By Phil McNulty BBC Sport Online's chief football writer

David O'Leary must leave Leeds United without complaint - backed then sacked by an Elland Road board that invested nearly �100m and never saw silverware in return.

O'Leary, to the great irritation of many, made great play of being a young manager in charge of a young team when he first succeeded his mentor George Graham.

It was a claim that was initially accepted, but one that was eventually rejected when his massive transfer outlay still saw the Leeds United trophy room empty.

Leeds failure to secure even a Champions League place last season led to speculation about the futures of several of the star players he brought to the club - and seems to have sealed his fate.

O'Leary's troubles also piled up off the field last season, with his book Leeds United On Trial an ill-judged and ill-timed response to the court cases involving Lee Bowyer and Jonathan Woodgate.

He also had to contend with abuse directed at his right-hand man Brian Kidd, whose Manchester United links made him a target for Leeds United fans unhappy at seeing their team's growth stunted.

The FA Cup exit at Cardiff City did not help, although the cracks were covered up by crowd trouble.

Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale has always been a public supporter of O'Leary, so there has clearly been a major breakdown in faith for such a dramatic decision to be taken with pre-season training upon the Premiership.

But if O'Leary feels any bitterness - and he should not because it is a fair bet sympathy would be in short supply - he should not aim it at either Ridsdale or his board.

He lost the plot last season, admittedly in the face of some unique pressures caused by off-the-field events.

O'Leary's public image as a thinking young manager will make him a target for ambitious clubs, but his young and naive card has been done to death and the heat will be on him when he returns.

Leeds themselves could turn to Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy, who won many admirers with the way he handled his team's World Cup campaign.

And if McCarthy took the job, what price O'Leary being touted as his replacement for the Republic of Ireland?

O'Leary, in the meantime, may have to face up to the fact that his biggest chance of success at the Premiership's highest level may have come and gone.

Back to top