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Leeds United: Hendrie is backing Redfearn for boss
Former Leeds United striker John Hendrie has urged the club to appoint Neil Redfearn as manager until the end of the season, claiming the caretaker boss is the favoured candidate of the players in his dressing room.
Hendrie, once a team-mate of Redfearn’s at Barnsley, said United could “do a lot worse” than give the 46-year-old command of their first team for the remaining 17 matches of the Championship term.
“Neil knows the club and he knows the players,” Hendrie told the YEP. “I know for fact that a lot of the players want him to be given the opportunity to take the job on.
“From what I can gather, they’ve been really impressed with how he handled himself at Bristol City and the way he handles himself in general. My feeling is ‘why not?’ They could do a lot worse.”
Control of United’s senior squad passed to Redfearn on a caretaker basis after Leeds sacked Simon Grayson last week, and the club’s academy coach was initially seen as a stop-gap while the club decided a permanent replacement.
That process is ongoing and Leeds have given no outright indication that Redfearn will remain in his post for what is left of the Championship term, but he will take charge of his second game at home to Brighton on Saturday afternoon.
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Leeds are entering a congested and important period of fixtures, with three of their next four games against teams in the bottom half of the table, and Redfearn enhanced his prospects by guiding United to a 3-0 win over nine-man Bristol City last weekend.
The victory maintained a two-point gap between Leeds and the play-off positions, and they will follow their game at home to Brighton with clashes against Coventry City, Doncaster Rovers and Portsmouth.
Hendrie said: “This spell of games is a massive opportunity.
“They’ve started it well by beating Bristol City and their season could depend on how many points they take from Brighton, Coventry, Doncaster and Portsmouth. It might be a case of right opportunity at the right time for Neil and he’ll probably see it like that himself.
“It’s possible that the decision will be taken out of his hands, even if he does do well over two or three games, but if he impresses and shows he can handle the squad week to week then the club will take notice of that.
“To me, if he shows he’s capable over a few games then it’s less of a gamble to give him a go than it is to appoint a different manager on a long-term contract. They’ve got someone in-house who could do the job and holds the respect of the players. I know they like him.”
Redfearn’s experience in management came at a lower level of English football and without great success, but his reputation at United has been built on his work with their academy over the past three years.
He was appointed under-18s coach in January 2009, the month after Grayson became manager, and he added the job of reserve-team coach to his duties after Leeds moved to revamp their youth-team system by sacking then boss Neil Thompson and his assistant, Darryl Pugh.
United withdrew from their reserve league at the end of last season, citing a lack of competition for their decision to resign, but Redfearn continued to manage behind-closed-doors friendlies used by Grayson this season as a substitute for second-string matches.
But Redfearn’s involvement in United’s Championship term comes at a time of unrest in Leeds, with the Leeds United Supporters Trust (LUST) planning to stage a protest march ahead of the Seagulls fixture. The Trust is calling for a change in United’s financial strategy and greater investment in the squad at Elland Road.
Leeds are ninth in the Championship and their struggle to maintain a convincing promotion bid left Grayson vulnerable around the turn of the year. Numerous recognisable names have been linked with the vacant post in the days since he was sacked.
Hendrie said: “The fans probably want a big name, but I wouldn’t have said that Simon Grayson was a big name. He wasn’t someone people spoke about last time the job came up but he left the club in a better state that he found it.
“I’m sure Neil will feel he’s capable of doing the job and I don’t think he’d worry about the pressure or everything that’s going on around the club. He’d embrace it and it would be such a massive opportunity for him that he’d struggle to be anything other than excited.
“He’s had enough involvement with the senior lads to understand their ability and their personalities, and it’s not like we’re talking about someone who’s walking into this cold.
“You’ve seen caretakers who’ve gone on to be a resounding success in the past – I always think of Paul Jewell at Bradford City – and I just feel Leeds would have nothing to lose by letting Neil get on with it.”
Hendrie saw the peak of Redfearn’s playing career while the pair were team-mates at Oakwell between 1996 and 1998. They were part of the squad who won promotion to the Premiership, and Redfearn went on to play for Bradford, Wigan Athletic and Halifax Town before turning to management with Halifax, Scarborough and York City.
Hendrie said: “Barnsley was a really successful time for him – probably his best years as a footballer.
