Ridsdale makes O'Neill claim

Former Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale has claimed that Martin O'Neill agreed a contract to manage the club in 2003.

Ex-Leeds chairman claims O'Neill agreed Elland Road switch

Former Leeds United chairman Peter Ridsdale has claimed that Martin O'Neill agreed a contract to manage the club in 2003.

Following the sacking of David O'Leary, Terry Venables was in charge at Elland Road at the time but, with Leeds on a poor run of form, O'Neill, then at Celtic, was seen as the man to turn around the club's fortunes.

"Discussions over the phone led to a secret meeting at my house," read the extract from his new book, United We Fall, serialised in The Sun.

"Martin had come down to discuss terms and reach an agreement in a deal approved by the board.

"At long last, I'd captured the signature I had been chasing for so long - the man I'd wanted before David O'Leary, the man I'd wanted since George Graham's reign.

"At the third attempt the deal to bring Martin to Leeds was signed, sealed and waiting to be delivered to supporters. It was January 3, 2003.

"He left me with a signed document I could take to my board as evidence he'd finally agreed to come.

"It read: 'This document states that I will enter a pre-contract agreement with Leeds United AFC on Monday January 6, 2003 to become their football manager when my present contract expires on June 30, 2003 with Celtic FC.

"'I will come earlier if Celtic agree to release me from my contract. I am happy for Leeds to publicly announce the above on January 6.'"

'Spineless mistake'

However, Venables then went on a winning run that saw the team lose just one of their next seven games, beginning with a 3-0 victory over Bolton.

Ridsdale continued: "We decided to defer his dismissal until the next defeat because we'd look idiots sacking the manager after a comprehensive victory.

"We should have been ruthless. Instead we procrastinated and it was a spineless mistake."

Resignation

Financial problems at the club saw Ridsdale sanction the sale of Jonathan Woodgate to Newcastle for £8m, leading the fans to turn against him.

The abuse led Ridsdale to resign in March that year and, as O'Neill had stipulated that he would only take charge if Ridsdale were chairman, the deal fell through.

"The Martin O'Neill pre-contract sank with my resignation," he added.