Leeds United manager Terry Venables has admitted he may quit Elland Road after the controversial sale of Jonathan Woodgate to Newcastle United.

Venables - sitting alongside under-fire chairman Peter Ridsdale at a news conference - was swift to cast doubt on his long-term Leeds future.

He hinted he may still be prepared to stay, but would not make any decision until after the game at Everton on Saturday.

Ridsdale admitted he had assured Venables that Woodgate would not be sold after Robbie Fowler signed for Manchester City - but was forced to go back on his promise.

And Venables said: "I haven't actually said I'm going to stay. I don't want to make a knee-jerk reaction to something as disappointing as what occurred with the sale of Woodgate.

"We have got a game against Everton and that is on my mind."

Venables added: "I don't want to inflame a situation that is already a very raw position.

"It has been stated already that I was assured that if Robbie Fowler went, Jonathan Woodgate would not go.

"It is not fair to expect me to make such a fast decision on something that has been put upon me like that - but I'm clearly thinking about my future position."

Ridsdale has faced calls for his resignation after selling Woodgate to Newcastle in a �9m deal.

We lived the dream, we enjoyed the dream and only by making the right decisions can we rekindle the dream Leeds United chairman Peter Ridsdale

The Leeds chief arrived at the club early on Friday in a chauffeur-driven car without making any comment to waiting journalists.

But he defended the sale - blaming the failure to reach the Champions League for the last two seasons as the reason for this season's mass exodus.

He said: "The lack of Champions League football meant a loss of income to this club of approximately �30m.

"It is acknowledged the transfer system has imploded.

"Jonathan Woodgate is a player we didn't want to sell. As a supporter I didn't want to take the offer, the manager didn't want Jonathan to go and he made that absolutely clear to me.

"We lived the dream, we enjoyed the dream and only by making the right decisions can we rekindle the dream."

And he insisted: "If the Leeds supporters believe that this wouldn't have happened had I not been here, then they need to think again.

"This decision was right for Leeds United. If I have to consider my future as a result of that, then so be it."

He added: "When I gave Terry the assurance that Jonathan would not be sold, it was in the belief and hopeful knowledge that we wouldn't have to sell another player.

"If Terry feels I let him down, he is fair to feel that. If he feels he was misled he may be right, but not deliberately so."