“He was a huge part of the success we had and people appreciated his ability. He scored goals and we used to call him ‘shoot on sight’. In his not-so-good periods, that changed to ‘shoot s****’! But he was a good guy who understood the game.
“I honestly don’t know what Leeds are planning but this has to be an option for them, assuming everything goes well.
“I can’t see many downsides to it.”
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Comments
There are 19 comments to this article
Page 1 of 2
leedsls27
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 12:11 PM@armchairtd: Well said, completely agree. For whatever use it is to us generally anyway the transfer window is shut so whoever comes in would have to work with the nucleus of what we already have regardless of who they were so who would have a better view of what's behind the scene's, and who's capable of making the step up if required, than Neil Redfearn? He's the logical choice in my view. It's a win, win situation, if he comes through everyone is happy but as most people seem to have written him, the team and the season off already then what is there to lose? And, above all, he seems to have gained the full support and respect of the current squad and from a confidence and morale point of view that could prove to be priceless. @Robbo71: Paul Lambert hadn't got anyone promoted from the Championship to the Premiership before, or Ian Holloway, or Owen Coyle, or Brendan Rogers et al but I bet you would take any one of them now wouldn't you? Also the one period you missed when so painstakingly reproducing Redfearns cv is the last four years he has been in charge of the reserves and subsequently the Academy at Leeds. Second, first, second finishes in the reserve league and the U18's are currently second in the youth equivalent of the Premier League which proves he can get teams playing to a required level although, admittedly, not at the standard you demand but then you could always organise a protest march to protest that the people on the protest march aren't protesting about the right thing to protest about and you want them to protest about what you want to protest about. Fancy a march anyone?
Robbo71
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 10:10 AMI'm sorry, but in my opinion Redfearn is not the man for the job... I see every-one backing him to take the helm at ER, but lets be honest, his managerial career do not speak volumes to me. He has not got any teams promoted from championship to premier league, he's not got any experience in the premier league so what makes him the right man for the job. Whoopee, he was in charge when Leeds beat Bristol 3-0, damn they only had 9 men. Here are his credentials. Teams managed 2001 Halifax Town (caretaker) 2002 Halifax Town (caretaker) 2005–2006 Scarborough 2007 Northwich Victoria 2008 York City (caretaker) 2012– Leeds United (caretaker) Again this is my opinion: We need a manager with experience in promotions and premier league... Looking at his career we will be playing Conference football in no time at all... I rest my case
armchairtd
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 08:05 AMLast night Middlesborough had 9 players on the field who were homegrown talent! That is NINE from the academy, and if any of you didn't see it you missed a brilliant local derby cup tie, where a struggling championship side very nearly took a top half premiership club to penalties. I think we need to rebuild. 'Redders' (as everyoone seems to call him already) knows the regular 1st team squad well, but also knows the talent coming through the ranks. I say for this reason give him a go, certainly to the end of the season. If we don't make the playoffs, so be it,. He then has the closed season to build and repair for a battletto gain automatic promotion 20122013 season.It is high time we all stopped bleating and calling for Bates head, upsetting the squad and got back to providing some geniuine support!!
Weve all had enough
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 03:53 AMJohn Hendrie - didnt care much for Leeds in the short time he played for us. I dont care much for his opinion. However, my own opinion is that whoever gets the job, gets the job. We can`t do anything about it. Lets get behind Redfearn.
edgeleywhite
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 05:45 PMIf Redfearn's been given at least 3 more games then this clearly means that Warnock, Jones, Davies and co. haven't even applied for the job. Or if they have they've priced or talked themselves out of the running. Otherwise wouldn't one of them have been appointed by now? It makes no sense to me to prolongue things. Clearly, nobody worth their salt is interested.
