Speculation mounts at Leeds

Considering the delicate and uncertain nature of an evolving situation, there were a surprising number of answers to be heard at Elland Road on Saturday. The majority of them came from two Irishmen, Martin O'Neill and David O'Leary, both in the hat for the manager's job at Leeds United. "Leeds United are a big, big club and, let me tell you, I am quite honoured to be put in the speculation," was one O'Neill response to the flurry of questions about his future. "Put it this way, getting beat today hasn't put me off management," was one of O'Leary's. "If the chairman wants me to stay then I will."

Answers were being directed at particular ears. O'Neill, for instance, said when explaining his agitated run onto the pitch at the final whistle and apparent valedictory wave to the Leicester City support: "I have to stay well in with them. At the moment I am reasonably popular at Filbert Street, certainly with the fans."

The first part of that reply was a joke about O'Neill's initial unpopularity at Leicester, but the second half seemed to be a reference to alleged disagreement between O'Neill and his directors over money for squad-strengthening; money would not be a problem at Leeds.

But Leeds, according to O'Neill, have not made an approach to Leicester for his services. At least that was the state of play at about 5.15 p.m. when O'Neill left the press conference. Neil Lennon said of his manager: "The players don't want him to go but if he decides to we wouldn't blame him." His comments were hardly an endorsement of the Leicester board.

Having appeared to have ruled himself out of contention for George Graham's old job, O'Leary backtracked somewhat. "I was flattered with the reception and I was flattered with people coming up to me before the game and saying `I hope you get the job'. I didn't think I was that popular."

And what if he were offered the Leeds job? "I would have to think about it for a millisecond."

O'Neill may have impressed the suits at Leeds because of Leicester's comfortable victory but O'Leary talked some sense when he said: "Leeds need better players if they are going to challenge for honours."

That much was obvious over 90 minutes when they did not create a single useful chance. Leicester's Tony Cottee finished Emile Heskey's electric run and cross with 14 minutes left.

The Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale said yesterday that Graham was offered the role of football director in an attempt to keep him at Elland Road and in the belief that the position would give him more time to be with his fiancee and family.

"We did all in our power to try to keep George. I made the offer to him after our game at Tottenham last week but it was not accepted. His decision to leave has shocked and saddened me."