Is Redders Cellino's man?

03 Sep 2014 08:46 pm, by YorkshireSquare

With the rumoured favourite for the Leeds head coach job Oscar Garcia taking the vacant position at Watford this week it seemed Massimo Cellino was no further in finding a successor to David Hockaday.

Garcia had sounded like the ideal candidate, experience in the Championship, good English, a track record of working with youth players, his sides play positive football and he is willing to work as a head coach rather than a traditional manager. He sounds like the idea man to lead our new team of young continental players and academy graduates forward but it wasn’t to be.

Other names in the list of favourites for the job include the man Garcia replaces at Watford, Giuseppe Sannino. Sannino had been in charge at Watford since December last year and in 31 games in charge won 13 games, not an amazing win ratio but Watford lay second in the table having won 4 of their first 5 games of the season. His resignation had prompted speculation that he would become the next Leeds manager with his experience of both English and Italian football but nothing has materialised as yet.

Ex West Brom manager Steve Clarke is also on that list of names and current favourite with the bookies. With a wealth of coaching experience and knowledge of English football he would seem like a decent option. The Yorkshire Evening Post had reported Cellino and Clark had been in discussions but there has been no further news. Cellino however still seems undecided, either overwhelmed or underwhelmed by his options (They've probably all said no) he has told the BBC’s Adam Pope that he is sticking with Neil Redfearn.

“I’ve decided to leave the team to Neil. At the moment too many coaches call me & I’m confused. I think it’s best to keep going with a LUFC man like now, that knows football & makes the team play in a beautiful way. For the moment it’s the best thing to do.”

Redfearn does have many of the attributes Cellino is looking for in his new head coach. He has vast experience of English football, a proven track record developing young players and most importantly at the moment he understands the club. Redfearn’s team selection against Bolton certainly suggests he shares Cellinos philosophy, a good mix of the new young signings and academy graduates. It was a selection that won 3 points, only our second victory of the season, and that is a big reason for him to retain the job for now.

Do Cellino’s comments mean the job is Redfearn’s long term, who knows? It’s hard to tell with Cellino but should results continue to go his way after the international break it’s a strong possibility. I still can’t help thinking it would be the wrong move for the club though. Redfearn is a great asset to the club, the work he has done as academy manager is producing good results and there are some fantastic players coming through into the first team now.

With the squad as it is, new and still gelling it may take a while for it to come together and for us to start getting results consistently. Football is a results based business and with Cellino, the manager eater, he may not get the time he requires if results do not go our way and losing him would be a massive loss to the club. Then again it could be a great gamble, he could be exactly the right man to take the club forward. His experience with young talent and knowledge of the club could be vital to taking us forward.

So Redders is in charge for now, but for how long who knows. You never know with Cellino, he could appoint Clarke or Sannino tomorrow. Hell, he might even give Adrian Pennock the job, he’s the current Forest Green Rovers manager by the way.

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Crude wrote on 04 Sep 2014 02:29 pm

It is a very smart move by Cellino to wait. Redders knows the squad inside and out, the players all seem to have the utmost respect for him, and has a positive style of play. There is a learning curve that Cellino must endure, because while football is football, England is not Italy. He has to become immersed in learning who is who, if he wants to run the club in the manner he has been accustomed to with Cagliari. For better or for worse, Redders is Cellino's crutch during this period of transition, and there aren't much better people to lean on than Neil Redfearn.