PETER Lorimer admits hard-up Leeds United can do no more to keep James Milner.

With Newcastle ready to swoop for the 18-year-old striker, director Lorimer said: "We have gone as far as we can in terms of what we can offer James.

"We've almost doubled his salary and in the present situation it would be impossible to offer him more.

"We hope the kid will stay, but we appreciate he is a much wanted young player and if he wants to go and gets a better offer there is not much we can do about it.

"This club has lived well beyond its means in the past and we cannot go down that road again. We are trying to rescue the club, not make the cash situation worse."

Leeds are parting company with Nick Barmby after agreeing to pay up around half his contract, which has two years to run.

"He will get a lot of money and we will save a lot of money. We just have to accept that," said Lorimer.

"We inherited some ludicrous contracts and we are hoping Mark Viduka, Danny Mills, Michael Duberry and Dominic Matteo will all get fixed up with other clubs in the near future."

Midfielders Jermaine Wright from Ipswich and Matthew Spring from Luton are expected to be manager Kevin Blackwell's next captures. Added Lorimer: "I think the fans will be pleasantly surprised by the type of players we bring in and I think there is a good chance we will have a successful season."

Managing director Shaun Harvey has confirmed that he is leaving Bradford City to start a new job as chief operating officer at Leeds on July 6.

Harvey said: "After over ten years at Bradford City I felt it was the right time for a change and I am excited about the new challenges that await me at Leeds United.

"I appreciate after the period of time I have spent at Bradford some will view the move as a defection. However, I hope all those supporters I have come across will wish me well in view of the commitment I have given to the club.

"I have offered my assistance in whatever way possible to the administrators at Bradford to help them through the current difficulties."

Updated: 10:39 Tuesday, June 29, 2004