KEVIN Blackwell is next week set to become Leeds United's fifth manager in the last two years of turmoil.

The club's head coach has been interviewed for the job and is the top choice to succeed Eddie Gray who was sacked after failing to save Leeds from relegation to Division One.

David O'Leary, Terry Venables, Peter Reid and Gray have all taken a turn in the hot-seat.

Blackwell, 45, was taken to Elland Road by Reid. He arrived from Sheffield United where he worked closely with manager Neil Warnock and earned much of the credit for masterminding Leeds' downfall in the FA Cup and Worthington Cup two seasons ago.

Blackwell was a goalkeeper in his playing days and it was Warnock who signed him for Scarborough after spells with Southampton, Aston Villa and Barnet. He was Boro's 'keeper when they stormed into the Football League as the first winners of automatic promotion in 1987.

He followed Warnock to Notts County and Huddersfield Town where he landed his first coaching job with the Terriers' youth team.

Coaching posts followed at Plymouth and Bury before Warnock made him his assistant at Sheffield United.

Blackwell worked under Reid and Eddie Gray at Leeds before being placed in temporary charge when caretaker-manager Gray lost his job on May 10.

Former Leeds striker Ian Baird worked with Blackwell at Plymouth and said: "Kevin has served his apprenticeship as a coach and I think he is ready to take that step up now.

"He has been coaching for six or seven years and is more than capable of moving up another level.

"After what has gone on at Leeds this season he has gained more experience than most people gain in a lifetime, so nothing will faze him.

"He is well organised and can motivate players."

Leeds have parted company with goalkeeping coach Steve Sutton as part of their economy drive.

Meanwhile, claims that Alan Smith has completed his move to Manchester United are premature. His agent, Alex Black, confirmed that Smith wants to go to Old Trafford for Champions League football but an agreement has not yet been reached.

Updated: 12:01 Saturday, May 22, 2004