“This has been the most trying time of my managerial career,” Venables admitted.

However, he will be in charge for Tuesday’s FA Cup replay with Gillingham and it is highly unlikely he will have decided to jump ship before Saturday’s visit of West Ham to Elland Road.

And Venables maintained that he “didn’t see anything from the lads that suggested that their spirit had gone” despite the defeat, where the turning point was a second-half Dave Unsworth penalty.

Twenty-four hours before the game Venables had told a press conference in Leeds that he had not had time to consider his position.

After today’s defeat he said: “I still haven’t had time, it was only yesterday.

“The games are coming too quick, we have another one on Tuesday, I haven’t the time yet to consider the situation, it’s something that has just landed in my lap.”

Venables had listened to a tirade directed at Peter Ridsdale – the chairman needed a police escort from the directors’ box as supporters in the main stand hurled abuse at him – but also heard his own name chanted by supportive Leeds fans.

And he added: “It’s always helpful when you have the support of the fans, I feel for them, it’s very, very frustrating.

“I’m sure the players feel the same way, but we haven’t discussed it at all, there has been no time.

“There has not been a timescale yet for any sort of decision, it’s all so frustrating, so frustrating, it’s the word that keeps coming up.

“That is how you feel and it will take a few days to sort the thing out and it has not been possible with the games coming so quick

“But it’s is certainly the most trying time of my career.”

Everton boss David Moyes saw his team consolidate fifth place and go level on points with Chelsea after their third successive victory.

Moyes said: “Leeds edged the first half because we couldn’t handle Harry Kewell playing off the front man, he caused us problems.

“But in the second period Leeds couldn’t handle Tomasz Radzinski’s pace. He missed one through on the keeper, was brought down for the penalty and scored the second after being played in by Li Tie.”

Then Scotsman Moyes joked: “Li Tie had an excellent game. I know it’s the Chinese new year and I just hope he doesn’t go out and get bevvied up to celebrate!”