Leeds United v Rotherham United: Fans’ support has been seasonal highlight: Redfearn
Yorkshire Evening Post 2/5/15
NEIL REDFEARN has hailed Leeds United’s long-suffering supporters as the highlight of 2014-15 - with the head coach ready to talk to owner Massimo Cellino about his future in the coming days.
Redfearn’s contract as head coach of United is now over and the 49-year-old is waiting to speak to Cellino, whose Football League ban expires tomorrow, concerning his future and whether he will lead the club next term.
Fans made their feelings clear in today’s 0-0 final-day draw with Rotherham that they want Redfearn to stay with regular chants of “There’s only one Neil Redfearn” arriving at regular intervals from the season’s best crowd of almost 32,000 at Elland Road.
Redfearn said: “The supporters have been fantastic all season and to be honest, they have been the highlight.
“I have been here nearly seven years and never known it where the supporters are as close to the players and the team as it’s been this season.
“There has been a real togetherness and I think that togetherness has got us out of trouble, if I am honest.
“We have had a young side and with young players, it can go either way. You can lose them pretty quickly if things go against them.
“But they have shown a resilence and it has only been the supporters’ help and encouragement that has got us through this. The supporters have played a massive part this season.”
On his future, Redfearn added: “They (fans) know I am one of them. I supported this club as a boy. But the bottom line is I have no divine right to be manager of Leeds United.
“If I am, fantastic. It’s a great club and the club of any managers’ dream.
“I have got to have conversations and see which way he is going. We need to sit together and work out which is best for Leeds United.
“The most important thing, whatever is decided, is that it is unanimous it is the right thing for Leeds United.
“We will have to wait and see when we sit down and get the chance.
“We have had a season which has been tough. We have had to get ourselves away from relegation and we were a point above the drop initially and we have got ourselves in a comfortable mid-table position.
“We are moving in the right direction and the youngsters are going to be the bedrock of what goes on for the future, I’m sure.
“Leeds United demands success and if we are going to challenge next season, we have got to recruit well.”
NEIL REDFEARN has hailed Leeds United’s long-suffering supporters as the highlight of 2014-15 - with the head coach ready to talk to owner Massimo Cellino about his future in the coming days.
Redfearn’s contract as head coach of United is now over and the 49-year-old is waiting to speak to Cellino, whose Football League ban expires tomorrow, concerning his future and whether he will lead the club next term.
Fans made their feelings clear in today’s 0-0 final-day draw with Rotherham that they want Redfearn to stay with regular chants of “There’s only one Neil Redfearn” arriving at regular intervals from the season’s best crowd of almost 32,000 at Elland Road.
Redfearn said: “The supporters have been fantastic all season and to be honest, they have been the highlight.
“I have been here nearly seven years and never known it where the supporters are as close to the players and the team as it’s been this season.
“There has been a real togetherness and I think that togetherness has got us out of trouble, if I am honest.
“We have had a young side and with young players, it can go either way. You can lose them pretty quickly if things go against them.
“But they have shown a resilence and it has only been the supporters’ help and encouragement that has got us through this. The supporters have played a massive part this season.”
On his future, Redfearn added: “They (fans) know I am one of them. I supported this club as a boy. But the bottom line is I have no divine right to be manager of Leeds United.
“If I am, fantastic. It’s a great club and the club of any managers’ dream.
“I have got to have conversations and see which way he is going. We need to sit together and work out which is best for Leeds United.
“The most important thing, whatever is decided, is that it is unanimous it is the right thing for Leeds United.
“We will have to wait and see when we sit down and get the chance.
“We have had a season which has been tough. We have had to get ourselves away from relegation and we were a point above the drop initially and we have got ourselves in a comfortable mid-table position.
“We are moving in the right direction and the youngsters are going to be the bedrock of what goes on for the future, I’m sure.
“Leeds United demands success and if we are going to challenge next season, we have got to recruit well.”
