Leeds United :: Fudbal ~ Kladionica ~ Fantasy ~ Navijaci

Blackburn Rovers have allowed three players to extend loan deals at their respective clubs.

Republic of Ireland midfielder Jonathan Douglas, 24, who is currently at Leeds, has been given permission to feature in the Championship play-offs.

Meanwhile Matt Derbyshire, 19, and Jemal Johnson, 20, will be extending their deals at Wrexham and Darlington.

Both players have been allowed to stay at those clubs until the season has drawn to a close.

Leeds v Reading
Leeds could be without as many as six of the side that started in the goalless draw with Plymouth last week.

Paul Butler, Stephen Crainey, Gary Kelly and Danny Graham all have a virus while Sean Gregan (ribs) and Frazer Richardson (knee) are injured.

Champions Reading should name the same side that won at Cardiff last week as winger Glen Little continues to recover from a persistent groin injury.

Striker Leroy Lita is the only other absentee with a broken ankle.

Leeds United boss Kevin Blackwell says he will not walk away from the club despite receiving hate mail from fans.

Blackwell had been quoted as saying on Friday: "If people are not happy with what I'm doing, I don't have to hang around here."

But later he told BBC Radio Leeds: "At no point have I considered leaving the club and I will certainly not be driven out by those who make threats.

"I am very proud to be manager of Leeds United Football Club."

The earlier quotes from Blackwell included him saying: "If they don't want me, that's the way it is going to be. When I get threats to my well-being, you have to wonder why people do the job sometimes."

But now Blackwell has told the BBC he has no intention of being forced out.

The abuse from a minority of supporters has, according to reports, included threats of physical violence and the 47-year-old fears for the safety of his family.

The Elland Road club have not won in six games and have failed to score in over six hours after moving to within three points of second-placed Sheffield United.

However, Leeds' failure to take advantage of the Blades' wobble has seen their Yorkshire rivals open up a nine-point lead with only four games remaining.

Blackwell, who worked for 17 years under Blades boss Neil Warnock, has led the west Yorkshire side to a guaranteed play-off spot in just his second year in charge at Elland Road.

"There's a history we have to carry and it's a heavy burden for players to carry but I think they have done it fantastically well this season," he added.

"I said to people there would be a lot of twists and turns before the end of the season and that has proved to be the case."

Leeds issued a statement of support of their manager and condemned those responsible for sending the threatening mail.

Leeds manager Kevin Blackwell is prepared to quit Elland Road after receiving hate mail from fans following the side's loss of form in the race for automatic promotion.

The abuse from a minority of supporters has, according to reports, included threats of physical violence and the 47-year-old fears for the safety of his family.

He told the Yorkshire Post: "If people are not happy with what I'm doing, I don't have to hang around here. If they don't want me, then that's the way it is going to be."

He added: "When I get threats to my well-being, you have to wonder why people do the job sometimes. Why it is happening now, I don't know.

"Frustration has a terrible way of manifesting itself, but don't people think we are frustrated too?"

The Elland Road club have not won in six games and have failed to score in over six hours after moving to within three points of second-placed Sheffield United.

However, Leeds' failure to take advantage of the Blades' wobble has seen their Yorkshire rivals embark on the Easter programme with a nine-point lead and only four games remaining.

Blackwell, who carved his reputation during a 17-year partnership with current Blades boss Neil Warnock before his acrimonious departure from Bramall Lane in July 2003, has so far refused to involve the police.

Leeds have issued a statement of support for the manager and condemned the those responsible for sending the threatening mail.

Leeds host champions Reading on Saturday before travelling to Bramall Lane on Tuesday night for a match which may be academic as, results permitting, the Blades may already have secured promotion to the Premiership.