I wouldn’t imagine it’ll come as any great surprise, but midfielder Euan O’Kane has now confirmed that back in the summer of 2018, Victor Orta informed him that he had no future at Elland Road and should look to move on and get his career back on track elsewhere.
The 29-year-old joined us in the summer of 2016 and does have 58 appearances to his name but the former Republic of Ireland international hasn’t featured for us since manager Marcelo Bielsa arrived – there are plenty in the fanbase who will be delighted when he’s off our wage bill, but there are others who wish him well for the future as it hasn’t been a great couple of years for him.
Speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post last week to talk about his time at the club and the injury problems that he’s suffered, he explained.
“I don’t remember the exact date the manager took charge, but it was that summer and I got a call from Victor Orta. He just told me straight out. ‘We brought in a new manager, he doesn’t see you as part of his plans. It is probably best you look to go on loan or move on to get some football.’ I was still on holiday. Apparently, he watched all of the games from the previous season and made his decision based on that. It was hugely frustrating but that is football at the end of the day. How many managers take over clubs and all of a sudden, someone who was playing previously or thought they were an important part of the team finds it has changed. It is part and parcel of the industry we are in. We have never had a conversation. He gets on with his business and I get on with mine.”
As O’Kane’s says himself, it’s part and parcel of the game, different managers have different ideas and it’s not personal – you just have to get on with it and get yourself back on track elsewhere – and hopefully he’ll get that chance come the January window as he continues working his way back to full fitness.
Would do a good job for a mid table Championship side. Not a bad player at all
— Dom (@dommer14) October 24, 2019
Probably one of our worst ever signings and we are still paying him
— James Gibson (@Jimmypeak62) October 24, 2019
Have we all forgot that Leeds are still paying the likes of Ouasim Bouy & Eunan O’Kane.. What were we thinking when we signed them.. #lufc #mot
— Connor Mahoney!! BielsaBall and Beer ???????? (@ConnorMOT92) October 24, 2019
A great player in there somewhere but that off the ball headbutt sending off against Ipswich was the beginning of the end, pathetic behaviour.
— Diddly (@DanYorkshire) October 24, 2019
Yeah definitely. Think where he goes in January will be crucial.
— Maurice Brosnan (@m_brosnan) October 23, 2019
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