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Leeds United: I’m in the dark too - Redfearn
Neil Redfearn.
Neil Redfearn admitted he was in the dark about Leeds United’s plans for the future as he approached the last game of his time as caretaker manager.
Redfearn’s official spell in temporary charge will end after Saturday’s Yorkshire derby against Doncaster Rovers but he was still to learn his fate this morning, 16 days after the sacking of former boss Simon Grayson.
United chairman Ken Bates gave academy coach Redfearn four games to earn for the manager’s post until the end of the season having refused to make a swift appointment in the aftermath of Grayson’s dismissal.
Leeds have taken three points from as many games with Redfearn, pictured left, in charge, leading to criticism of the club’s delay in choosing their next permanent boss, and the 46-year-old will look to sign off with a victory over Doncaster at Elland Road.
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But he claimed to have held no further talks with Leeds about his position and is not clear on whether he will be asked to take the senior squad for training at Thorp Arch on Monday morning, saying: “That’s up to the club. As far as I know, it’s Doncaster next and I’m an employee who’s keeping an eye over everything until the club make a decision about who’s going to come in.
“I’ve not spoken to them about my situation.
“We’ve discussed one or two things with regards to tomorrow but that’s it.
“To be honest, I don’t know what’s going to happen and I haven’t really thought about it.
“All I want to concentrate on is looking after the players.”
Countless names have been linked with the manager’s job at Leeds, with Neil Warnock, Steve Bruce and Mick McCarthy still among the bookmakers’ favourites, but United have shown no obvious urgency since sacking Grayson on February 1.
Bates will be absent from Elland Road again tomorrow, with no plans to return to England from his home in Monaco until Leeds’ clash with Southampton at the beginning of next month, and pressure on the club is growing after Tuesday’s defeat to Coventry cut them six points adrift of the Championship’s play-off places.
Redfearn said clarity over Grayson’s long-term appointment would help stabilise Leeds, claiming: “Any uncertainty affects you as a player.
“It would be wrong to think otherwise but the club want to make the right decision and whatever decision they make, I’m here to help.
“If it’s someone else, good luck to them and I’ll wish them all the best. Hopefully I’ll have got the club in a position where they’ve got a platform to progress from.
“Players like to know what’s happening in the future but I’m sure the club have got it well in hand.”
Redfearn was highly critical of Tuesday’s performance at the Ricoh Arena and stressed the importance of making amends in the eyes of the 3,000 fans who followed Leeds to the West Midlands.
“The supporters are fantastic and they come in thousands, not hundreds,” he said. “I was as disappointed for them as they were with the performance.
“The most important thing tomorrow, other than the result, is that we put on a performance against Doncaster where we look like we care.”
* United’s forthcoming match at Reading has been moved to Good Friday, April 6 with a 2pm kick-off. The game will be televised live by Sky.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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Comments
There are 45 comments to this article
Page 1 of 3
Pompey Steve
Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 01:33 AMThing is with Warnock, he will get us promoted, but he wont be able to keep us there-Mick McCarthy would be my choice but I dont think he would come-Its a long way to cycle every morning from Wolverhampton
Braemar1234
Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 12:52 AMCockney white....have a look at this link...http:www.thesun.co.uksolhomepagesportfootball4137886Neil-Warnock-meets-Leeds-United-owner-Ken-Bates-in-Monaco.html
OzTyke
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 11:01 PMLeeds United has almost no assets, mainly a playing squad whose value will drop by at least 50% this summer if as expected, Snodgrass, White and Clayton hand in transfer requests. The remaining players are League One standard, which could come in handy for the following season because the way the club is currently being run, that is where we are surely headed again. Anyone purchasing Leeds United shouldn't have to pay much at all, after all we don't own Thorp Arch or Elland Road, so what is the new owner buying? The remnants of a once pretty handy squad, some gym equipment, a warehouse of decidedly overpriced merchandise and the loss-making Yorkshire Radio? Company cars? They'll be leased. An ever-dwindling cash income from match tickets? Goodwill? Don't make me laugh! Any takers? Not exactly a juicy prospect for any potential buyer, eh? The club isn't progressing, it's in a great deal of trouble as it stands right now. There is huge potential at Leeds United, but it needs someone with more business sense and a football brain, rather than someone in it for what he can get out of it.
