Leeds United: Redfearn hopeful of being in charge next season
Yorkshire Evening Post 19/3/15
Phil Hay
NEIL REDFEARN insisted he was optimistic of remaining as Leeds United head coach next season after strengthening his claim to a new contract with a resounding 3-0 win at Fulham.
Leeds produced a clinical performance and rode a spate of chances created by Fulham to crush the London club at Craven Cottage and climb into the top half of the Championship.
Redfearn, who admitted to giving his players a “b*****king” at half-time, is close to the end of his existing deal and is yet to be spoken to about an extension, despite United’s compelling form in the second half of the season.
Last night’s victory was their sixth in nine games, enough to lift Leeds up to 12th in the division, and the pressure on the club’s board to clarify Redfearn’s future is mounting on the back of his five-month spell in charge.
United’s owner and former president, Massimo Cellino, is currently serving a Football League ban and Redfearn is not clear if his deal will be extended before it expires this summer.
But the 49-year-old said: “All the talks I’ve had and all the signs are that I’m going to be here next season.
“The club have asked me to plan pre-season, they want me to draw lists (of transfer targets) up so all the signs are there.
“But from my point of view it needs doing sooner rather than later because I want to be here. I want to take it forward and I want to take it on. The lads are buying into what we’re doing and we just need a bit of forward planning.”
Leeds got the better of a Fulham side reduced to 10 men early in the second half as goals from Sam Byram, Sol Bamba and Mirco Antenucci punished a flood of opportunities spurned by their hosts.
Fulham produced 27 shots on goal and Redfearn said: “In the first half I thought Fulham were the better side. It was very unlike us. The lads got a b*****king at half-time but then we took over.”
Phil Hay
NEIL REDFEARN insisted he was optimistic of remaining as Leeds United head coach next season after strengthening his claim to a new contract with a resounding 3-0 win at Fulham.
Leeds produced a clinical performance and rode a spate of chances created by Fulham to crush the London club at Craven Cottage and climb into the top half of the Championship.
Redfearn, who admitted to giving his players a “b*****king” at half-time, is close to the end of his existing deal and is yet to be spoken to about an extension, despite United’s compelling form in the second half of the season.
Last night’s victory was their sixth in nine games, enough to lift Leeds up to 12th in the division, and the pressure on the club’s board to clarify Redfearn’s future is mounting on the back of his five-month spell in charge.
United’s owner and former president, Massimo Cellino, is currently serving a Football League ban and Redfearn is not clear if his deal will be extended before it expires this summer.
But the 49-year-old said: “All the talks I’ve had and all the signs are that I’m going to be here next season.
“The club have asked me to plan pre-season, they want me to draw lists (of transfer targets) up so all the signs are there.
“But from my point of view it needs doing sooner rather than later because I want to be here. I want to take it forward and I want to take it on. The lads are buying into what we’re doing and we just need a bit of forward planning.”
Leeds got the better of a Fulham side reduced to 10 men early in the second half as goals from Sam Byram, Sol Bamba and Mirco Antenucci punished a flood of opportunities spurned by their hosts.
Fulham produced 27 shots on goal and Redfearn said: “In the first half I thought Fulham were the better side. It was very unlike us. The lads got a b*****king at half-time but then we took over.”