Ridsdale urged to make O'Neill move

Leeds legend Peter Lorimer has urged Elland Road chairman Peter Ridsdale to swallow his pride and make a move for Celtic boss Martin O’Neill.

The Yorkshire side have already failed with one bid to land O’Neill when the Irishman was at Leicester, and Lorimer fears it is a case of once bitten twice shy.

Ridsdale has so far dallied in seeking a successor to David O’Leary, with speculation that Terry Venables has been approached being denied by the club yesterday.

‘‘Leeds must dismiss all concerns about getting another knock-back from Martin. They have to grasp the nettle and make their move,’’ Lorimer told The Sun.

‘‘The only way they are going to get their man this time is to ask the question.’’

‘‘Sure, we were all disappointed four years ago when they didn’t get him. But he is the outstanding candidate to take over from David now.

‘‘The Leeds players want Martin, the fans want him and my message to Peter Ridsdale is everybody is behind you, so go out and get him.

‘‘What Leeds need is a manager who can get us back into the Champions League straight away - and Martin is that man.

‘‘He has already proved with his previous clubs he has the Midas touch as a manager.

‘‘O’Neill did a great job at Wycombe before going to Leicester and taking an ordinary team to cup final successes and into Europe. And he has completely transformed the fortunes of Celtic in the two seasons he has been in charge at Parkhead.

‘‘He is exactly what Leeds need right now. He would be like a breath of fresh air because he has already shown he is a manager who can pull a dressing room together.

‘‘He has always built a great relationship with his players at every club he has been with and that, too, is what is needed at Leeds because there seemed to be a breakdown in the relationship between David and some of the players in the second half of last season.

‘‘I know he still has a year left on contract with Celtic but if he wants to come to Leeds then I don’t think there is anything Celtic can do to stop him.

‘‘And, at the end of the day, I think Leeds will get him.’’

The signs are that Celtic will not let their man go without a fight, however.

The Glasgow giants last night stated: ‘‘Celtic Football Club have received no approach from Leeds United or any other club about Martin O’Neill.

‘‘But should any be made, the board would do all it could to persuade Martin to stay at the club.’’