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Leeds United: Redfearn won’t look ahead
Neil Redfearn insisted today that he had given no thought to his chances of becoming Leeds United’s next manager ahead of a decisive spell as caretaker boss.
Redfearn’s claim to the job at Elland Road looks set to be decided in the coming week after Leeds confirmed that he would follow up Saturday’s win at Bristol City with a further three Championship games in charge.
The club’s reserve and under-18s coach is now in contention to take on the role of manager until the end of the season having replaced sacked boss Simon Grayson on a temporary basis nine days ago.
Redfearn has been promised control of Leeds’ first team during tomorrow’s match against Brighton and next week’s meetings with Coventry City and Doncaster Rovers, and chairman Ken Bates admitted on Wednesday that the club would consider extending his tenure if United’s results meet with his approval.
But Redfearn was guarded about his hopes of a longer opportunity, saying: “I’ve not really thought about it and that’s genuine. I’ve just tried to lose myself in training and the preparation for games.
“I think that’s the right way forward at the moment – to keep focused on each game. I don’t want to lose focus however long I’m doing this or whatever happens.
“It’s a great honour and a privilege for the chairman of a club like Leeds United to think that way about me but I’m an employee here and there are a lot of people at the club who I respect. I want to do my best for them.”
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Redfearn appeared to have earned himself at least the chance of a second match in charge with a 3-0 win at Bristol City but his role holds more potential after Bates said the week ahead was a window in which to “demonstrate his abilities.”
Links to the manager’s job at Elland Road have been endless since Grayson’s sacking but while United began sifting through applications on Monday, the club appear no closer to identifying or appointing a new manager from outside Elland Road.
Redfearn admitted he could not be certain of the club’s plans, saying: “The bottom line is that nobody knows. You can speculate as much as you want but nobody knows.
“Only the powers that be know which direction the club are going to go in. I’ve been asked to do a job and I haven’t looked beyond that. It’s a real honour to be in charge for whatever length of time.
“I’ll give everything I’ve got and while I’m here doing this role I want us to pick up as many points as we can. I’m not looking past Brighton. There’s no point.”
Redfearn said he was aware of demands from supporters for a high-profile appointment in the wake of Grayson’s sacking, admitting: “I can understand that.
“But whoever comes in or does the job, it’s not about the manager. It’s about the players, and that will always be the case. The manager sets things up and picks the team but once you come to three o’clock it’s about the 11 players on the pitch. It’s never really about managers.”
United have no new injuries concerns ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Brighton at Elland Road and Redfearn is likely to field an unchanged line-up.
But he dismissed the possibility of bringing new players to the club with the Football League’s emergency loan window now open.
“We’ve got enough - 28 or 29 last time I looked,” Redfearn said.
“We’ve got a big squad and these lads have the chance to prove that we’re good enough (for promotion). I think we’re more good enough and it’s right to work with what we’ve got.”
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Weather for Leeds
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: East
Comments
There are 7 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
hazmataz
Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 12:18 PMHa! iPhone predictive text... Carp!
hazmataz
Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 12:16 PMIt's a results business. If redders gets results he gets the job. He's also the cheapest option. Davis and warnock have never held back in showing their hatred for us. Remember Preston and Davis.! Redfearn could be exactly what we need.... The boot room mentality never held Liverpool back. Give him the job til the end of the season. If he shows he csn cope with the presdure Then a 5 years contract and then we may see the kids develop and thrive. OB for assistant manager. Both Leeds Fans. MOT! SUIYHMU!!!
case
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 09:18 PMForgot to say good look neil MOT.
case
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 08:57 PMHe must surley get the job, not dissing him but if he,s given no thought about getting the job then he will fit right in because clearly no thought to anything that goes on at ER. is given any thought.
DAT
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 05:15 PMI used to work for a really crap company with an A***hole for a boss, so I feel sorry for Neil. He will need a suit of armour to keep the knives out his back
OzTyke
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 11:36 AMYou're the manager Neil until somebody says otherwise, so start talking like one mate. Be in charge and stamp YOUR style on this squad. Good luck Saturday MOT
Jemima0604
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 11:03 AMTS Test
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