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Gary McAllister has turned his attention back to his native Scotland and Dundee United pair Mark Kerr and Noel Hunt.

Midfield holding player and Scotland B international Mark Kerr, is in particular demand; aged just 26 and out of contract this season. As with Derek Riordan Leeds face competition from Burnley and Preston, Coventry, Leicester City and Doncaster Rovers are also interested in Kerr.

Once again Burnley appear to have the upper hand as current Burnley boss Owen Coyle was in charge of Kerr both as reserve-team manager at Tannadice and at Falkirk. Kerr may stay in Scotland as both Aberdeen and Hearts would like to sign the player, Dundee United would prefer he didn’t go to rivals in the SPL but as Kerr is on a Bosman there is nothing they can do to stop him.

McAllister also faces tough competition for 18 goal striker Noel Hunt with Reading, Burnley, Blackpool and Nottingham Forest in the chase for his signature.

Burnley appear to be linked with every Scot as their manager is Scottish but with the impending departure of striker Kyle Lafferty for big bucks they would easily have the wherewithall to meet the £400,000 asking price for Hunt.

Leeds United too would have the money having offered more for Derek Riordan last week. Although the Anthony Elding situation complicates matters.

Blackpool may struggle as they only bid £175,000 last Janueary and Dundee are in no mood for bargain hunters now they are facing losing two of their best players.

Reading certainly have the money to attract Hunt with their £12m parachute payment from the Premier League and they have the added bonus that Noel’s brother Stephen Hunt plays for them - unless they don’t get on, in which case the connection is a negative!

“We’re planning to give Jonny Howson a new contract,” said Leeds United chairman Ken Bates on the club’s offcial website.

“If it hadn’t been for the play-offs it’s something we would have looked at already.

“Obviously there have been other priorities and we’ve had to delay discussions slightly, but we’ll look to sort it out quickly.”

20 year-old, Morley-born, Howson has played 35 times this season and even captained the side as stand-in for injured Jonathan Douglas. He came closer than anyone to scoring for Leeds in the Play-Off Final defeat to Doncaster Rovers but at least he knows he will be a first-choice starter next season under Gary McAllister.

Following today’s Leeds United victory over Gillingham we have leap-frogged Southend United in the final League table and finished fifth. This means we meet Carlisle United in the play-offs. Here are the details:

The Elland Road tie will be played at on Monday May 12 at 7.45pm with the away leg at Brunton Park on Thursday May 15, 7.45pm.

Doncaster Rovers meet Southend in the other play-off semi-final.
 

The arbitration tribunal has handed down its ruling today on the Leeds United appeal against the Football League 15 point deduction from the League One points tally for season 2007-08.

The arbitration tribunal has ruled against Ken Bates and Leeds United by reinstating NO points. Leeds United therefore remain on 73 points and in the final, sixth, play-off position. If they beat Gillingham on Saturday and Southend United lose they may be able to go up one place.

The automatic promotion place now depends on the final game of the season with Doncaster Rovers, Nottingham Forest and Carlisle United all able to take the coveted spot. Therefore, at the moment Leeds United have no idea who they will face in the play-off semi-final.

A disappointing result but not totally unexpected - so on to the play-offs and Wembley!