His dignity and humanity then made him a widely recognised figure and he has become an influential voice both within the Premiership and the FA, where he helped appoint Sven Goran Eriksson as England coach.
When he needed to show a harder side, he did, and it has led to the loss of Bowyer, who could never accept it was fair to be fined by the club for drinking on the night a student was savagely beaten, when a jury had cleared him of all charges.
Now Ridsdale, who is also overseeing the planned move to a new out-of-town, 50,000-seat stadium - and seeking a major sponsor in a downturning economic climate - has to ensure Leeds recover swiftly.
The famed five-year plan for glory was shredded on the day last month he fired O'Leary, and the title team the pair dreamt of forging around Ferdinand may now grace Old Trafford.
He accepts that even his own job would not be safe if shareholders and fans decreed he had failed.
But Lorimer thinks that is unlikely. He said: 'The pressure is always on the guy at the top now that the game's about money, but Peter has never let the club down.'
