Leeds chairman, Professor John McKenzie, will speak to two candidates, both of whom are already in jobs. The meetings are therefore confidential, but calls have gone out to set up the discussions.

The Leeds board wants to talk to the two men as soon as possible as both are under consideration for other posts. The fear of missing out on these alternatives to Reid is driving the actions and the timing of the board, which has publicly supported the caretaker manager.

Reid was brought in for the remainder of the season and was confident that he would do well enough to earn his survival bonus and keep the side up. However, results have been mixed, with a home defeat to Blackburn Rovers leaving Leeds still unsure of their Premiership status as they go into their two final games with Arsenal and Aston Villa.

The former Bayer Leverkusen coach Klaus Toppmöller has said he hopes to meet Fulham officials next week to discuss becoming Jean Tigana's successor.

The 51-year-old German confirmed he is willing to meet the Cottagers' demands that their new manager sticks to a tight budget and allows youth to flourish. He revealed he told the Londoners he was interested in the job in March but was not one of the four candidates already interviewed.

Fulham are interviewing two more candidates this week and expect to name their man before next Sunday's season-ending game at Charlton. Toppmöller said: "I contacted them six or seven weeks ago. Fulham are a very good club and it would be very interesting to coach a team in England. I haven't met their chairman but I've read about him in the papers."