Villa boss refutes Leeds claim
Villa boss Martin O'Neill has refuted Peter Ridsdale's claims he was going to take over at Leeds. In Ridsdale's book, the former Leeds chairman claimed he had a written agreement from the then Celtic boss to take over at Elland Road in June 2003.
O'Neill admitted holding talks with Ridsdale as he entered the final months of his contract at Celtic, but said he sent a letter to the then Leeds chairman saying he wouldn't be taking over.
"Peter Ridsdale tried to sign me in 1998 and Leicester wouldn't give him permission to speak formally to me about the position," said O'Neill.
"When Celtic hadn't offered O'Neill a new contract when he had a year left to run on his old contract he met Ridsdale.
"I said in principle I would go there – under quite a number of conditions. These were not financial conditions.
"When I found things Peter had mentioned to me weren't actually true, I sent a letter to him pretty quickly saying I wouldn't be going there.
"So if he makes the suggestion I was heading there on the understanding he alone would be chairman, that's not true."