PETER Reid launched a scathing attack on Peter Ridsdale yesterday and accused the Leeds chairman of attempting to unsettle his ace striker Kevin Phillips.

The patience of Sunderland boss Reid snapped when he was asked to comment on yet more speculation that £20m-rated Phillips could follow Rio Ferdinand to Elland Road.

"How do I feel about that? I'm delighted. It's great," he replied sarcastically.

Ridsdale's ears must have been burning during transfer talks with Ferdinand over his £18m deal.

Reid, who has witnessed how Leeds mounted virtually a public campaign to land the West Ham star, made it clear he won't let the same thing happen to Phillips.

Reid stopped short of accusing Ridsdale of an illegal approach, but he was clearly angry over the way his striker's name has been linked with Leeds over the last three weeks.

He rapped: "Ask Peter Ridsdale about Phillips. I prefer to do business face to face. He seems to like doing it through the media.

"There is a right way and a wrong way to do things and if his manager wants to speak to me he can pick up the phone.

"There is an unwritten rule that you don't talk about another club's players in public. But Mr Ridsdale prefers to do it that way and I'm sick and tired of it.

"I try to do the job the way I see it and Leeds have nothing to do with me.

"But I don't think it's a coincidence that the subject keeps cropping up.

"This sort of thing can be unsettling for players. I have spoken to loads of managers about players and nothing has ever come out. That's the proper way to do business."

But Ridsdale has hit back, saying he is fed up of the accusations and insisting United have no interest in the striker.

''I spoke to Peter Reid a week last Friday and told him we had no interest in Kevin Phillips. In fact, we have tried to help Sunderland establish exactly who is starting these rumours.

''I will not allow him to blame me for the constant rumours in football that Phillips is unhappy in Sunderland and is desperate to leave."

Reid has been so concerned about the whispering campaign that he has discussed it privately with 27-year-old Phillips.

The England striker has gone five games without a goal - his longest barren spell since joining the club - and fans believe the transfer talk may have had something to do with that.

But Reid has said before that his ace marksman is not for sale and, given his stubborn nature, his outburst must significantly reduce any chance of Leeds getting their man.

The Sunderland boss added: "As far as I can tell it hasn't affected Kevin in the way he goes about his job.

"I have chats with my players and certainly I have talked to Kevin. But that remains private. I think he has been very good the last few weeks and I know he will get a goal sooner or later. I'm pleased with him."

Sunderland were yesterday counting the cost of paying up the contract of 35-year-old German international Thomas Helmer.

Helmer, who signed a £20,000 weekly agreement following a free transfer move from Bayern Munich last year, has returned to Germany eight months before the end of his two-year deal.

The defender, who was injured while on loan with Hertha Berlin, is believed to have cost the club more than £1m in wages, despite making only one start and one substitute appearance.

But Reid insisted that the 68-cap World Cup star had made a significant contribution on the training ground if not at the Stadium of Light.

"It has been great having him here, even though he didn't play many games," said Reid. "He came in with Steve Bould and their experience was invaluable in our first season back in the Premiership.

"He has had a few medical problems but I think he wants to carry on playing and I have wished him the best of luck.

Reid added: "He has been a model professional but I felt his legs had gone.

"He went to play in the Champions League with Hertha so people might question why I didn't use him more. I'm paid to make those decisions but I can understand why fans were asking."

Chris Makin and Don Hutchison face a fitness race ahead of tomorrow's match at Charlton.

The pair have struggled through the pain barrier for several weeks - Makin with hamstring trouble and Hutchison with a rib injury.