Former Leeds defender Paudie O’Connor has revealed he left Elland Road in search of first-team football after it was confirmed that he had joined Bradford on a three-year deal.
O’Connor broke into the Leeds first-team under Paul Heckingbottom and made four starts, playing 90 minutes in each of the Championship games.
He was moved on loan to Bradford last summer, where he made 26 appearances.
Talking to the BBC, O’Connor said he had enjoyed his time at Elland Road but felt that at 22 he needed to play more and conceded it would have been hard to get regular first-team football at Leeds.
“I had one year left on my Leeds deal and going into the new season I knew it was important for me to play games,” O’Connor said, “whether that was a loan deal or with Leeds… It was agreed that they’d let me go in pursuit of first-team football.
“Then it was a case of where I’d go and Gary [Bowyer] was keen to get me back [at Bradford]. I enjoyed working with him previously at Blackpool so it was kind of an easy decision.”
O’Connor was told that there were plenty of Leeds fans who were disappointed he was leaving and was asked if he had a message for them.
“I thoroughly enjoyed walking out at Elland Road,” O’Connor replied. “I felt like they [the fans] accepted me straight away from the way I played. Obviously getting in at the back end of last season under Paul Heckingbottom, it was unbelievable, an unbelievable chance to get. I wish I could have got more games but that’s the way it goes and I’d just like to say thanks very much for the opportunity, I really appreciate it.”
TIF VERDICT
There were plenty of Leeds fans who were very disappointed to see O’Connor go. He had impressed in the Under-23s and had got his chance under Heckingbottom, and fans thought he would push on either last season or in the 19/20 campaign, but Bielsa was obviously not convinced. You can understand the move from O’Connor’s perspective. At close to 22 he’s not a youngster anymore and although it’s a big drop down to League Two he knows manager Bowyer well and wants to help get the club back up the leagues. He said “100%” that Bradford would be going for promotion next season and admitted that he would struggle to get in the Leeds team under Bielsa. The reasons for the move are admirable. There has been no talk of a fee between the two clubs, despite O’Connor having a year left on his deal, but if Leeds have got a sell-on clause then it’s a move that could work out for both sides if he goes on to fulfill his promise. BBC journalist Adam Pope says he expects that will be the case, and for Leeds, it’s another player off the wage books as they look to bring in new recruits this summer.