RIO GRANDE
Last updated : 10 July 2002 By Editor
"It's great news for the club. I'm looking forward to meeting Mr Venables and hearing his plans. His record speaks for itself. He has a proven track record and although I was sorry to see David O'Leary go, if you have to get a replacement then Terry Venables is the man.
"With Mr Venables in charge, I'm sure Leeds can look forward to an exciting future.
"My position has never changed in all this. People have said a deal has been done to sell me but it hasn't as far as I know.
"It makes me feel quite uncomfortable that some people have seen me as the man in the middle in what has happened at the club, because I haven't done anything.
"I've never asked to leave and the club haven't told me they are selling me. I spoke to the chairman before I went to Las Vegas on the first part of my holiday and we agreed to talk when I got back to training.
"I won't go into details about what was said but I am still a Leeds player and I haven't asked for a transfer."
From the MEN:
"The battle for Rio Ferdinand will reach fever pitch early next week when United's number one transfer target returns from Las Vegas for pre-season training at Leeds.
"United's move is on ice but with all the Reds' World Cup players not back until July 20, it still leaves time to get Ferdinand installed for early pre-season work at Carrington unless Venables can persuade the player to stay and join his new bandwagon."
