Mark Viduka wants Eddie Gray installed as Leeds United's permanent manager.

Viduka repeatedly fell out with former manager Peter Reid, who eventually dropped and fined him for late time-keeping.

Their relationship reached breaking point before Reid's departure, but when Gray became caretaker-boss he immediately restored the Australian striker to the first team.

Viduka has responded positively, on and off the pitch, and says: "They should give Eddie the job permanently. The players are working very hard in training, Eddie is a winner as a bloke and is as good as anyone in the Premiership as a manager-coach.

"Hopefully we can build on the win we achieved at Charlton and remain positive throughout the team."

There were reports last week that the players lacked respect for Gray and that they wanted coach Kevin Blackwell to be handed the manager's job.

No-one has come forward to back up those reports and the players answered them in the best possible manner with their wholehearted performance at Charlton.

Gray successfully used a five-man midfield at The Valley and must now decide whether to adopt similar tactics in the hope of stifling new Premiership leaders Chelsea at Elland Road on Saturday.

Alan Smith was a revelation in his midfield role, and Viduka worked tirelessly on his own in attack.

Gray said: "It worked well and we still managed to create chances. It is an option to consider.

"I thought Mark Viduka worked extremely hard. Towards the end I was thinking of taking him off for a rest, because it's not easy playing up there by yourself, but he was so important to us that I kept things as they were."

Gray is expected to remain in charge for the time being, but with the club on the brink of administration, a takeover or both, it is hard for the PLC Board to take major decisions which could be opposed by a potential buyer.

Sheikh Abdul bin Mubarak al-Khalifa clarified his position late yesterday by telling the Stock Exchange he is in the early stages of considering ways of helping the club through its financial problems.

He has since promised that if he becomes involved in a takeover he will not sell Leeds' best players.

That pledge will be greeted with relief by Leeds supporters who have seen a procession of key players leave to prevent the club's debts growing even bigger.

It is understood the Sheikh is continuing discussions with a consortium based in the Gulf, and the interested parties are waiting for the club to go into administration so the cost of a takeover will tumble.

Updated: 11:43 Wednesday, December 03, 2003