Leeds United midfielder Steve Stone is facing the most important news of his career today when he comes out of plaster after a third Achilles operation.

If the process is deemed a success then Stone can begin his recovery and aim to play before the season's end - but if the operation has not worked then he may be forced into early retirement.

The 34-year-old Stone has not played for Leeds since moving to the club at the start of the season after originally rupturing his Achilles during pre-season training.

He looked to be making steady progress in his recovery until an infection on the wound raised fears that his career may be cut short.

United boss Kevin Blackwell is hoping for a positive outcome when the former England winger's plaster is removed.

"We hope some good news is heading Steve's way," he said.

Leeds are still negotiating with Manchester United about the possibility of extending Liam Miller's loan spell at the club until the end of the season.

Miller, 24, has returned to Old Trafford after playing ten games for the Whites but Blackwell is hopeful that the two clubs can come to an agreement quickly.

Leeds are also in talks with Cardiff about extending striker Michael Ricketts' loan spell in Wales.

Meanwhile, former chairman Peter Ridsdale has been cleared of any purposeful wrong-doing in Leeds' calamitous financial meltdown.

Ridsdale and former directors Allan Leighton, the current Royal Mail chief, Stephen Harrison and non-executive director Richard North will not face any action from the Government's Insolvency Service after the club ran up debts of more than £100million.

The Insolvency Service has spent almost 18 months studying Ridsdale's role in the club's financial collapse following a huge spending spree on players and wages from 2000 to 2003.

Ridsdale and the four other directors have officially been told by the Insolvency Service there is no evidence of any malpractice and there are no plans to initiate disqualification proceedings.

Ridsdale infamously declared "United had lived the dream" before quitting the club in April 2003.

Updated: 10:30 Thursday, January 05, 2006