July 13

July 13, 2002 (Saturday) from Jonathan Woodgate Club

Now he's Jonathan Wood-GREAT

Jonathan Woodgate is in prime condition and ready to forge the meanest defensive partnership in the Premiership with Rio Ferdinand.

New boss Terry Venables' first job yesterday was to spend time chatting with the young centreback whose career has been in turmoil for two years.

Woodgate - found guilty of affray at Hull Crown Cout in December - had been a shadow of the player who came into England reckoning under Kevin Keegan.

But the 22-year-old has fully recovered from a broken jaw he suffered as a result of "horseplay" with friends following the guilty verdict last December. He still faces the possibility of civil action over the incident which injured studant Sarfraz Najeib, but Venables said: "Jonathan has to put behind him everything that has happened
and get on with his career".

"He trained very hard this morning. He looked very sharp and it's been very encouraging".

"I would say he's in a very good frame of mind. He's had a tough time, but that's behind us now".

But Venables seems resigned to losing Lee Bowyer and possibly Oliver Dacourt, as part of the club's commitment to raise £15million. They are £77million in debt.

Venables still hopes to persuade Bowyer to stay, but a £7million move to Liverpool, seems almost inevitable.
Leeds Chairman Peter Ridsdale travelled to Italy on Tuesday to meet Juventus officials and discuss a £15million deal for Dacourt.

However, the Frenchman seems keen to see out the remaining four years of his contract, which could put Venables in a difficult situation. "I don't know whether Dacourt will go or stay" says Venables.

"We have to raise £15million and I've been aware of that from the moment I accepted the job"

"Bowyer has a lot of issues which he is dissapointed about. I spoke to him after training yesterday."

"He may want to see out the remainder of his contract, which would allow him to leave on a free transfer next summer and that is obviously a situation we have to deal with"

Venables also made it clear of the club's existing backroom staff - including coaches Brian Kidd and Eddie Gray - will keep their jobs, for the time being at least.

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