O'Leary says no to Leeds

David O'Leary has ruled himself out of contention for the managerial vacancy at Leeds. O'Leary revealed yesterday that he was on a three-man short-list to replace George Graham at Elland Road but has told chairman Peter Ridsdale that he did not wish to be considered for the job.

The former Republic of Ireland international will take charge of the Leeds team for their Premiership clash with Leicester tomorrow and added that he would be happy to continue that role into the foreseeable future.

He also said that he did not think it likely that he would follow Graham, appointed as Tottenham's new manager yesterday, to White Hart Lane.

Ridsdale said earlier that he was confident that a new man would be in place by Leeds' Premiership clash against Nottingham Forest on October 17th.

"I have told the chairman that I do not want the job," O'Leary told ClubCall. "I think he was a bit shocked but I am trying to be as honest as I can. I still feel I have a little bit more to learn at a club of this size, although I will be happy to stay if a new manager comes in."

O'Leary revealed that former manager George Graham would have had no hesitation in recommending his number two to make the step into management.

"George feels I can do the job and if Leeds asked him who they should go for I'm sure he would say me. I was told that there were three names on a short-list and mine was one.

"But, while I am extremely flattered that the board have enough confidence in me to do the job, I asked for my name to be taken off the list.

"The other two men want the job but it is more important that the club make the right decision rather than a quick decision. I will be happy to stay until they make an appointment."

O'Leary's decision puts the Leeds board in a tricky position. The former Arsenal centre half, who together with Eddie Gray will take charge of the first team for Saturday's clash with Leicester, was a strong contender for the job, along with Leicester manager Martin O'Neill and Gordon Strachan of Coventry.

However, Leeds have been warned off both O'Neill and Strachan and it may be that the Yorkshire club have to widen their search.

After a traumatic two-week period, chairman Ridsdale has vowed that Leeds will not become embroiled in a protracted media-led campaign to recruit their new manager.

Ridsdale said: "We will discuss all the candidates at board level and we want to know who is available and who isn't available.

"But I would be very disappointed if we didn't have someone in place by the game at Nottingham Forest."

Strachan has refused to commit himself to Coventry, saying that words mean nothing in football. "Why should I say anything like that when I could get the sack in a month. Then I would want any job that was offered to me," Strachan told Coventry ClubCall.

"I don't deal in rumours, only facts. The facts are that my team is second bottom of the league and that doesn't make me very happy."

Graham, meanwhile, has been granted the official title of manager at Tottenham and not head coach as was the case with his sacked predecessor Christian Gross.

It may seem only a subtle distinction but it proves that the former Arsenal boss, who was appointed yesterday on a four-year contract believed to be worth around £6 million, is being given the task of reviving the sleeping giant at White Hart Lane in exactly his own way.

That means a return to the dictatorial style he imposed at Highbury where he lifted many of the Arsenal players from near-obscurity to international stardom while compiling a silver stash of six major trophies in nine years.

Chairman Alan Sugar brought David Pleat, the club's successful 1987 boss, back to Spurs in the role of football director soon after virtually-unknown Swiss coach Gross was hired 10 months ago solely to work on the training ground with the players and pick the team.

There was soon a clear indication that Pleat was above Gross in the chain of command and when the former Grasshopper Zurich man was axed it was Pleat who took on the extra job of caretaker team-boss.

But Graham has quite obviously made it plain he wants total freedom to get on with the task of restoring old Spurs glories and once settled with his feet under the table will not need the permission of anybody to impose his own will, even Sugar.

Graham said: "The chairman is an astute businessman and after a while here I'm sure he will tell me if I'm on the right lines and give me my head to do the job.

"I won't say I'm going to achieve everything right away. I'm suspicious about overnight success and proud that what I've built at my previous clubs has been lasting.

"My aim is for Spurs to be among the top six in two years and from there to challenge the big boys for the trophies on a regular basis.

"There are several ways of doing it. I can go out and buy two or three players with the money that is available or I can try to convince the ones that are already here that if they carry out my way of doing things it will work.

"Already I know that a team of Spurs' talent should be higher up the League. I know the fans want style but let's have a winning style.

"Some people might not be happy that I'm coming in as manager but I know that if I can get the team winning the fans won't care who is manager."

Graham swept into White Hart Lane, past an unnecessary police guard and through a ticker-tape welcome from a few dozen fans, in a silver limousine with Pleat at the wheel.

But armed with Tottenham's public pledge that he has £18 million-plus to rebuild the side if he feels the need, Graham is sure to be in the driving seat from day one.