Leeds, England, Apr 04: New Leeds United manager Peter Reid is ready to go "back-to-basics" in his bid to preserve the club's premier league status. Reid, who has been appointed until the end of the season, takes charge at Charlton Athletic on Saturday for his second game since replacing Terry Venables and the first since chairman Peter Ridsdale stood down on Monday.


Reid has spelled out to the club's under-achieving players what he expects with Leeds just four points above the relegation zone and with only one win in their last nine league games.


He told reporters on Thursday: "There is a lot of ability at the club. I don't think that is in question." But he added: "I don't think we have been working hard enough and I have told them that. Sometimes you need to be honest with players in the situation we're in. I haven't been ranting and raving, but that's my opinion.


"I see an awful lot of talent and when you're trying to analyse something I think you try and get back to the basics and the basics to me is when you haven't got the ball, get it back.



"That's what I want to get back to, working hard as a unit and then playing our football.



"There's no rocket-science to that. The lads have been great in training. They've just got to take that on to the pitch."



Reid was disappointed with the team's work-rate in the first half of his first game at Liverpool, which Leeds lost 3-1.
He has acted decisively by leaving internationals Teddy Lucic, Raul Bravo and Paul Okon - three players signed by Venables - out of his 17-man squad. Bureau Report