LEEDS skipper Lucas Radebe has admitted he will not be happy to sit on the bench if David O'Leary prefers to use £18million signing Rio Ferdinand and Jonathan Woodgate as his centre-back pairing.

He said: "If he wants to play with two centre-halves and they are Jon and Rio that could be a problem for me.

"I want the club to do well because that's good for me and the competition is healthy and keeps all of us on our toes. But you can't be happy sitting on the bench.

"I'm aware George (Graham) would like to take me to Spurs," added Radebe, who would attract plenty of interest among Premiership rivals if he became frustrated at Leeds.

"I've been settled at Leeds. I love playing for the club and have achieved a lot here. It's great to see we're achieving things and moving in the right direction.

"But I'm a professional. I know I'm not a young man any more and I want to be in the first team. At this stage I can't afford to be on the bench. I've only got so many years left in my career.

"The manager will tell me if he's not going to play me and why. I respect him and I think he respects me and I hope that's the way we'll go on.

"I was happy with his reasoning last Saturday. I'd struggled with my ankle during the week and thought he might leave me out. I wouldn't query that.

"I've got two years left on my contract. The club have already spoken to me about a new deal so it isn't a case of me knocking on the manager's door - but if nothing happens there might be other doors open to me somewhere else."