Don't blame me - O'Leary
David O’Leary has refuted suggestions he is the reason behind Leeds’ current predicament.
The Yorkshire club are struggling for form in 14th place in the Barclaycard Premiership, with new boss Terry Venables so far unable to emulate his predecessor’s achievements of turning Leeds into genuine title challengers.
Chairman Peter Ridsdale has also claimed the expensively-assembled squad may have to be cut before new players are bought.
O’Leary was axed in the summer despite overseeing one of the most successful periods in the club’s history as they reached the semi-finals of both the UEFA Cup and Champions League.
However, he has come in for criticism from Ridsdale, who claimed the decline had started while O’Leary was still in charge.
But O’Leary claims he left the club in a much healthier state than when he had stepped up to become manager at the end of 1998.
O’Leary told The People newspaper: “When I took over, gates were around 30,000. We put on another 10,000, plus we got a good deal with Nike, attracted excellent players and reached two European semi-finals.
“I have no argument with Terry and I take no satisfaction from seeing Leeds struggle now. I still live in the area. I bump into the fans all the time and regularly see some of the players.
“I am satisfied I left them with a top-four squad – nobody was complaining about that when Terry came in and they said they could win the title or after he’d posted victories in the first two games.
“But they lose a few games and suddenly there’s an imbalance. What was it? Five forwards and only one left-back, Ian Harte? No money because it was all spent by the last manager?
“The ‘problems’ with the squad didn’t stop us from competing at the top of the table with the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United when I was in charge.”
O’Leary also felt it was unfair to lay all of the blame for Leeds’ financial plight at his feet for spending so much on players.
He said: “The fact I spent £100m is trotted out regularly. Yes, on players such as Mark Viduka, Robbie Fowler and Rio Ferdinand, and yes, with Mr Ridsdale writing the cheques.
“In the end the deficit was £28m – not bad for the team I left them with. The chairman could always have said no to the spending. If there was any fear that Leeds were heading for such a dire financial mess he should have said no.”
Leeds, just five points off the bottom of the table, travel to Tottenham later today in desperate need of a victory to lift them away from the relegation zone.
