Leeds United chairman Peter Ridsdale has said he won’t stand in the way of his manager David O'Leary if he wanted to move to bitter rivals Manchester United.
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson retires at the end of next season and the club is set to start its search for a replacement early next year.
"David has got more freedom to act here than probably any other league manager, but if he feels that moving to a club that has won just about everything for the last seven years is something he wants to do, then so be it," Ridsdale told a British newspaper.
"That might be seen as a way to be remembered as a great manager, but if he wins trophies at this club, I know that he'll go down in history - anybody who goes to Old Trafford will be just following in the master's footsteps," he told the Daily Mail.
O'Leary has been a success since becoming Leeds manager in October 1998, turning a club in transition into a force in the European game.
Last season Leeds reached the semifinals of the Champions League and finished fourth in the Premiership. But they have yet to win any silverware and Ridsdale believes that is one reason why O'Leary should stay.
"We've got a very good professional relationship. I don't think we disagree on our strategy or direction," Ridsdale said.
"The only reason David won't be manager of Leeds will be if he walks out, because he and I are in this together and I've told him that."