Warnock resigns as Leeds boss as fans turn against him after dismal run of form - Mail 1/4/13
Neil Warnock has quit as manager of Leeds after admitting that it would appease the fans if he was not in charge for the remaining games in the season.
Their 2-1 loss at home to Derby meant it was three defeats in a row and Leeds are now looking behind them to make sure they avoid relegation rather than chasing down a play-off place.
A statement on the club website said: 'Leeds United have parted company with Neil Warnock with six games of the season to go.
LEEDS' RECENT FORM
Leeds 1-2 Derby
Ipswich 3-0 Leeds
Leeds 1-2 Huddersfield
Leeds 1-1 Peterborough
Crystal Palace 2-2 Leeds
Leicester 1-1 Leeds
Chief Executive Shaun Harvey, said: 'We would like to thank Neil for his efforts during his time as our manager and share his disappointment that we could not achieve promotion this season.
Speculation over the future of Warnock had increased after the match as he made it clear that he was unlikely to stay much longer at the club.
Speaking to Yorkshire Radio after the game, the 64-year-old said: 'I think it is right for the club [if I go] now. The fans have said it.
‘I don’t see myself being in charge next weekend.
‘It will appease everybody if they put somebody in temporarily and then look to the future in the summer – that has to be the best way forward.
‘I have done the best I can. We have changed the whole squad round and it doesn’t need major surgery, it just needs two to three quality players and we can all look forward.’
During the game disgruntled Leeds fans chanted 'Warnock, time to go' as central defender Jake Buxton's late header earned Derby a third successive victory and left Warnock's men without a win in six games.
Warnock said: 'We are not going to get into the play-offs now so it is a good time to put somebody else in charge until the end of the season. I don't think they should rush into a permanent appointment because there are no outstanding candidates at the moment, but there will be in the summer.
'I have been a manager for 33 years and this last 12 months have been the hardest. I have given it my best shot but being honest we haven't been good enough in the final third of the pitch.
'I have not resigned at this moment but I am speaking to the owners and I think a statement will be made in due course. It would appease the fans if I go now and I will recommend putting Neil Redfearn (Development Squad Manager) and Gwyn Williams (technical director) in temporary charge until the end of the season.
'If the owners asked me to stay on for the remaining games I would but I don't think it will come to that and it wouldn't appease the fans.'
The beleaguered Leeds manager gave his noisy critics a significant wave at the final whistle, knowing his reign is coming to an imminent end.
STATEMENT ON LEEDS' OFFICIAL WEBSITE
The decision has been taken with a view to preparing for the 2013/14 season and Neil Redfearn will be asked to take control of first team coaching until a permanent appointment is made. This may well be after the end of the season dependent on the availability of the club's preferred choice to become the next manager.
A short-list has already been prepared as Neil was always going to leave at the end of the season in the event that we did not get promotion. However, with availability of suitable candidates changing all the time then we will adopt a flexible approach, so as to ensure that we make the right appointment.
Chief Executive Shaun Harvey said: 'We would like to thank Neil for his efforts during his time as our manager and share his disappointment that we could not achieve promotion this season.
'We now need to look to the future and the search for his replacement is underway, for which there is no fixed timescale as securing the services of the right person is the primary objective, so as to give us the best chance of promotion next season.
'We would also like to thank Mick Jones and Ronnie Jepson, who will leave the club with Neil, for all their hard work since coming to the club.'
NEIL WARNOCK FACTFILE
1948: Born Sheffield, December 1.
Warnock spent an 11-year career in the lower leagues where he played for Chesterfield, Rotherham, Hartlepool, Scunthorpe, Aldershot, Barnsley, York and Crewe.
1981: Enters management with Northern Premier League side Burton.
1985: Moves on to Scarborough who secure promotion into the Football League.
1989: Joins Notts County and guides them from the old Third Division to the First Division in successive seasons.
1993: Joins Huddersfield.
1995: Wins fourth promotion in nine seasons, taking the Terriers into the First Division.
1996: Becomes manager of Plymouth and wins promotion via the play-offs.
1997: Takes over at Oldham in March but spends just 15 months in charge and suffers relegation.
1998: Appointed Bury boss in succession to Stan Ternent but they are relegated and he leaves after 18 months.
1999: December 2 - Takes up the manager's position at Sheffield United after Adrian Heath steps down at Bramall Lane.
2002: April 5 - the Football Association issue six charges relating to incidents during the Sheffield United match against West Brom. Warnock charged with improper conduct after the game is abandoned with the Blades reduced to six men and the Baggies leading 3-0 in 'the Battle of Bramall Lane'.
2002: May 2 - Warnock cleared but found guilty of misconduct in relation to the fourth official during the West Brom game. Handed a reprimand and a £300 fine.
2003: January - Takes United to semi-finals of the League Cup before losing 3-2 on aggregate to Liverpool.
April 13 - Warnock's team lose 1-0 to Arsenal in FA Cup semi-final.
May 26: Lose to Wolves in the play-off final at Millennium Stadium. Warnock banished from touchline after confronting referee Steve Bennett in players' tunnel at half-time.
2005: December 1 - Warnock turns down a move to Portsmouth to continue as Blades boss.
2006: April 15 - Following the Blades' win at Cardiff the previous night, Leeds' inability to beat champions Reading at Elland Road confirms their Yorkshire rivals' automatic promotion to the Premiership.
April 18 - Sent to the stands by referee Graham Poll during the 1-1 draw with Leeds at Bramall Lane following an altercation with Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell.
May 18 - Given a six-match touchline ban, four of which were suspended, and a £1,000 fine following the incident against Leeds at Bramall Lane.
August 19 - Oversees his first game as a Premier League manager, a 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Bramall Lane.
September 22 - Takes charge of his 1,000th game as a manager when the Blades lose 3-0 against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
2007: May 11 - Announces he has turned down a new two-year contract offer.
May 13 - Sheffield United are relegated by one goal on goal difference following a 2-1 defeat by Wigan and West Ham's 1-0 win at Manchester United.
May 16 - Leaves Sheffield United. October 11 - Unveiled as new Crystal Palace manager.
2008: May - Leads Palace to the Championship play-offs where they are beaten in the semi-finals by Bristol City.
2010: January 28 - Palace are deducted 10 points by the Football League for going into administration.
March 1 - Appointed manager of QPR on a three-and-half-year contract after a compensation package was agreed with Palace.
2011: May - Secures promotion to the Premier League after QPR win the Championship.
August - Malaysian business tycoon Tony Fernandes completes his takeover of QPR.
2012: January 8 - Sacked as manager of QPR.
February 18 - Confirmed as the new manager of Leeds.
2013: January 13 - Leads the club to a shock FA Cup win over Tottenham.
April 1 - Leaves Leeds following a 2-1 home defeat to Derby, leaving them 12th in the table, eight points off the play-offs.
