Lorimer haunted by third world life

"Mighty Leeds in the third division," he winced. "That's what people will be saying and it will make it all the more humiliating, all the harder to take."

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Once an integral part of Revie's legendary line-up, now a director, but first and foremost a diehard fan, Lorimer echoed the widespread dismay and disbelief over a fate that is perilously close at hand.

Defeat by Ipswich coupled with victory for Hull at Cardiff would complete a barely-believable tailspin from the Champions League semi-finals to the third tier of English football inside six years.

Dennis Wise is adamant Lorimer's worst nightmare can still be averted, although an admission that keeping Leeds up would rank as his greatest achievement scarcely bodes well.

It really is that tall an order for the diminutive Leeds manager and if it proves beyond him, the inevitable inquest is unlikely to prove any more comforting than the demise which led to it.

Three straight League defeats cost Kevin Blackwell his job last September after Leeds had picked up only seven points from the first eight games.

Wise still had over six months to arrest the slide when appointed towards the end of October. Instead, he appears to have presided over a chaotic tale of muddled thinking and flawed decision making.

As revealed by Sportsmail at the time, the new broom soon made sweeping changes as a purge of the over 30s led to skipper Paul Butler and defensive linchpin Sean Gregan being released.

Goalkeeper Neil Sullivan was farmed out on loan and full back Gary Kelly left to stagnate in the reserves after 16 years' service.

It may initially have come across as incisive leadership but the impression did not last long.

As Leeds' plight continued to deteriorate, Wise responded by recruiting players even older than some of those he had forced out.

In a move that smacked of desperation, he turned to 34-year-old centre back Ugo Ehiogu, Celtic veteran Alan Thompson, 33, and — in a bizarre throwback to his Chelsea days — striker Tore Andre Flo, 34 in June.

Wise's judgment was questioned again after the home game against Crystal Palace, when he announced one of his players had leaked his starting line-up to the opposition and would not play for Leeds again.

He later admitted he had no idea who the culprit was and attempted to brush the whole episode under the carpet, amid suggestions it may have been the work of two Palace pranksters.

Former Palace midfielder Shaun Derry has not played for Leeds since, despite flatly denying any involvement. No explanation has been forthcoming, leaving the plot to thicken.

Sportsmail understands his absence is due to an achilles tendon injury that needed surgery rather than wrong-doing.

Even a greater degree of transparency over David Healy's failure to score as freely for Leeds as for Northern Ireland did little to inspire confidence.

Wise admitted he could not account for it and went in search of answers last month, when Sweden visited Windsor Park. Healy obliged with both Northern Ireland goals in a 2-1 win. After being used out of position at Leeds, he found himself leading the line for a full 90 minutes against Preston two days later.

A last-minute headed winner may have made Wise's airfare seem worthwhile, but there were still those who wondered whether a trip to Belfast was necessary to work out how to best use a born finisher.

The solution may have come too late, given how close Leeds are to a first-ever drop into the third flight.

An insider said: "Relegation would cost many millions. Gates would drop by at least 5,000 and that would equate to a couple of million pounds over a season. Add the toll it would take on television money, corporate income, hospitality and sponsorship and you see how big a hit the club would take."

To add to the air of uncertainty, chairman Ken Bates has been in talks with prospective new owners, who are ready to take a chance on investing in the obvious potential of Leeds being a one-club city.

If they do, and find their new acquisition has been further devalued by League One status, the risk policy must continue, according to Lorimer. "If we do go down, we have got to come straight back up," he said.

"People will give you a chance and get behind the team for so long. But if there is no sign of improvement, they'll drift away.

"We must guard against that, even if it means gambling a few quid to keep the fans interested. They will be looking to see what the plan is and we must make sure it is one that will work."

Wise still fears there would be casualties from the financial fallout of relegation, saying: "There would have to be changes in every department. I've told the players that people could lose their jobs.

"I've done OK out of football and can go home and relax, but there are people who have been here a long time. It's not about football as much as caring about those people. It's unfair on them, but life is unfair."