SO THE "naive young manager" has finally fallen foul of the hard-headed plc and suddenly Leeds United are in the market for a new manager.

Four years ago when George Graham snuck off to Spurs leaving Leeds in the lurch I was a reporter on the Yorkshire Evening Post.

At first hand I covered Peter Ridsdale's ultimately fruitless pursuit of then Leicester boss Martin O'Neill and then watched from close quarters as David O'Leary made such a brilliant start to his life as a manager.

Speaking to both men in those early years and they were both singing from the same song-sheet.

"There is no closer relationship between a chairman and a manager in the whole of the Premier League" - and they were probably right.

And in those early days O'Leary was a charming and disarming presence in press conferences with his quick wit and ready smile.

But slowly, at times almost unnoticed, things were changing. "The emphasis on his "youth" and "naivety" began to grate with fans, press and possibly the chairman.

Only a couple of months before he spent £18million on Rio Ferdinand he complained to the assembled press corps that he was not able to spend that sort of money on a player, despite being backed by the board in bringing in a host of big money signings.

Of course by then the Bowyer and Woodgate scandal had kicked off and the club was being watched by news as well as sports reporters.

A surge to the semi-final of the Champions League, despite opening with a 4-0 defeat by Barcelona, promised much but, despite an outlay of nearly £100million, the fact remains Graeme Souness has won more silverware at Blackburn than O'Leary has at Leeds.

The timing, content and not least the name of his book "Leeds United on Trial" left his chairman embarrassed and upset and the seeds of his sacking were sown.

His recent statements regarding any possible sale of Ferdinand had also made sure that if he did go, it would be the Board that took the flak from the fans.

So yesterday Ridsdale, a genuine fan in the boardroom, decided enough was enough.

Perhaps in the long run O'Leary was right - he really is naive.