Proud McDermott pledges future to Leeds after links with Republic

The 52-year-old, installed by the bookmakers as second favourite for the position behind Martin O’Neill following the axing of Giovanni Trapattoni, admits he is flattered to be linked to the 
Republic and would like to manage them one day.

But that time is some way considerably down the line, with 
McDermott – who spoke to United’s managing director David Haigh and chief executive Paul Hunt about the matter on Wednesday evening – at Elland Road for the long haul.

O’Neill remains hot favourite to succeed Trapattoni and McDermott, whose parents were born in Ireland, admits he is a ‘good choice’ and has backed him for the post.

On being linked to the Ireland job, McDermott – name-checked by FAI chief John Delaney as being a ‘leading contender’ to take over from Trapattoni – said: “My reaction is immense pride more than anything.

“I was sat with a good friend on Wednesday night and we were looking at the odds. Martin O’Neill was top and I was second. And if you consider that I’ve been a manager at this level for, what, four and a bit years, to get to that gives me nothing but pride.

“I’m probably doing something right which is good. Everybody knows what I feel about Ireland; my family, my history and how important that is to me. That’s the word I’d use – incredible pride.

“My situation is that one day I want to manage the Republic of Ireland. At this moment in time, I’m at a fantastic football club. I’ve kind of been adopted here and I feel I owe this club and these supporters. They’re really, really important to me.

“I’m committed 100 per cent. I regard Leeds United as a very big club. At this moment, I wouldn’t be leaving Leeds United for anyone. In years to come when Leeds United get fed up of me, that could be the case. If I ever get that (Ireland) opportunity, I’d love to take it.

“I want to be successful at Leeds United. I just feel these fans deserve it. We’ve got 5,000 going to Bolton on Saturday and when I go to Dublin there’s so many Leeds United fans, you cannot believe it.

“If you ask the Leeds United fans in Dublin ‘do you want the Leeds manager to leave to become the Republic manager at this moment in time?’ I’m not sure what the answer would be.

“The names, the candidates that have been bandied around, have been in jobs for an awful long time, longer than me. They’ve been very successful in what they’ve done. They’ve stood the test of time. It’s important for me to earn the right and be successful with Leeds. I’m not saying it’s an overnight thing, it’s not. We’re trying to build here. There’s no quick fix.

On O’Neill’s credentials to take over, he added: “If he got the job, with his history and experience, I’m sure he’d be a really good choice. There are a lot of good candidates out there.”