Football: O'Leary's warning

Sunday 16 May 1999 23:02 BST
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DAVID O'LEARY, the Leeds United manager, has threatened to leave the club if any of his leading players are sold against his wishes.

O'Leary, who has just signed a new five-year contract, is determined to keep players such as Harry Kewell, Jonathon Woodgate, Alan Smith and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink who have steered the club to fourth place in the Premiership.

The Leeds manager, who aims to strengthen his squad during the summer, said: "If one of my best players would be sold I wouldn't stand for it, no way. It would be the end of me." O'Leary is asking the Leeds board to back his ambition with sufficient money to enable him to add quality and depth to a promising squad. "If they do want to get rid of me, then they'll probably sell one of my top-class players," he said.

Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United manager, is angered by a BBC documentary about Sir Matt Busby. The programme, which will be screened tonight, claims to tell the full story of what the legendary United boss was like. Ferguson feels it gives a negative impression of Sir Matt.

"I really cannot allow the BBC's programme on Sir Matt Busby, due to be screened tomorrow night, to go ahead without saying that I cannot understand why they feel it necessary to pick holes in the great man's reputation," wrote Ferguson in his programme notes.

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