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LUFC Redfearn - Leeds refused to allow me to return
Former Leeds United head coach Neil Redfearn has released a statement saying his position to return to the club as academy manager was untenable after not being offered a new deal at the end of last season to remain as the head coach.
The 49-year-old was due to return to his role with the academy and development squad on July 1st after not being offered a new deal as head coach, despite leading Leeds to a sixteenth place finish in another troubled season off the pitch at Elland Road.
Redfearn became head coach in November until the end of the season with the option of a further year. Redfearn had also had installed into the deal an option to return to his former role with the academy and development squad did things not work out but cracks in the relationship between Redfearn and the club started to appear in April when his assistant Steve Thompson was suspended by the club.
Uwe Rosler replaced Redfearn as head coach in June and it was hoped that Redfearn would return to his old role within the club.
The Yorkshire-born Leeds fan had spent six-and-a-half years in his previous role, bringing through such players as Alex Mowatt, Sam Byram, Lewis Cook and Charlie Taylor into first team regulars but Redfearn says in a statement that the club were refusing to allow him to return to his old post with the club.
`It is with great sadness that I am resigning from my employment at Leeds United with immediate effect.
I am desperately disappointed that Adam Pearson's 'offer' of a return to my old position as Academy manager was not genuine and the club have since made my position untenable by refusing to let me take up my post at Thorp Arch.
I would, however, like to place on record my thanks to everyone connected with the first team, including the fans, for making last season both productive and beneficial after a difficult start.
Very importantly I would like to pay a special tribute to the Academy where I proudly worked along with others for the best part of six years.
The LUFC academy is now regarded as one of the most productive in the country and last season proved testament to that with the continued development of Sam Byram, Alex Mowatt, Lewis Cook, Charlie Taylor, Kalvin Phillips, Lewis Walters and Chris Dawson amongst a crop of outstanding young players to wear the Leeds badge of honour and to don the famous white shirt.
The Academy Philosophy and Coaching programme that I wrote and developed will be part of my legacy to this great club and hopefully will help shape more top young professional footballers moving forward.
I would like to wish Uwe Rosler and his staff and players every success for next season and beyond so that Leeds can (get) back to the Premier League very soon. Last, but not least, I wish to thank the fans for their unstinting support both during my time at the Academy and whilst in charge of the first team.
It has truly been an honour to represent and serve this great club.`
All the best to Neil Redfearn in the future and thank you for what you have contributed to Leeds United in the past six-and-a-half years.
Read more:
http://www.leeds.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=405803#ixzz3g4lkllb1
