DAVID Batty is "devastated" by Eddie Gray's decision to end his Leeds United career - and at 35 the former England World Cup midfielder has ruled out signing for anyone else.

Batty's agent Hayden Evans said the phone had already started ringing, but he added: "David won't go anywhere else to play in this country.

"It is a very sad way to end a distinguished career for a player who is fit and available.

"David didn't expect it at all. He was called in to see Eddie Gray before training and came out devastated. There had been no fall-outs, yet he was told he had kicked his last ball for Leeds.

"He was told the reason was the way Leeds were going to play. Presumably that means 4-4-2 instead of using five in midfield.

"David has decided to say nothing at the moment and just think about what has happened to him."

Gray's decision has caused anger among some Leeds fans, while others are on the caretaker-manager's side, according to views on supporters' websites.

Gray insists: "My decision not to play David is not a gamble and I won't even be playing him in the reserves."

Leeds fans turned on Terry Venables when he axed local hero Batty, claiming the former England midfielder could no longer play Premiership football.

David O'Leary reached the same conclusion when he was in charge, but Batty was eventually brought out of the cold by Peter Reid.

After being put in temporary charge, Gray kept Batty in the side but the veteran battleship was left out at Aston Villa on Saturday despite recovering from an ankle injury.

Gray says the decision to axe Batty was reached for "purely footballing reasons".

Batty's contract runs out at the end of the season. As the players' union representative he was involved in talks between the players, the PFA and the club over a wage delay.

At first the players refused to accept a deferral but when there was no other option they did a U-turn.

Gray insists the pay talks had no bearing on his decision, but the timing is all the more surprising with tonight's relegation dogfight against Wolves looming.

Gray said: "We have the players to get through without him. I don't know how the fans will react but I will accept their criticism if it happens."

Gray added: "David has been a great player for this club and at other clubs but I just had to make the decision I felt was right. I had to look at the overall picture."

Batty is in his second spell at Leeds and has played 360 games for them since starting his career at Elland Road.

Jody Morris is ruled out of tonight's match with a knee injury but Eirik Bakke and Jermaine Pennant are expected to shrug off calf strains collected at Villa.

Defender Michael Duberry will be out for several weeks with a damaged rib cartilage and Lucas Radebe is not yet fit enough to return.

Updated: 10:59 Tuesday, February 10, 2004