Leeds United and Manchester United will resume negotiations today as Alan Smith waits to complete his move to Old Trafford.

Some sections of the media jumped the gun at the end of last week by announcing the transfer had gone ahead at £6million, but that was never going to happen before the Reds' FA Cup final against Millwall.

Now Leeds are hoping Manchester United's win at the Millennium Stadium will put Old Trafford officials in the right mood to lift their offer nearer the asking price of £8million.

Director Peter Lorimer said: "Reports at the weekend that the deal had gone through were "completely untrue".

He added: "When people were saying Alan had signed for Manchester United they were wrong. Nothing had changed. We are talking to Manchester United and trying to get a bit more money off them because we've been offered more by other people.

"Maybe they'll be in a more generous mood after winning the FA Cup. They and we know Alan wants to go there."

Leeds have so far rejected bids of £3.5million and £5.5million from Old Trafford. Everton have offered £7million, but Smith's craving for Champions League football leaves him favouring a move to the team Leeds fans love to hate.

Members of the Leeds United Supporters Club are expected to decide at an executive committee meeting on Thursday whether to withhold Smith's Player of the Season award - just as they did when Rio Ferdinand moved to Manchester United.

Smith is the first player in Leeds' history to win the Supporters Club's prestigious Player of the Season award for a second successive year.

The fans are resigned to their former hero leaving this summer and had planned to invite him back for a presentation at their annual dinner and dance early next season.

But that was before the 23-year-old set his sights on a move to Old Trafford.

Just over a fortnight ago, Smith was mobbed by doting fans after Leeds' final home match of the season against Charlton and it took him almost 20 minutes to reach the dressing room.

But a group of supporters turned on the Leeds-born striker at Chelsea last weekend and feelings are running high.

Ray Fell, chairman of the Supporters Club, said: "Alan hasn't gone to Old Trafford yet and we haven't discussed the matter, but I think we may well touch on it at our meeting on Thursday.

"Whether we would go ahead with the presentation to Alan is for our members to decide.

"The idea was to invite him back so we could hand over the award but that was before his comments about Manchester United.

"If he goes to Old Trafford it will upset some fans but at the end of the day he will do what is best for his career."

Leeds will today confirm head coach Kevin Blackwell as the club's next manager.

Blackwell's appointment will be popular with players and media alike as he is a highly qualified coach and has been ever ready to give interviews since his arrival from Sheffield United a year ago.

Blackwell was interviewed for the job last week and made a favourable impression.

He has stressed the importance of making a quick appointment as time is short for wheeling and dealing in the transfer market.

With the much talked about takeover still looking no nearer, the current board have decidced to push ahead with their choice and Steve Parkin, leader of the consortium currently studying the club's books with a view to a takeover, has no objections to Blackwell's promotion into the hot-seat.

Blackwell said: "So much has happened at this club but we have to look forward now. The board members are trying to deal with problems they have inherited.

"We've had a lot of managerial changes over the last couple of years. Stability is something that just hasn't applied at this club and in any successful club stability is usually a strength."

Updated: 11:04 Monday, May 24, 2004