PAUL Butler faces tests by a leading neurosurgeon who will decide when the Leeds United captain can return to action.

Central defender Butler was stretchered off just before the end of Leeds match against Sheffield United on Tuesday night after blacking out in a clash with his own goalkeeper, Neil Sullivan.

Physio Dave Hancock, who cleared Butler's airways and pulled his tongue back into place, thinks Sullivan may have accidentally punched the defender in the throat and blocked his windpipe.

It was only Hancock's quick reactions that prevented the situation becoming more serious - the referee failed to react to the incident and allowed play to continue with Butler unconscious.

Sheffield United scored their fourth goal before the referee spotted Butler but by that time Hancock was already halfway across the pitch.

Butler spent Tuesday night in Leeds General Infirmary and underwent a series of scans and 'X'-rays all of which came back clear, but until he is cleared by the neurosurgeon he cannot play.

He will definitely miss Saturday's trip to Watford and in all probability the match at QPR the following week.

That will give Clarke Carlisle the opportunity to re-establish himself in the team having been out of favour since the 3-0 defeat at Wigan in mid-February.

Manager Kevin Blackwell, who called the players in for extra training yesterday after their abject display against the Blades, is hoping Gary Kelly recovers from tonsilitis in time to make the trip.

Blackwell will not want to risk Simon Walton at right-back again having substituted him in the 39th minute as the teenager struggled out of position.

But the Leeds boss has made it clear it wasn't only Walton at fault and said: "I'm looking for a response from the players. That was not good enough and I'm not willing to just let the rest of the season drift away."

Fans get more time to pay for tickets

LEEDS United fans have gained a concession from chairman Ken Bates over season tickets.

Bates could hardly fail to hear the objections being chanted during Tuesday night's 4-0 hammering which told him where he could stick his 'Chelsea prices' and insisted 'you're having a laugh.'

Bates is adamant that the price rises are necessary and challenged the detractors: "My question is simple - how would you solve the problem (of large debt and increasing losses)? It is not acceptable to say there must be some other way - tell us what it is."

While there won't be any shifting on the price, the club has done a 'U'-turn on its decision not to allow staged payments.

In a statement, chief executive Shaun Harvey said: "The club has said that it will always listen to its supporters and, while being resolute in defending both the new pricing structure and the reorganisation of the seating arrangements inside the stadium, we believe that the majority of the club's supporters would accept the increased prices if they were allowed time to pay for the ticket."

He set out a scheme that will allow fans to pay with three equal cheques, one dated on the day of renewal, one postdated to 15 June and one post dated for 15 July.

He added: "In the event of any of the post-dated cheques not being honoured upon presentation by the club then the seat will be released for general sale and any monies already paid forfeited. Supporters who are renewing should return the application form with the cheques to the ticket office."

Updated: 10:50 Thursday, April 07, 2005