Fans' favourite Gray, a key member of Don Revie's great side of the 1960s and 1970s and twice Leeds manager, fears the club could struggle to get back among the game's elite after a humiliating relegation has been all but sealed.

And Ridsdale, now chairman of Cardiff, is tired of people blaming his wild-spending regime for the demise of the fallen giants.

"It is only 12 months since Leeds were in the play-off final and yet people talk today about decisions four or five years ago that are causing their plight," Ridsdale told Radio Five Live's Sportsweek programme.

"That is clearly not the case. Until people concentrate on the future, I do not think Leeds have a chance of coming back.

"They have got to regroup and get stability. They are a very big club off the field.

"But what matters in football is on the field. Too many people are feeling sorry for themselves."

Gray does not agree with a large number of bitter Leeds fans who hold Ridsdale directly responsible for all today's evils.

The former Scotland international, now a local radio pundit, said: "I don't think you can blame it all on him. The club lost an awful lot of players following relegation from the Premiership.

"But it must be galling for fans to see ex-players still playing in the Premiership. They were scoring all over the shop. Robbie Keane and Mark Viduka both scored yesterday.

"That's disappointing. The club spent too much money, everyone knows that now.

"But everybody knew when Leeds were challenging that the top four in England were dominating the game. Other clubs had to gamble if they wanted to break through and it has backfired."

Gray believes Leeds will bounce back to the Coca-Cola Championship, but face a desperate fight to reclaim their place in the top flight.

He added: "Leeds will get back up, I'm sure of that, but you just don't know how long it's going to take them to get back to the top level again.

"Given the financial circumstances in the game now it's going to be very hard."