Although Gary McAllister has always endured a torrid time from Leeds fans on his return visits to Elland Road with Coventry City and Liverpool, it would take a very hard-hearted White not to feel great sympathy for the man tonight with the news that he has lost his wife, Denise, to breast cancer.
Gary was with Denise in the Nottingham hospital when she passed away.
They had been married since 1993 and had two sons Jake and Oliver. In fact, it was during her second pregnancy that Denise discovered the lump. She bravely postponed treatment until after the birth of Oliver and then had surgery to have her breast and lymph glands removed.
Nevertheless, she required more treatment and Gary quit as manager of Coventry City in 2003 to care for her full-time. Denise fought the cancer for six years but despite hopes in 2005 that her condition was improving she ultimately lost the fight today.
We extend the sympathises of all true Leeds United fans to Gary McAllister and his sons Jake and Oliver, at this terrible time.
Let's also hope this is an end to the pointless vendetta against a man who played for Leeds United in every one of the 42 games of the Div 1 Championship-winning season of 1991-92, and was the club's 1993-94 Player of the Year.
