Question:
LEEDS, England, June 27 (AFP) - English Premiership giants Leeds United stunned the football world here Thursday sacking highly-rated manager David O'Leary after a controversial four years in charge.
A Leeds director told Sky News although they had originally released a statement saying O'Leary had left by mutual consent he had in fact been fired because 'the board were disappointed with the playing performance last season (they failed to qualify for the Champions League)'.
Matters between him and the club came to a head this week when he said he would do everything in his power to keep star England defender Rio Ferdinand at the club despite a rumoured 34million pound (51million dollars) bid by Manchester United for his services.
Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale had instructed the 44-year-old former Ireland international to make a 15 million pound profit on transfers this summer.
However fresh in the minds of Leeds fans will be the last time a player left for Manchester United when Eric Cantona was sold by then manager Howard Wilkinson in 1992 for 1.2 million pounds which proved a catalyst for the buying club's dominance and a slump in Leeds' fortunes.
Potential successors being touted were Celtic's manager Martin O'Neill, who was originally solicited in 1998 when George Graham left the hotseat, and Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy, who was a team-mate of O'Leary's in the 1990 World Cup finals.
Ferdinand, who was a star performer for England in their run to the World Cup quarter-finals and scored his maiden goal against Denmark, said it had come as a massive shock to him.
"It's come out of the blue and is a massive shock.
"He's been with the club through good times and bad times.
"He was the guy who placed all that confidence in me and bought me for a huge amount of money (18million pounds) and he has been brilliant with me," he said.
The club had earlier issued a statement on behalf of chairman Peter Ridsdale confirming the departure of O'Leary.
"Leeds United PLC announces that David O'Leary, manager of Leeds United Football Club has left the company by mutual consent.
"After four successful years the pressures of some of the off-field incidents have resulted in both the company and and Mr O'Leary agreeing that it would be of mutual benefit for a change of manager.
"It is hoped that an announcement regarding a successor can be announced in the next few weeks.
"Leeds United would like to place on record its thanks for David's enormous contribution over the last four years."
Aside from Ferdinand several other top players had been linked with moves away such as Australian duo Mark Viduka and Harry Kewell, Irish star Robbie Keane, highly-rated midfielder Lee Bowyer and Frenchman Olivier Dacourt.
However it was Ferdinand who had proved the biggest stumbling block between O'Leary and Ridsdale, who had been supportive of his manager throughout several controversial episodes during his reign.
O'Leary had come in for a lot of criticism when sections of his biography relating to the court trial of two star players, Bowyer and Jonathan Woodgate was serialised in a Sunday newspaper last year.
The excerpts were published just two days after Bowyer had been cleared of assault and team-mate Jonathan Woodgate had been found guilty of affray.
His failure to guide Leeds into next season's Champions League was not balanced out by garnering a place in the UEFA Cup and failure to land a trophy despite some promising performances after spending over 100million pounds had virtually sealed his fate before the head to head clash over Ferdinand.

Answer:

LEEDS, England, June 27 (AFP) - English Premiership giants Leeds United stunned the football world here Thursday sacking highly-rated manager David O'Leary after a controversial four years in charge.
A Leeds director told Sky News although they had originally released a statement saying O'Leary had left by mutual consent he had in fact been fired because 'the board were disappointed with the playing performance last season (they failed to qualify for the Champions League)'.
Matters between him and the club came to a head this week when he said he would do everything in his power to keep star England defender Rio Ferdinand at the club despite a rumoured 34million pound (51million dollars) bid by Manchester United for his services.
Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale had instructed the 44-year-old former Ireland international to make a 15 million pound profit on transfers this summer.
However fresh in the minds of Leeds fans will be the last time a player left for Manchester United when Eric Cantona was sold by then manager Howard Wilkinson in 1992 for 1.2 million pounds which proved a catalyst for the buying club's dominance and a slump in Leeds' fortunes.
Potential successors being touted were Celtic's manager Martin O'Neill, who was originally solicited in 1998 when George Graham left the hotseat, and Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy, who was a team-mate of O'Leary's in the 1990 World Cup finals.
Ferdinand, who was a star performer for England in their run to the World Cup quarter-finals and scored his maiden goal against Denmark, said it had come as a massive shock to him.
"It's come out of the blue and is a massive shock.
"He's been with the club through good times and bad times.
"He was the guy who placed all that confidence in me and bought me for a huge amount of money (18million pounds) and he has been brilliant with me," he said.
The club had earlier issued a statement on behalf of chairman Peter Ridsdale confirming the departure of O'Leary.
"Leeds United PLC announces that David O'Leary, manager of Leeds United Football Club has left the company by mutual consent.
"After four successful years the pressures of some of the off-field incidents have resulted in both the company and and Mr O'Leary agreeing that it would be of mutual benefit for a change of manager.
"It is hoped that an announcement regarding a successor can be announced in the next few weeks.
"Leeds United would like to place on record its thanks for David's enormous contribution over the last four years."
Aside from Ferdinand several other top players had been linked with moves away such as Australian duo Mark Viduka and Harry Kewell, Irish star Robbie Keane, highly-rated midfielder Lee Bowyer and Frenchman Olivier Dacourt.
However it was Ferdinand who had proved the biggest stumbling block between O'Leary and Ridsdale, who had been supportive of his manager throughout several controversial episodes during his reign.
O'Leary had come in for a lot of criticism when sections of his biography relating to the court trial of two star players, Bowyer and Jonathan Woodgate was serialised in a Sunday newspaper last year.
The excerpts were published just two days after Bowyer had been cleared of assault and team-mate Jonathan Woodgate had been found guilty of affray.
His failure to guide Leeds into next season's Champions League was not balanced out by garnering a place in the UEFA Cup and failure to land a trophy despite some promising performances after spending over 100million pounds had virtually sealed his fate before the head to head clash over Ferdinand.