Managing to give little away

Johnny Watterson listens to David O'Leary, who is now favourite to succeed Brian Kerr

Dave O'Leary has missed his flight from Birmingham. One o'clock becomes four o'clock. Theatre R in UCD's Arts Block becomes Theatre M. They say this is what it was like waiting for a pass from George Best.

A few Aston Villa tops, a sprinkling of Irish jerseys. Today there is an honorary life membership for the teenage lad who took the boat to Arsenal and stayed away for 30 years. Blue-chip recognition for the man who pulled a full house in Theatre R for the UCD Law Society's gong.

He walks in. They stand up clapping, whooping, perhaps too much. In one corner a small pocket try to whip up a "Davo, Davo, Davo" chant but it doesn't take hold. Here he walks among Villa converts, Leeds addicts, Republic of Ireland disciples and Arsenal gunners. But not all.

"You gonna beat Birmingham Dave?" shouts a punter. Dave says he hopes so but declares "I've started to fall in love with the club now."

Aston Villa that is, not Birmingham.

"Mr O'Leary," begins another. "In September you went to Upton Park and lost 4-0. Are West Ham United the best team in the Premiership in the context of that 90 minutes?"

Dave stares back incredulously. This is more like it. "Have you been drinking," asks the honorary member. "If you haven't then you need one."

"Eh, Mr O'Leary," continues the grinning questioner. "Was there any West Ham player you particularly liked that night?"

Oh, how low. This is the way it goes. The students pitch curve balls, googlies, bouncers and a few under arm. Dave bats them all. A hand shoots up at the front. "Any chance of a trial with Villa Dave?"

"No. Next"

The best player in England, Dave?

"Couldn't tell you."

The best club in England, Dave?

"I think there's been loads."

You know now why they let him out on his own.

"Dave you're sixth favourite in the Premiership sack race. Does that bother you?"

"I don't give a monkeys," answers the former Leeds manager.

"They pay out if you walk too Dave, I just wondered if you wanted to give me a tip."

"I won't be walking. If you worried about all that stuff, you wouldn't sleep at night."

Fair is fair, as Dave might say but he handles it all with kid gloves. Unflustered in his immaculate Birmingham High Street suit and even tan, the sleepless-nights remark brings the conversation around to another manager close to the collective heart.

"Would you like Brian Kerr's job Dave?"

"No I would not," he answered with impressive clarity. "I believe I've plenty of club football left in me now. But if I was asked at some stage in the future and got the opportunity, sure I would love to do it."

Preaching to the converted, it was never going to be a rough ride, just some occasional mild turbulence, but mostly a fan's journey through his Arsenal and Ireland career.

"The Penalty," he starts. "Quinny always fancied himself as a goalkeeper. Always wanted people to take penalties at him. He'd have this little book and he'd walk up and down the bus saying 'you owe me money, I owe you money'. You'd have to take three penalties and had to score all three or else it was a tenner. So when it came to owing him money, guess which players it was who ended up taking the penalties in Italia '90. Yeah you got it."