GEORGE Graham last night revealed his fears for the future of the English game - and bemoaned the lack of talent to be plundered from Scotland - after having watched his Leeds side in a drab goalless draw with Blackburn.

The lack of attacking inspiration on both sides was evident, although Graham left Derek Lilley, his new #500,000 signing from Greenock Morton, on the bench until the closing moments, as the Elland Road crowd booed both sides off the field.

Leeds manager Graham made little attempt to defend the dull encounter and said the toughest job he faced after returning to the game from his 12-month ban was finding real talent. ''The biggest problem we have in English football at present is we have far too little quality around,'' said Graham.

''There is too much money chasing too little quality players. I have been all round Europe, but it is very difficult.'' Graham said that, traditionally, Scotland had provided a rich breeding ground for the English game, but he believed top-class players north of the Border were also in short supply.

''We are not producing the youngsters we did in the last couple of decades,'' claimed Graham. ''Chairmen must invest very heavily in the future of the game here.''

Meanwhile, Graham told a television audience he fancied his former club Arsenal to pip Manchester United and Liverpool for the league title. ''The other two will be tied up in European games while Arsenal are out of all the cups. I would have a little wager on Arsenal,'' explained Graham.

However, he had no time for United manager Alex Ferguson's calls for an extension to the Premiership season. ''The time to do that is at the beginning of the season, not during the season,'' Graham insisted.

Lilley and French winger Pierre Laurent were mysteriously left on the bench while Leeds laboured to create a worthwhile chance. Laurent, a #250,000 signing from Bastia, and Lilley eventually made a belated appearance in place of Rod Wallace and Lee Sharpe.

However, the newcomers only managed a couple of touches between them as the game petered out.

Blackburn striker Kevin Gallacher had come closest to breaking the stalemate with a header on the hour that rattled the Leeds crossbar after a cross from fellow Scotland internationalist Billy McKinlay, but neither side deserved to take three points from a scrappy match in which Leeds preserved their record of not conceding a Premiership goal at home since December.

Lee Sharpe provided the only shot on target in the first half and that was a tame, long-range free-kick that failed to trouble Tim Flowers. Graeme Le Saux squandered a clear-cut chance seven minutes from the break. Chris Sutton flicked on Jeff Kenna's throw-in to leave Le Saux with only Nigel Martyn to beat but the England wing-back dragged his volley wide of the far post.

Leeds had a couple of threatening moments, most notably when Le Saux slipped enabling Rod Wallace to drill in a low cross from the right by-line. The ball flashed across the face of goal but Kenna stole in front of Sharpe at the far post to turn the ball behind for a corner.

Wallace might have done better when Brian Deane headed down Tony Dorigo's deep cross but Henning Berg's challenge was enough to put the Leeds striker off and he stabbed wide from close-range.

Colin Hendry, Blackburn's captain last night, miscued a clearance, presenting Deane with a half chance, but he volleyed straight into the arms of a grateful Flowers.

Gallacher was unlucky not to make the breakthrough on the hour when he climbed at the far post to meet Billy McKinlay's cross with a header that beat Martyn only to thud against the crossbar and rebound to safety.

qNottingham Forest general manager Dave Bassett is threatening a summer clear- out unless players respond positively to their battle against relegation.

Bassett has issued a ''playing for your future'' message after being left shell-shocked by his side's inept performance in their 3-1 home reverse by Southampton at the weekend.

Forest have only four matches left and are in grave danger of being relegated for the second time in four seasons.

They are already planning a #12m summer spending spree

Leeds United....... 0 Blackburn Rovers....... 0