McDermott set for Whites job
YEP 11/4/13
By Phil Hay
Brian McDermott appeared to be on the verge of becoming Leeds United’s new manager today.
Betting on United’s next boss was suspended late last night amid intense speculation that McDermott had won the fight to replace Neil Warnock at Elland Road.
The former Reading manager is understood to have been interviewed by Leeds last week after featuring on the shortlist of candidates drawn up in the wake of Warnock’s sacking.
United and Warnock parted company less than a fortnight ago, with Leeds initially hinting that the appointment of a new boss could wait until the summer, but indications of McDermott’s swift arrival come with the Championship club embroiled in a relegation battle.
McDermott, 52, was widely seen as a leading contender for the post at Elland Road having been sacked by Premier League side Reading last month.
His four-year reign at the Madejski Stadium saw Reading reach the Championship play-off final in 2011 before winning the title in 2012.
McDermott received the backing of former Leeds and Reading midfielder Andrew Hughes in yesterday’s YEP, with Hughes saying: “Of the candidates out there who Leeds could speak to here and now, I can’t see beyond Brian McDermott.
“I know how he works, I know what he’s like and he’d be up to the job at Leeds. He’s big enough to cope up there and he’s more than capable enough. He got a lot of things right at Reading. The scouting system was outstanding and he turned an average squad into a title-winning squad.
“No-one can deny that he knows how to manage players in the Championship or that he knows how to get out of it. Reading were play-off finalists the year before they won the league.”
Owen Coyle is also thought to have been spoken to by Leeds, while the Elland Road club made tentative enquiries about Brighton’s Gus Poyet, a coach protected by a £2.5m release clause. United are nearing the end of a torrid season having failed to challenge for the play-offs and slid to within five points of the Championship’s bottom three.
Their first-team squad are presently in the hands of caretaker boss Neil Redfearn who oversaw a 2-1 defeat at Charlton Athletic last weekend. They host Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, the first of five remaining games.
The club issued a brief statement on Thursday lunchtime, ahead of Neil Redfearn’s pre-match press conference at Thorp Arch.
“The process of appointing a permanent replacement for Neil Warnock has progressed significantly this week and when all matters are finalised we will be in a position to make a formal announcement.
“Neil Redfearn will remain as caretaker manager until such time when an appointment is made, and he is being kept informed of the situation by the club’s board.”
Centre-back Jason Pearce conceded that the club had fallen short of expectation this season, saying: “We have underachieved. Everyone has to look at themselves. We could have done better.
“You make your own luck but I do think we’ve been a bit unlucky and we could have been better off in the table than we are.”
United were stung by a 95th-minute winner at Charlton Athletic last weekend, losing their first game under caretaker manager Redfearn with the last chance of a tight contest.
The club had previously experienced defeat in the last three matches of Warnock’s reign as boss and an extended run of poor results has pulled United within reach of the glut of sides near the foot of the Championship. They are currently 17th in the table.
By Phil Hay
Brian McDermott appeared to be on the verge of becoming Leeds United’s new manager today.
Betting on United’s next boss was suspended late last night amid intense speculation that McDermott had won the fight to replace Neil Warnock at Elland Road.
The former Reading manager is understood to have been interviewed by Leeds last week after featuring on the shortlist of candidates drawn up in the wake of Warnock’s sacking.
United and Warnock parted company less than a fortnight ago, with Leeds initially hinting that the appointment of a new boss could wait until the summer, but indications of McDermott’s swift arrival come with the Championship club embroiled in a relegation battle.
McDermott, 52, was widely seen as a leading contender for the post at Elland Road having been sacked by Premier League side Reading last month.
His four-year reign at the Madejski Stadium saw Reading reach the Championship play-off final in 2011 before winning the title in 2012.
McDermott received the backing of former Leeds and Reading midfielder Andrew Hughes in yesterday’s YEP, with Hughes saying: “Of the candidates out there who Leeds could speak to here and now, I can’t see beyond Brian McDermott.
“I know how he works, I know what he’s like and he’d be up to the job at Leeds. He’s big enough to cope up there and he’s more than capable enough. He got a lot of things right at Reading. The scouting system was outstanding and he turned an average squad into a title-winning squad.
“No-one can deny that he knows how to manage players in the Championship or that he knows how to get out of it. Reading were play-off finalists the year before they won the league.”
Owen Coyle is also thought to have been spoken to by Leeds, while the Elland Road club made tentative enquiries about Brighton’s Gus Poyet, a coach protected by a £2.5m release clause. United are nearing the end of a torrid season having failed to challenge for the play-offs and slid to within five points of the Championship’s bottom three.
Their first-team squad are presently in the hands of caretaker boss Neil Redfearn who oversaw a 2-1 defeat at Charlton Athletic last weekend. They host Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, the first of five remaining games.
The club issued a brief statement on Thursday lunchtime, ahead of Neil Redfearn’s pre-match press conference at Thorp Arch.
“The process of appointing a permanent replacement for Neil Warnock has progressed significantly this week and when all matters are finalised we will be in a position to make a formal announcement.
“Neil Redfearn will remain as caretaker manager until such time when an appointment is made, and he is being kept informed of the situation by the club’s board.”
Centre-back Jason Pearce conceded that the club had fallen short of expectation this season, saying: “We have underachieved. Everyone has to look at themselves. We could have done better.
“You make your own luck but I do think we’ve been a bit unlucky and we could have been better off in the table than we are.”
United were stung by a 95th-minute winner at Charlton Athletic last weekend, losing their first game under caretaker manager Redfearn with the last chance of a tight contest.
The club had previously experienced defeat in the last three matches of Warnock’s reign as boss and an extended run of poor results has pulled United within reach of the glut of sides near the foot of the Championship. They are currently 17th in the table.