Paudie O’Connor discusses his exit from Leeds United

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Former Leeds United defender Paudie O’Connor has been discussing his decision to leave the club this summer. 

The Irishman was snapped up by Leeds in March 2017 after impressing manager Garry Monk after a trial from Limerick. 

He made progress under Thomas Christiansen but was swiftly loaned out to Blackpool after Marcelo Bielsa’s arrival. He shifted to Bradford City halfway through last season and ended the campaign as the club’s captain under new manager Gary Bowyer. 

This summer, despite having a year left on his Leeds United deal, O’Connor decided to leave Elland Road and make his move to Bradford permanent. Speaking to Balls he decided he no longer wanted to head out on loan and made the switch to Valley Parade. 

“I had a year on my deal at Leeds and the option of another one but I had to come to a decision. It was basically ‘stay here and maybe go out on loan again’ or look elsewhere.

“I am 22 now and it was in the back of my mind that I needed to be playing every week. Game time. That was pretty much my number one priority. Leeds are a huge club, don’t get me wrong.

“I obviously would have loved to try break in but when you keep banging on the same door and it is not opening, you have to look elsewhere.”

TBR’s View

Despite showing signs of promise it always seemed as though O’Connor was never quite up to the standard necessary if Leeds were to mount a serious promotion challenge. 

Now he is playing week in and week out with the Bantams in League Two, at a level at which he can excel. 

In the future, should he keep up this form with Bradford, O’Connor might make his way back to the Championship. 

However, Leeds will feel they are not missing out and that letting O’Connor go was in the best interest of the youngster’s career.