New Leeds manager Kevin Blackwell has been given a personal apology by director Simon Morris following the farce which almost led to him turning his back on the club.

Blackwell on Wednesday finally took over at Elland Road, signing a two-year contract 48 hours after his future was thrown into doubt and which led to him considering his position with the club.

The 45-year-old, who steps up from his previous role as head coach to former managers Peter Reid and Eddie Gray, was unanimously voted into office on Friday by the directors, with an announcement to confirm the appointment expected 72 hours later.

Blackwell, however, was left seething on Monday when informed by Morris the deal was to be put on hold amid suggestions the board were still looking at other candidates.

It is now known Morris vetoed the agreement as he was working with potential new owner Steve Parkin on a takeover, with the Brighouse-based haulier and life-long fan favouring Crystal Palace manager Iain Dowie.

But Parkin's involvement with Morris ultimately backfired as he lost the support of a number of close allies, including the supporters' groups, but more importantly his major investor, resulting in the collapse of his proposed buy-out.

It resulted in Morris telephoning Blackwell to again offer him the post, which was eventually accepted - but only after a great deal of soul-searching.

"I was happy to sign, but only after asking to speak to people who had put doubt in my mind," Blackwell said.

"That doubt has now been eased. I've had assurances from all board members, including Simon Morris. It was important I spoke to him.

"He rang first thing on Tuesday and put my mind at rest about a lot of things. When I received another phone call later on, I knew the board were behind me.

"I had to have that because I didn't want to be offered the job on the back of one director agreeing and another not.

"This job is that big the decisions which have to be made have to be backed unanimously from top to bottom. If I don't have that backing I can't make the necessary changes at the club to move it forward.

"I now have that backing. Simon Morris said to me it was an unfortunate situation which arose, one he had read wrong and he apologised for it. It took a big man to do that when he called me on Tuesday."

Although Parkin may be out of the picture, there remains financial turmoil at Elland Road, to such an extent it has been suggested the club will be in administration before Christmas.

With Leeds understood to still be around £60million in debt, Blackwell has to work in front of a backdrop which dictates the majority of the current first-team squad be sold this summer if Leeds are to survive in the Football League.

Striker Alan Smith is on the brink of a £7million move to Manchester United, with Mark Viduka, Danny Mills, Dominic Matteo and James Milner all set to follow him out of the club in the coming weeks.

Blackwell has his targets, with Manchester United's Danny Pugh likely to be the first to arrive as a makeweight in the Smith deal. However other signings primarily depend on who the former Sheffield United assistant manager can ship out.

"There's been no guarantees on anything other than the club trying to raise the funds to bring in the necessary players to give us a chance in Division One," added Blackwell.

"There are players already here I would like to keep and I will be speaking to, but the finances will dictate what happens.

"The first thing I need to do is try to make contact with the players we've identified and hopefully they've not signed any pre-contract agreements so we've a chance to bring them to Elland Road.

"I've got targets in my mind so we will try to crack on and deal with it. It's at least good to be in a situation where we can bring in some fresh blood and revitalise the squad and have players who really want to play for this football club."

One of Blackwell's first tasks will be to say thankyou and goodbye to Smith, who is now set to complete his controversial move to Old Trafford on Thursday.

Blackwell recognises, though, the cash from that transfer is key to the club's future.

He said: "I've spoken to Smithy a few times.

"In the cold light of day he wouldn't have left if we had stayed up, but from a professional point of view he had to move on and I respect that decision.

"Equally the club needs money to survive, so Alan's transfer fee becomes very important."