Al Alhi desert O'Leary

Former Leeds boss cannot stand the Dubai heat.

David O'Leary's eight month stint in the Middle East is over after Al Alhi sacked him and his number two Roy Aitken.

The ambitous Dubai club blamed a poor string of results for the decision to part company with the one-time Leeds boss.

According to reports, the fans turned against the Irishman - a situation he endured at Aston Villa and also in part at Elland Road following the publication of his "Leeds United On Trial" book in December 2001.

I personally did not hold the book against O'Leary, despite its irrelevance and in large parts silliness and would have stuck with him for at least another season. My biggest gripe against him was the decision to move Eddie Gray sidways and appoint Brian Kidd to a more prominent coaching role at the club. The wonderful football which briefly made us everyone's second favourite team soon vanished and Leeds were staring at the financial abyss having failed to qualify for the Champions League again.

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