Reid waits to learn fate

Leeds United have insisted that they will not rush into a decision over the club's new manager.

The Leeds board met yesterday to discuss who should succeed Terry Venables. The caretaker manager, Peter Reid, has improved his chances by keeping Leeds in the Premiership after taking over from Venables with eight games of the season remaining. Reid has also won the public backing of several Leeds players, but the club said yesterday that they "will be exploring the claims of three other candidates on the short list".

Martin O'Neill, the Celtic manager, Nottingham Forest's Paul Hart, Leicester City's Micky Adams and Southampton's Gordon Strachan, the manager of the FA Cup finalists Southampton, have all been linked with the post.

John McKenzie, the Leeds chairman, the deputy chairman Allan Leighton and the director Neil Holloway were due to discuss the contenders yesterday and, despite suggestions that an announcement would be made to the Stock Exchange this morning, an announcement before Sunday's final game of the season against Aston Villa at Elland Road is unlikely.

Fulham, meanwhile, are also searching for a new manager, to replace Jean Tigana. Klaus Toppmöller yesterday said that he hopes to get the job, while Louis van Gaal's representative revealed the Dutchman is "not in the race".

Toppmöller, sacked by Bayer Leverkusen in February after taking the German side to the Champions' League final 12 months ago, is one of eight men the Cottagers have either already interviewed or are speaking to this week.

Toppmöller said he has agreed a secrecy pact with Fulham ahead of the announcement of their new manager later this month.

Van Gaal, interviewed by Fulham a fortnight ago, is out of the running according to his solicitor Cor Hellingman, who said talks between Fulham and the former Barcelona coach have ended. "As I see it, Louis is not in the race any more," Hellingman said.