BBC SPORT | Football | Teams | Leeds United | Lawro: Real problems at Leeds



By Mark Lawrenson BBC Sport

Lawro's verdict: Listen to full interview

I am extremely surprised by David O'Leary's departure from Leeds.

David is a fellow BBC World Cup pundit and gave absolutely no indication whatsoever that he was close to parting company with Leeds.

I can only think that the club's plc board and David have reached a stalemate.

Your say: Is Lawro's assessment fair?

For the first four years he was in charge, David was relatively successful - buying players who are now worth a lot more than he paid for them and heightening the club's profile both at home and abroad.

But the board at Leeds are clearly concerned with balancing the books.

O'Leary will take time out to plan his next move
O'Leary spent heavily but bought quality players

Rio Ferdinand, Lee Bowyer and Mark Viduka are all likely to be sold and this is a big part of it.

It has become known in football that Leeds are about to become a selling club and I think that has hurt David.

Everyone has had to spend heavily to compete with Manchester United and at times it is necessary to bite the bullet.

I can see why the club want to get some money back by selling players but it will be to their detriment.

It is one thing to sell both Viduka and Ferdinand for a massive profit - perhaps recouping �50m - but then you have lost two players of real quality.

Ferdinand stunned by O'Leary exit

The board need to understand that you cannot simply make a massive profit on selling players you have bought and then go back into the transfer market over and over repeating the process.

I would now expect David to enjoy a holiday abroad with his family, recharge the batteries and think about what he wants to do.

He can reflect on a solid first outing in management, building Leeds' stature and assembling a quality squad.

Ferdinand is expected to leave Leeds
Ferdinand's value has soared since he joined Leeds

Look at England's World Cup squad - Ferdinand, Danny Mills and Robbie Fowler all play for Leeds.

And who is to say that by the next major tournament the likes of Jonathan Woodgate, Lee Bowyer and Paul Robinson will not be wearing England's shirts.

The situation is not so positive for the club.

Leeds in focus: The gamble that backfired

After a couple of years of real optimism at Leeds, they now have some real problems.

They have to find a new manager and fast - but he will be required to sell some of his best players.

When he goes out scouting for new talent he will be up against everybody else.

Promising youngsters might be unwilling to sign for Leeds if they think the club is going to sell its best players.

And when the new man does arrive it will be interesting to see who he is required to sell and who he brings in - providing of course he is allowed to buy.