Ridsdale: No players have to be sold
Having lost 4-0 at Elland Road on Sunday to Liverpool, alarm bells have begun to ring at Leeds as Ridsdale's policy of speculating to accumulate has been brought into the spotlight, with the club in danger of not achieving his targets.
Leeds are currently sixth, six points off a Champions League spot, although there would be no shortage of suitors for David O'Leary's youthful side, with Australian duo Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka well thought of on the European stage should he decide to sell.
On Tuesday, Lee Bowyer and Danny Mills both face FA charges which could see the pair banned for a number of games, adding to O'Leary's troubles.
Chairman Ridsdale issued a rallying call on Monday, yet admitted Leeds could find themselves in next season's Intertoto Cup.
"The Champions League is still within our grasp," he insisted, "and I believe we will end up in one of the top two competitions. Even if we're not, it won't mean we have to sacrifice any of our top players.
"But if we don't qualify, then the only option open to us would be to see if we can afford to keep all the players we've got. We simply have to be in Europe, and there are no guarantees of that.
"I'd be very disappointed if, at the end of the season, we were looking to qualify through the InterToto Cup. But although some managers might not like it, we would enter to get our European football."
Bowyer faces a three-match ban for his elbow on Gary McAllister and using foul and abusive language against Jeff Winter after being sent off against Arsenal in August. Mills is currently two games into a four-match spell on the sidelines, after kicking Craig Bellamy in Leeds' 3-1 loss to Newcastle.
However, he faces another three-game ban for his tirade against Andy D'Urso in the game at Highbury in which Bowyer was also sent off. It could get worse for Leeds if Viduka and Alan Smith receive punishment from the FA's disciplinary committee following video evidence.
