O'Leary would welcome Elland Road return

Former Leeds manager David O'Leary has reiterated his desire for a second spell in charge of the financially troubled Elland …

Former Leeds manager David O'Leary has reiterated his desire for a second spell in charge of the financially troubled Elland Road club.

Caretaker manager Peter Reid is the current favourite to land the job on a permanent basis having guided the club to the brink of safety in the Barclaycard Premiership with victory at Highbury at the weekend.

However, O'Leary, who claims the current financial situation at Leeds is not a result of his time at the club, has told the BBC he would welcome a return to the Leeds hotseat.

He said: "I thought when I'd get the sack is when the fans turned against me. I've just always had the fans with me.

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"I have just a sneaky felling deep, deep down that some time along the way I might get back there and manage them, and if I do I will be absolutely delighted.

"I didn't want to leave the place and if I was asked again - if I could sit down with the right people and talk to them - yes, I would take it again without a doubt."

Leeds dismissed O'Leary last June and soon after sold Rio Ferdinand to Manchester United for £30million.

Other leading players left, with Jonathan Woodgate going to Newcastle for £9million and Robbie Fowler to Manchester City for £6million as Leeds attempted to balance the books.

However, O'Leary said: "People say I spent £90million but I recouped over £70million of that. The gates over the four years were record gates.

"In the Champions League we made nearly £20million, and the year before that in the UEFA Cup it was about £7million.

"The commercial side of the club had never been bigger.

"We bought well and we sold well and to get the debts we have, I mean the figures just don't add up."