French international midfieler Olivier Dacourt launched a scathing attack at his manager at Leeds, Terry Venables, for the Premiership side's slide towards the relegation zone.
Dacourt, who has been left on the sidelines by Venables and will miss today's trip to Fulham with a calf strain, described Leeds' Premiership demise as "frightening".
"We should be in the top four with our squad. We are 16th, just three points above the drop. It's a disgrace," the 27-year-old, who is bidding to make France's squad for the 2004 European Championships in Portugal, told The Sun.
"The losses to Bolton and Charlton have damaged morale. It's frightening."
Dacourt is on the lookout for a way out of the troubled club, and admits his relationship with Venables, compared to the warmth he received from former Leeds manager David O'Leary, has slipped to an all-time low.
"I had an excellent relationship with O'Leary. We appreciated each other and talked a lot," added Dacourt, a £7.2million pound signing from French side Lens in the summer.
"Now Venables is the manager and I'm the player, full stop. And at a time when France call me up for Euro 2004 games, he leaves me in the stand without an explanation.
"I want to play regularly for France so I have to be playing. I love England but if I have to play elsewhere then why not?"
Leeds are set for drastic change when the winter transfer window opens next month.
However Venables still does not know to what extent he will have a free hand in helping to sell or bring in new players.
"I have asked about what freedom I will have to bring in new players, but I don't know what the answer is yet," he said.
"It's no good complaining. We need to make best use of the resources we have before finalising what we need to freshen up."
AFP