From Leeds Leeds Leeds

From Leeds Leeds Leeds, February 2002

O'Leary: Woodgate and Duberry have a bright Leeds future

We need them both says the Leeds Boss

In the aftermath of Jonathan Woodgate's conviction for the prosecution in that case, mush has been made of Woodgate's testimony that the players are no longer friends.

Asked at the launch of his book Leeds United On Trial whether Woodgate and Michael Duberry were any "closer", following reports that the pair haven't said a word to each other socially since the re-trial, O'Leary seemed mystified.

"Closer? I've never had any problems with either of them. I gave Michael Duberry a five year contract before Christmas, contrary to certain media people who suggested we were trying get Muchael Duberry out.

"If you say to me who's the best pairing in the club and probably could be as good as anything in the country it's Ferdinand and Woodgate. But I've no qualms about having Michael Duberry playing. None at all."

O'Leary confirmed that he has insisted that Woodgate moved away from the distractions of his native Middlesbrough and comes to live in Leeds.

"Yes, I am insisting Woodgate moves," he said, "but does that change anything, moving away? Middlesbrough is 50 minutes up the A1. We've seen the Chelsea incidents. We've seen incidents with footballers years before. It's in society. It goes on all the time. But they're the privileged ones that get paid vast amounts of money to play football, and they're role models for thousands of children. So you can dress it up and say I'm insisting on him moving to Leeds, but is that the be all and end all?

"Id he moves to Leeds there's still many distractions tat you've got to look out for around Leeds," the manager mused. "It's like our children growing up. You hope to bring them up right, but you can't pick who they mix with. You can't pick their friends. Young footballers have got to choose their friends right. So for me it's a bigger issue than just making the player move. You can get to Middlesbrough very quickly up the motorway."

Interview: Dave Simpson

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