Richmond targets Leeds role

The former Bradford City chairman acted as an advisor to the consortium which recently took over the ailing Premiership side.

He has not yet been given a defined role in the new set-up at the West Yorkshire outfit but he has acknowledged his willingness to succeed Trevor Birch as chief executive.

If he is offered the position, Richmond has confirmed his priority will be to slash the wage bill which is in excess of £50 million.

Richmond told The Sunday Mirror: "If I was asked to become chief executive I would do it.

"I thought I was finished in the game really. I had two years of hell. But now I'm like an alcoholic in a brewery.

"I'm really enjoying being involved. The buzz is fantastic. The aim is to make savings and we are very positive about doing this.

"There are too many players and the wage bill is unsustainable. We have 58 players with a £53 million wage bill.

"And 15 players have contracts of more than £1 million. I'm looking forward to the fact that players will go. But there will also be arrivals."

One played tipped for the exit door is Leeds icon Smith, who has revealed he will seek to leave the club if they are relegated from The Premiership.

Richmond does not feel it is inevitable the England international will quit The Whites but did not guarantee Smith would not be sold.

He added: "It's wrong to be resigned to Alan leaving at the end of the season. If the club were relegated, for his own understandable ambitions, Alan would want to stay in The Premier League.

"If we stay up we're not prepared to put up a noticeboard and say this player will leave or stay.

"It will depend on many factors. But one thing is clear, the wage bill will have to come down."