Peter Ridsdale has left Leeds facing the possibility of administration and with no option but to continue the exodus of stars, with Alan Smith, Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka and Paul Robinson all made available for transfers.

Ridsdale's resignation as chairman yesterday came as the club announced half-yearly losses of £17.2 million.

Their debts of £78 million have barely been reduced, despite the controversial sales of Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Keane, Robbie Fowler and Jonathan Woodgate for a combined £56 million and it emerged that their directors have discussed the possibility of becoming the highest-profile club to fall into administration.

Smith has been linked to Manchester United, Robinson is a target for Arsenal, while Kewell and Viduka are likely to move abroad at the end of the season.

The knowledge that further players will have to be sold is certain to discourage the likes of Gordon Strachan from being tempted to take over from Peter Reid as the next manager.

Ridsdale's notion that he could prise Martin O'Neill from Celtic seems ludicrous now. More likely is the scenario where so few would be willing to accept the job that Leeds will have little option but to offer it full-time to Reid.