Yorkshire Evening Post 6/2/12
Redfearn among bookmakers’ favourites for job
By Lee Sobot
Neil Redfearn is now among the bookmakers’ favourites to become the next permanent Leeds United boss with the 46-year-old expected to be in charge for this weekend’s home clash with Brighton.
Caretaker-boss Redfearn became market leader for the first time since Simon Grayson’s departure yesterday – replacing former front-runners Neil Warnock, Lee Clark, Bryan Robson and latterly Dave Jones.
Former Nottingham Forest boss Billy Davies then became the sixth manager to lead the betting market yesterday and he has refused to rule himself out of the running.
Asked if he would be tempted by a move to Elland Road, Davies said: “I’m prepared to listen to anybody. I’ve got no preference – Scotland, England or abroad.
“I’m very happy and very much looking forward to discussing with any interested party.
“That will be at any level. I don’t care what division it is in. I will always give them the courtesy.”
But Redfearn remains quietly fancied to get the Elland Road job and looks almost certain to be in charge for Saturday’s visit of Brighton.
Victory there would see Redfearn’s odds shorten further and increase his prospects of landing the role – whether it be as part of a permanent deal or on a rolling basis until the end of the season.
The former midfielder did his prospects no harm whatsoever on Saturday when leading the Whites to a 3-0 success at Bristol City who finished the game with nine men.
That victory left United ninth in the Championship table - level on points with Saturday’s visitors Brighton and only two points off the play-offs.
Academy coach Redfearn has received nothing but glowing praise from United’s first team players and has stated his desire to take the United reins permanently.
Overall favourite for the role at present is former Forest boss Davies who became the fourth manager to be odds-on for the position yesterday following similar market moves form Warnock, Clark and Jones.
However, those market moves are only thought to have materialised because those managers concerned are seemingly interested in the job.
Available at double figure prices are Chelsea assistant boss Roberto Di Matteo and former Sunderland manager Steve Bruce while former Sheffield United boss Robson has drifted right out to 20-1 after his brief stint as favourite on Saturday morning.
Former Real Madrid, Barcelona and Serbia coach Raddy Antic who has definitely applied for the job is also available at double-figure odds.
Leeds United handed boost as ‘genuinely class’ star confirms his commitment to the club - YEP 4/8/23
Leeds United have been handed some good news ahead of their first season back in the Championship. By Georgia Goulding After they were relegated from the Premier League last season, Leeds United prepared themselves to lose several key players on the transfer market this summer. Indeed, they’ve already seen the likes of Tyler Roberts and Rodrigo move onto pastures new, and Robin Koch has gone out on loan to Eintracht Frankurt before his contract expires next year. Dropping to the Championship was always going to present challenges for the Whites when it came to buying and retaining players. However, they have been handed a boost as rising star Charlie Cresswell has confirmed he is committed to the future of the club and wants to ‘achieve the dream’ he’s had with Leeds since he was young. Speaking on the Official Leeds United Podcast, the 20-year-old discussed how he had some offers come in for him this window but his desire it to remain at Leeds and become a regular part of Dani