HE S played Tony Blair inThe Queen, David Frost in Frost/Nixon, and now Michael Sheen turns his chameleon talents to portraying one of English football s most legendary managers. THE DAMNED UNITED (15) tells the confrontational and darkly humorous story o

HE'S played Tony Blair inThe Queen, David Frost in Frost/Nixon, and now Michael Sheen turns his chameleon talents to portraying one of English football's most legendary managers.

THE DAMNED UNITED (15) tells the confrontational and darkly humorous story of Brian Clough's doomed 44-day tenure as manager of Leeds United, then the reigning league champions.

Previously managed by his bitter rival Don Revie, and on the back of their most successful period ever as a football club, Leeds were perceived by many to represent a new aggressive and cynical style of football - an anathema to the principled yet flamboyant Clough, who had achieved astonishing success with Derby County.

Taking the Leeds job without his trusty lieutenant PeterTaylor by his side, with a changing room full of what in his mind were still Don's boys, he soon realised he'd made a terrible mistake.

Timothy Spall plays Taylor, Colm Meaney is Don Revie.

The film is based on the best-selling and critically acclaimed novel by David Peace.