Leeds United manager Dennis Wise sees Kevin Nicholls as a vital cog in the fight against relegation from the Coca-Cola Championship.

Wise made him captain within days of taking over as manager, even though the midfielder was still weeks away from coming back from injury, and sees the former Luton man's drive, determination and feisty attitude as one of the keys to Championship survival.

Nicholls himself is determined that his first year at Elland Road won't coincide with Leeds' first visit to the third tier of English football, and refuses to be distracted by the fact that fellow strugglers like Southend and Hull are showing improved form.

He said: "I'm not bothered about what other teams are doing. All that matters is what Leeds United do.

"We've got to play the teams around us, so if we win matches we are going to stay up.

"We are working hard to get things right and, if we can string some wins together, we can soon move away from trouble."

Meanwhile, Leeds fans are angry at Birmingham City's skin-flint attitude and plan to fight the Midland club's decision not to compensate them for the money lost when last Saturday's match was called off.

Birmingham's newly-laid pitch was unfit and, while City have agreed to refund the price of tickets if fans can't get to the game when it is played on Tuesday, February 27, they are refusing to pay for any losses incurred in pre-paid travel.

Leeds supporters club secretary Ray Fell said: "I think it's disgusting but I'm not surprised given the state of football these days when fans don't seem to count.

"Leeds United are compensating people who were booked on official coach trips."