KEVIN Blackwell has hit out at the mischief-makers who keep touting Dennis Wise for his job as Leeds United manager.

But Blackwell refuses to blame Wise for persistent rumours that the Southampton midfielder is set to take his place.

With the Saints due at Elland Road tonight, Blackwell said: "There are many people who would like to see Leeds de-railed. They are the same people who rubbed their hands with glee when we dropped out of the Premiership.

"The chairman and Dennis Wise are very close and it is frustrating for me to keep reading stories linking Dennis with my job.

"Someone is trying to throw a spanner in the works but we won't allow them to disrupt the rebuilding job we are doing here. If someone thinks I am doing a shoddy job I am sure they will let me know.

"I don't know Dennis that well, but I have always found him a decent lad and I am sure he is not the one who started the stories."

Southampton have drawn their last eight matches in the Championship, but Leeds are keen to build on Saturday's win at Burnley before taking on leaders Sheffield United at Elland Road on Friday.

Marksman Rob Hulse trained yesterday and is expected to be fit to lead the line despite being doubtful for the Burnley game and taking another bang on his troublesome ankle at Turf Moor.

Hulse is again expected to be partnered by Robbie Blake as David Healy has not yet fully recovered from the ankle injury he collected playing for Northern Ireland last week, even though he made a substitute appearance against Burnley.

Blackwell will be taking no action against any of his players after midfielder Shaun Derry received a head injury during an altercation in the tunnel after the Burnley game.

Blackwell said his players were totally innocent and added: "There is no doubt that this is going before an FA tribunal so I don't want to say too much, but what happened has no place in football."

Members of the top band Kaiser Chiefs trained with United yesterday. The lads are avid Leeds supporters who try to keep in touch with the club's results despite spending much of their time performing abroad.

Lead singer Ricky Wilson said: "Even when we are on stage in America there is usually someone who shouts something out about Leeds United. We are big Leeds fans and the band is named after the team Lucas Radebe played for in South Africa."

Updated: 11:06 Tuesday, October 18, 2005