this news really shocked me, and i can only assume it's as a result of ferdinand going to man utd, but we'll wait and see.
Leeds United have announced that manager David O'Leary has left the Premiership club by mutual consent.
The former Arsenal and Republic of Ireland defender joined the club four years ago and had spent millions in search of success.
But today the Elland Road club shocked British football by announcing that O'Leary and the club have parted company.
The club published a statement today on chairman Peter Ridsdale's behalf, which read: "Leeds United PLC today announces that David O'Leary, manager of Leeds United Football Club has left the company by mutual consent.
Mutual benefit
"After four successful years the pressures of some of the off-field incidents have resulted in both the company and Mr O'Leary agreeing that it would be of mutual benefit for a change of manager.
"It is hoped that an announcement regarding a successor can be announced in the next few weeks.
The club's financial troubles have been well publicised of late
"Leeds United would like to place on record its thanks for David's enormous contribution over the last four years.''
The news follows O'Leary's insistence that he wanted to keep star defender Rio Ferdinand despite a brilliant World Cup which has seen Manchester United repeatedly linked with a 30m-plus move for the former West Ham man.
The club's financial troubles have been well publicised of late with Ridsdale revealing that O'Leary must make a 15m profit on summer deals following O'Leary's failure to take the Yorkshire club into the Champions League last season.
Ferdinand, however, is not the only name that has been linked with a move from Elland Road.
Speculation
Lee Bowyer, Danny Mills, Mark Viduka, Harry Kewell, Robbie Keane and Olivier Dacourt have also been the subject of speculation linking them with moves elsewhere.
Despite their failure to qualify for the Champions League, the fans were fully behind O'Leary, who was rated one of the best young managers in the country.
And the fans are bound to agree with O'Leary's stance on Ferdinand's future.
O'Leary felt that selling Ferdinand to Manchester United would be akin to handing the title to their arch rivals.
Leeds fans were dismayed when Howard Wilkinson sold Eric Cantona to Manchester United in the summer of 1991, a move which proved the catalyst for some long awaited success at Old Trafford.
If Ferdinand follows the same path as Cantona it is bound to spark outrage among the fans.
-courtesy of
www.itv-football.co.uk
