Former Sunderland manager Peter Reid has been appointed caretaker manager of Leeds United following the departure of Terry Venables.

Venables left the club today after a dismal run of six defeats from Leeds' last eight Premiership matches.

The Elland Road club plan to appoint a permanent successor to Venables in the summer but have turned to Reid for the eight remaining matches this season.

It is thought Venables went following a stormy showdown with the board last night, becoming the latest high-profile casualty at crisis club Leeds.

Since succeeding David O'Leary in July last year, Venables has had to sit and suffer while a number of high-profile stars left the club.

Less than a month after his arrival, Rio Ferdinand was sold to Manchester United while Robbie Keane, Olivier Dacourt and Lee Bowyer soon followed him out of Yorkshire.

The winter transfer window then saw Robbie Fowler depart for Manchester City and Jonathan Woodgate move to Newcastle.

Recent results have added to the turmoil at Elland Road, with three successive Premiership defeats leaving United languishing just three places above the relegation zone.

Sandwiched in between those losses was another hurtful defeat at the hands of Sheffield United in the FA Cup.

Chairman Peter Ridsdale was barracked by a large number of fans during the home defeat against Middlesbrough last weekend.

Ridsdale preferred the sanctuary of the boardroom to a place in the stands to escape the backlash from angry supporters.

Some chanted "Ridsdale, it's time to go".

Before the game, Ridsdale had said: "We've had one difficult season and suddenly the world is calling for me to go.

"There's no doubt that when you are not performing people look for scapegoats, and whether it be the manager or it be me, it gets quite vicious on occasions. But for five years we did outstandingly well. Now what we have to do is realise we've had one bad year. I think you will see this as a one-year blip."