AN APPROPRIATE DECLINE.......

Leeds United Football Club; once a power in the land - just six years ago, they reached the semi-final of the Champions League. Now they are plying their trade in the relegation zone of the Coca-Cola Championship - the second tier of English football.

They`re a strange club - their history contains the occasional flash of achievement - six years ago being the last, but back in the dark ages they were the undisputed champions of the English game. Even then, though, their reputation tended to be marred by their arrogance and their aggression - not just on the field of play but also behind the scenes in the boardroom and particularly with their managers. They have `something of the night` about them. Indeed, their managerial appointments have been the source of much discontent for their own fans as well as the wider football `family` - Don Revie, Howard Wilkinson, George Graham, David O`Leary, Terry Venables reads more like a charge sheet. And now...step forward Dennis Wise. This renowned scuffler got the job at Leeds a few months ago, having mercifully failed to secure the manager`s post at Southampton following a three game `caretaker` stint, best remembered for the sharpness of his suit than the sharpness of his tactical acumen.

Yesterday, Leeds came to St. Mary`s needing to get a result to drag them out of the threat of relegation, whereas Southampton needed a result to keep their play-off hopes alive following recent setbacks at Birmingham and at home to Sunderland.

Now, they do say that a football team is a reflection of their manager`s character and so it proved to be the case yesterday. The Leeds line-up seemed to consist of players capable only of spoiling for a fight - what they lacked in skill, they made up for in aggression - so it was no surprise when one of their flock was sent-off for a mindless assault on Saints` midfielder Jhon Viafara. Further skirmishes could well have resulted in two more dismissals but the referee seemed content to brandish yellow cards instead of red ones.

In the end, Southampton won 1-0 with a late goal from Bradley Wright-Phillips, so Leeds` threat of relegation is now a distinct possibility. There are legions within the football world who wish it to come to pass.

A plus point for Leeds may be the passion and loyalty to the club shown by their own suppoprters - whoever the manager may happen to be (and it seems they have as little regard for Dennis the Menace as they had for his predecessors.) They came in their droves yesterday - their full allocation of 3,500 being taken up to swell the crowd to just over 29,000. However, the afternoon was spoiled at the end of the game when it seems the Leeds fans showed their frustration by throwing plastic bottles, pies and other assorted missiles at the nearby Saints fans, who promptly threw them back again. Thanks to efficient stewarding and a considerable police presence, the incident seemed to be contained, but it was clear that the neanderthal behaviour of their fans mirror that of the Leeds players, their manager and the club`s pugilistic tendancies . Dennis must be proud of them.

Should the relegation trap-door open for Leeds to fall through, then it could hardly happen to more deserving candidates. I will merely spare a thought for the good folk of Yeovil, Cheltenham and the other provincial towns up and down the land whose teams grace the third tier of English football and who may have the pleasure of their company next season.

STOP PRESS : As a result of today`s fixtures, Leeds have indeed been relegated to the third level, having been held to a 1-1 draw at home to Ipswich. Few tears will be shed outside of Leeds.