Soccer: O’Leary calls for fairer deal

David O’Leary has called upon the League Managers’ Association and club chairmen throughout the country to resolve a contentious contract issue.

Leeds boss O’Leary is demanding clubs pay up contracts in full should they decide to show a manager the door ahead of the expiry of any signed deal.

O’Leary, who has vowed to honour the six-year contract he signed in August of last year, believes new rules should be put in place for managers just as they are with players.

‘‘When a manager signs a contract it should mean something,’’ said O’Leary.

‘‘Yet at the moment, even if a manager signs a four or five-year contract, he still usually only gets a year’s money if he is sacked. Whereas if a player signs a contract it is honoured in full.

‘‘If a club asks a manager to sign for two, three, four or five years, whatever it might be, they are asking you to commit yourself and if they change their mind, they should pay you and they should not be able to sign another manager until the first one is paid out in full.

‘‘I think it’s time the managers’ union and the club chairmen thrashed out a system that is fair to everyone.

‘‘At the moment I think some managers feel they can walk out because they know if they get the sack, their contract won’t be settled in full anyway.

‘‘It’s very unsatisfactory all round and needs sorting out.’’

LMA chief executive John Barnwell has revealed much has already been done to ensure managers receive due compensation, although talks are still ongoing with both the Premier and Football Leagues to firmly resolve the issue.

‘‘The general tone of David’s points we are in sympathy with,’’ said Barnwell. ‘‘A contract should reflect both parties intentions, it should be a two-way street.

‘‘But most managers in the Premiership have a termination clause in their contract, it will just vary from club to club. It could be a fixed amount or the remainder of the contract.

‘‘We are talking with both leagues, though, to try and get some sort of system in place so that both parties understand where they are.’’

Leeds midfielder Stephen McPhail, meanwhile, is hoping to make his first-team return in next week’s Champions League quarter-final second leg at Deportivo La Coruna.

McPhail took another step towards a comeback in Tuesday’s reserve match with Middlesbrough by playing his first full 90 minutes for six months because of an Achilles injury.

The Republic of Ireland international, in what was his third reserve outing, came through unscathed and said: ‘‘I needed to get some games under my belt and I’ve played a part in the last few reserve matches.

‘‘It has been a frustrating time, but the boys have been doing well and that makes it all the more bearable.

‘‘The Champions League would be a great way to return, but it’s all down to the gaffer and the physio and when they think the time is right.’’