GRAEME Souness today spoke of the pressures of being a modern day manager as he came out in passionate support of underfire Leeds boss Peter Reid.

Reid's position at Elland Road has been the subject of intense scrutiny in the media this week following United's poor start to the season.

But Souness has leapt to the defence of his old friend and midfield sparring partner by calling on the Leeds board to give him the time he needs to get things right.

"When you're a manager you accept that this is a mad business and maybe there's some mad people running our business today," said Souness.

"But this is the business we are in and you've got to accept it.

"At the end of the day, we are all judged on results and the time to judge Peter Reid will be at the end of the season, but unfortunately it doesn't always work out like that."

Although Souness is virtually fire-proof in his current post at Blackburn, he can still relate to the pressure-cooker situation Reid currently finds himself in.

Souness was manager of Torino in the 1990s when he was brutally axed by the Italians after just six games at the helm.

"I lasted six games at Torino. Two wins, two draws, and two losses," said Souness with a wry smile.

"They were a team who were expected to be going for promotion and I got six games.

"I was also given 19 new players at the start of that season and told to make a team out of them and they only gave me six games to get it right.

"But that's life in football. Everyone gets kicked where it hurts at some point."

Souness has implored Leeds not to discard Reid in the same callous manner.

The former England international went into today's game with Rovers at Elland Road knowing another crushing defeat would hammer another nail in his coffin.

But Souness believes his pal has the character necessary to save his own skin.

"Reidy has been kicked where it hurts but if anyone can turn it around and get them going again then it will be him," said the Rovers boss.

"He was a feisty little character as a player. He played in the same position as me, he was a real battling type of player, and that doesn't leave you when you stop playing football. That will be with him for the rest of his life, that will see him through the difficult times, and I'm sure he'll get through this difficult period as well."