leedsls27
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 04:16 PM@ELLAND147: Nowt like keeping your options open is there, you want someone like Warnock or someone like Robinson? How is it remotely possible to make an informed choice between two such massively different candidates? Warnock I agree would be most peoples first choice, probably mine too, but with the season so delicately poised is it worth bringing someone in who would bring such a complete and fundamental change in philosophy for half a season? I'm not so sure it would at this stage, he can't change the squad drastically, games are coming thick and fast so there's little time to instill completely new values into the players, he'd be on a hiding to nothing, maybe the summer is the time to do something like that? In addition, using your Norwich analogy, if, this morning, Leeds had set on a relatively unkown manager whose first job was in the second division in Scotland and ended with 7 wins in 32 games and who had never managed beyond the lower reaches of the English third divsion, what would you be spouting on here right now? I could almost write your outraged reaction for you. It Is of course Paul Lambert, hindsight is a wonderful thing isn't it? Your suggestion of Karl Robinson is a complete leap, he's 30 years old, he's never played league football, he's gained all his qualifications academically rather than through experience, he's totally unproven and inexperienced but someone saw something in him, took a risk and gave him the chance in stepping up from behind the scene's, much the same as the opportunity Redfearn is being offered now, what's the difference?. The one thing I do know about Robinson is that he is hugely liked and respected by the MK players, Clayton spoke very highly of him when he came back off loan last season so that shoots down your "players friend" objections or does it only apply when it suits? If it comes down to being unproven I just don't see how Robinson is a more credible, ambitious or logical choice above someone like Redfearn who has been there, seen it, done it at every level of the game and has served his managerial apprenticeship behind the scenes at a club like Leeds. I just don't get it? And if it comes off and Redfearn is the inspired choice then surely it's a win win situation isn't it? If it doesn't then most people have written the season off anyway, so what's lost? Fancy a march anyone?
Bechio10
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 03:41 PMjust because the players want him as manager doesn't mean he's their mate. means they respect him, which was obviously lacking with grayson towards the end. these statements on "hard training sessions" say a lot - as if it's something the lads haven't experienced for a while.
ELLAND147
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 03:21 PMI know it was a good result Bechio10 but alot are saying what an amazing start by NR. It wasn't. We were lucky. Like we were against Burnley Palace Ipswich. I don't want the players friend to be manager. Do you think Fergie is liked by his players, I doubt it. I want someone to give them a boot up the backside like Warnock or a hungry young manager who's doing a great job like Karl Robinson at MK Dons. Thats what Norwich did and look at them now.
MARTY66
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 03:07 PMLets just lay off for a while and give Reddrers a chance to prove himself, well stated leedsls27 thats exactly how the don and o'leary did it by bringing the youth through like a club is supposed to do. I'm sure NR knows that he has some potential gems in the youth program,so weather he gets the main job or not I do hope he stays part of the coaching set up. Gilesy might be right about Warnock though, he knows how to get teams up!!!!!!!
Bechio10
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 03:04 PMTune in? It was the fella's first game, having taken control of training for a few days. We played on a frozen pitch away from home against a team with some tidy players. Those 40 minutes don't matter. We soaked it up and gradually got into the game. Grayson wasn't proven; hell, Revie wasn't proven when he became our manager. It's well documented that the players love Redfearn and want to play for him. Who do you want in then Elland147? People like you just want something to moan about.
ELLAND147
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 02:52 PMTune in Bechio10, you know what I mean. It is widely accepted we were outplayed for 40mins when it was 11 v 11 then we nicked a goal. I'm all for being optimistic when we have something to be optimistic about. I don't call having an unproven youth team coach at the helm as cause for optimism. When I'm expected to part with £30 of my hard earned money to watch some of the dross I've had to endure I feel entitled to want a proven manager running my beloved club.
leedsls27
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 02:38 PMAt both Scarborough and Northwich Victoria he took over teams in financial meltdown, Northwich Victoria only confirmed their membership to the league in the week before the season started and Redfearn resigned when they went into administration in the October of that season. Scarborough too were crippled financially and were in administration when Redfearn took over, he resigned during the summer of 2006 because he didn't have a squad to start pre season with, they were wound up and liquidated at the end of that season. His other managerial stints were two very brief caretaker jobs ten years ago so hardly a fair or objective reflection of his managerial abilities is it? What about his time at Leeds? He had second, first, second finishes in his three years in charge of the reserves and the U18's, under his charge, are currently second in the youth equivalent of the Premier League, how about that for a tidy record? Or don't the last three years count because it might border on potential optimism? It would now appear that he has been given the next three games to stake his claim so instead of just slating everything Leeds just for the sake of flapping your gums how about attempting something really novel like geting behind the team and the manager and see how it pans out? Fancy a march anyone?
Bechio10
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 02:31 PM"When it was 11 v 11 they were the better side and Lonergan kept us in it." When it was 11 v 11, we went 1-0 up, fool.
leedsls27
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 02:21 PMPending Moderation
terry.skill
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 02:12 PMPending Moderation
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