Football: McCLAREN FOR LEEDS

STEVE McClaren is ready to walk out on Middlesbrough and take the manager's job at Leeds.

A failed attempt to take Martin O'Neill from Celtic to Elland Road has seen McClaren emerge as the new front-runner for the job.

An official approach from Leeds is expected this week after McClaren made it clear he was prepared to leave Boro less than 12 months after joining them from Manchester United.

Leeds wanted O'Neill and even considered waiting a year with a temporary man, possibly Terry Venables, in control - but that would have been a massive gamble with the Irishman more likely to move to Manchester United once his contract in Scotland expires next June. Boro are powerless to stop McClaren leaving because he has a pounds 1.2million get-out-clause in his contract, an agreed figure of compensation in the event of an approach from another top flight club.

The activity behind the scenes to install McClaren in the post as quickly as possible has been frantic and Leeds have been given assurances by both McClaren and his advisers that there will be no last-minute hitch to prevent him moving from the Riverside to Elland Road.

Last night Leeds admitted McClaren was on their shortlist but refused to elaborate

claiming other options were being consider. One consideration was offering Venables the job full time but McClaren's willingness to take the job puts him ahead of the former England manager.

I understand Leeds unanimously decided to make an official approach for McClaren after seeking assurances from him that he would not reject an approach, causing more embarrassment.

McClaren is currently on holiday in Spain but is prepared to return home immediately Leeds make their official move to install him. Middlesbrough's fans will undoubtedly be shocked by the turn of events following the recent signing of Italian striker Massimo Maccarone for pounds 8.5m and moves to secure the signature of their former Brazilian star Juninho.

But we can reveal that McClaren's relationship with the club has been in rapid decline for some time and he played no part in the key signings of the two players mentioned.

The Maccarone signing was dealt with by chief executive Keith Lamb and the Juninho deal, which is yet to be completed, was brokered by chairman Steve Gibson and is a player McClaren has never met.

In the past three months he targeted four players he wanted to sign at the club and all four were knocked back by Lamb and the Boro board.

His relationship with Boro is now so strained he jumped at the opportunity to fill the vacancy at Leeds.

He will be offered a five-year deal, similar to that on offer to O'Neill, that will see his salary jump from an estimated pounds 800,000 a year to pounds 2m. But in failing to keep McClaren at the Riverside, Boro will have to brace themselves for further approaches for all McClaren's key backroom appointments.

He has assured them all that if he leaves then they are coming too - and Leeds are prepared to back his judgement even though it will necessitate casualties amongst the present staff at the club.

Meanwhile, O'Neill revealed yesterday that he will hold talks over his future with Celtic but has warned Parkhead supporters that "nothing is forever".

"I am happy to honour my contract and that's exactly what I'm going to do," he said.

"There are lots of things here for us to do. We're in the Champions League and we're going to try our very, very best to make sure we get into the group stages, and of course we have a championship to try and retain.

"I will, at some stage or another, sit down with Celtic and have a full discussion on my future.

"But nothing is forever. The days of someone staying at a football club for eight or 10 years are few and far between."

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