He has rapidly changed his views about El Hadji Diouf and the same can be said about loan signings, however like the man from Senegal it is an indicator of the restraints Neil Warnock is working under at Elland Road.

Risking the wrath of Ken Bates for not doing me research properly, I seem to recall Simon Grayson made something like 43 loan signings during his time at Elland Road. I also seem to remember, but again am not trawling t'net for evidence that Neil Warnock spoke about not falling into the same trap.

However like signing El Hadji Diouf, the man whio Warnock once described as "a sewer rat" it is a sign of how desperate things are at ER with the curmudgeonly Bates stubbornly refusing to sell the club and Leeds having one of the tiniest squads in the Championship.

Our strength in depth is being put to the test by a rash of injuries in midfield with Paul Green, David Norris and Michael Brown all out injured. This has led the more fertile rumour-mongers linking us with Spurs fallen star Jermaine Jenas.

How on earth we can stump up his wages is one thing and given the poor record of Tottenham loanees at Leeds in recent seasons, thinking along the lines of Ben Alnwick, Jake Livermore, Andros "Lightbulbhead" Townsend and Adam Smith, surely this is a non-runner?

Given Jenas's appalling fitness and form record during the past two-seasons, is he actually worth bothering with?

Neil Warnock has told the official Leeds website today that he has made enquiries about using the loan market, but naturally omitted any names. He said "We're going to have to use it sensibly. If we lose two or three we'll have to do it, and that's what we're looking to do.

"We've asked about a couple of midfield players and we should know early this week because we need someone in there. We're looking at what there is around."

It is yet another indicator of what a fragile situation we are in and if we do not push for promotion this year, the blame will lie in the hands of one man and one man alone, Ken Bates.

Photo: Action Images

Bluesman added 07:50 - Sep 11 Ken Bates has done it before, time and again. The manager always gets the blame. Sometimes the managers bear responsibility, but not this one! Not NW! NW is experience, shrewd and frugal in his signings and every one of them is value. I have always believed that things will have to get worse before they get better and if NW has to walk to demonstrate that the old tyrant is out of touch, so be it! I wish Bates would go soon, but we need to get behind NW and the team!!

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