NorthEastLoiner
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 10:31 PMNo manager with any real ambition would come to Leeds with Bates still there anyway, or at least no-one I'd really want. We just have to hope someone buys Bates out before the start of next season or we're back in League 1
jjlaca
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 09:06 PMOneMexican, why are you putting words into Fullerton's mouth? Nowhere does he advocate anything you have written. It is pretty simple, the club is charging top prices and all budget assumptions for revenues have been exceded the last few seasons - cup runs, tv money, crowd attendances. Yet, to make a profit, the club has to rely on player sales. So why have expenses exceded budget when there is such tightness on transfer fees and player wages? Since you are such a superior businessman without a need for an accountant, I am confident you can enlighten us all. Thanks in advance.
KaiserChief82
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 08:16 PMWarnock lives down south and won't re-locate up north for the sake of 18 months which is the time he wants to manage for before retiring for good. Bates wants a local man with a settled lifestyle close to Leeds. Unfortunately this puts Lee Clarke in the picture who lives just off junction 24 of the M62. I'd love to see McCarthy at Leeds but I think he is settled in the midlands, he cycles to work!!
Braemar1234
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 06:30 PMBruce is nailed on for Wolves...so fingers bloody crossed!
LeedsBulldog
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 06:30 PMThe derby with donky will be a good crowd - i hope BUT unless a decent manager is installed ASAP - the crowds will start dwindling AND i can fully understand the stay away fans points about the bearded snake - hes not a very nice person - INFACT HES A F"CKING T"AT!!
LeedsBulldog
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 06:24 PMWARNOCKS NOW 1 TO 4 TO COME TO LEEDS ----- PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE LET THIS BE TRUE AND THANKS BUT NO THANKS TO "WE HAD A RIGHT GOOD GO" REDFEARN!!
Braemar1234
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 06:02 PMI've heard Bruce is going to Wolves and Warnocks for us...thats what I've heard and I'm not full of xxxx!
Rybackerboard
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 06:02 PMre *23 DIRTBOY How is the club progressing positively ? We currently have no manager - WE HAVE NR FOR PERIOD AS WAS EXPLAINED, no coach AOB DOING A BIT HERE TO JUSTIFY HIS SALARY, no captain AL, attendences STILL BETTER THAN MANY OTHERS and season ticket renewels are down JUST FOR THE VERY EARLY RENEWAL OFFER NOT ALL HAVE THE MONEY TO RENEW QUICKLY AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, there are protests PEOPLE WOULD BE UNHAPPY IF WE WERE TOP - HEAR WEST HAM FANS COMPLAINING ON THE RADIO, a distinct air of negativity with the club A GOOD RUN UNTIL EASTER WILL CHANGE THIS, fans alienated AND ALL CLUBS ARE SUCH OPEN BOOKS WITH THEIR SUPPORTERS?. Beginning of last year we were 2nd, we are now 11th THATS WHY SG & HIS MEN LOST THEIR JOBS. We have a owner who doesn't attend matches either because he's got a cold or because he's a tax exile or just can't be bothered DO RA, SK,JH, THE SHEIKH, GLAZERS ETC ATTEND ALL THEIR CLUBS GAMES? , a Chief Exec who goes missing THEY ARE NEVER ALLOWED TO LEAVE ER?. So I ask again, how is the club from the start of 2011 to now progressing positively - EVEN THOUGH OVER BUDGET ON TRANSFERS & WAGES THESE ARE CONTROLABLE WITH SOME DUE OFF CONTRACT AT THE END OF THE SEASON - INFRASTRUCTURE AT ER IMPROVING IN READINESS FOR PL- XMAS HOSPITALITY FIGURES PROVE THIS IS BENEFICIAL TO THE CLUBS REVENUE STREAM Unless you own the club or Elland Road or both, things are positive, laughing all the way to the bank... Do you own any of these ??PART OF IT LEAST WAYS
Braemar1234
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 05:12 PMOk no problems...
cockneywhite
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 04:54 PMBraemar1234 I don't think you know a thing....
Pompey Steve
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 04:53 PMJust another day supporting Leeds United : - roll on death, at least I'll get to lie down
Braemar1234
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 04:42 PMDear All...just got inside track...I think its good news
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