Venables' future at Leeds is said to be "hanging by a thread".

THE HEADLINES

The Sun: 'LEEDS WILL HAVE MORE CHIEFS THAN PLAYERS' Daily Mirror: 'WOODY SALE WILL SPARK RIOT BY FANS' Daily Star: 'ELL TEL READY TO QUIT' Daily Mail: 'HERO HESKEY' Daily Express: 'VENABLES ON BRINK' The Guardian: 'PROTESTS TO TARGET ENGLAND' The Times: 'ECB PLANS TO HOLD FIRE OVER ZIMBABWE FIXTURE' The Telegraph: 'GOVERNMENT PUT OLYMPIC BID DECISION ON HOLD'

The former England boss was promised no more players would be sold after Robbie Fowler's move to Manchester City.

But Newcastle have come in with an improved offer for Jonathan Woodgate and the Leeds board is meeting to consider it on Thursday.

The Express says Venables is repeating the ultimatum he has threatened for days: "If Woodgate goes, I go."

The Leeds board are split over whether to risk their manager quitting according to The Sun.

The paper also runs an interview with Chelsea chairman Ken Bates, who takes great delight in the current exodus from Elland Road and quips that Leeds will soon have more directors than players.

The Mirror claims there will be a "riot by Leeds fans" if Woodgate is allowed to leave Elland Road.

That is the verdict of John Boocock, chairman of the Leeds United Supporters Trust.

The broadsheets steer away from speculation about Woodgate.

The Telegraph's Mihir Bose reports that the Government is putting a decision about London's 2012 Olympic bid on hold because of the impending war in Iraq.

The Australian Government will foot the bill if their cricketers pull out of the Cricket World Cup - in contrast to their British counterparts, according to The Times.

And The Guardian says England's cricketers will be targeted by an underground Zimbabwean opposition if they fulfil their fixture against Zimbabwe on 13 February.