SHAMED soccer star Jonathan Woodgate has been ordered to leave his North-East home, or face the sack by Leeds United.

Woodgate's manager David O'Leary has told his wayward star to move to Leeds and away from the temptations of his home town of Middlesbrough.

On Friday, Woodgate was convicted of affray for his part in an attack on an Asian student.

It emerged after the trial that the England international had previously been arrested after a pub brawl in 1999 at the trendy Cornerhouse bar, although he was subsequently released without charge, and that Woodgate had been cautioned at the age of 14 after headbutting another boy in a Middlesbrough street.

Neither Woodgate or his co-accused, Lee Bowyer, who was acquitted of GBH, were at Leeds 2-2 draw with Leicester at Leeds yesterday, after being told by the club to stay away due to the spotlight expected to fall upon them.

But yesterday, Leeds manager and former Irish international O'Leary said: "If the penny hasn't dropped for Jonathan now, it never will.

"He has to leave Middlesbrough, he has to move down to Leeds, change his environment and that is not up for debate.

"It is a condition of him remaining a Leeds player."

Woodgate's friend, Middlesbrough man Paul Clifford, was jailed for six years for his attack on Asian student Sarfraz Najeib after being found guilty of grevious bodily harm. Woodgate, 21, from Nunthorpe must complete 100 hours community service for the lesser charge of affray.

Both have been told they can resume their Leeds careers but O'Leary, who has himself had extra protection after receiving death threats over the affair, made it plain he was not happy with his two young stars.