Neil Redfearn

Neil Redfearn

Redfearn managing Leeds United in 2014
Personal information
Full name Neil David Redfearn[1]
Date of birth (1965-06-20) 20 June 1965[1]
Place of birth Dewsbury, England
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[1]
Playing position Midfielder
Youth career
0000–1982 Nottingham Forest
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1982–1984 Bolton Wanderers 35 (1)
1984–1986 Lincoln City 100 (13)
1986–1987 Doncaster Rovers 46 (14)
1987–1989 Crystal Palace 57 (10)
1989–1990 Watford 24 (3)
1990–1991 Oldham Athletic 62 (16)
1991–1998 Barnsley 292 (72)
1998–1999 Charlton Athletic 30 (3)
1999–2000 Bradford City 17 (1)
2000–2001 Wigan Athletic 22 (7)
2001–2002 Halifax Town 42 (6)
2002–2004 Boston United 54 (12)
2004 Rochdale 9 (0)
2004–2006 Scarborough 61 (18)
2006–2007 Bradford Park Avenue
2007 Stocksbridge Park Steels
2007 Frickley Athletic
2007–2008 Bridlington Town
2008 Emley
2008 Salford City
Total 851 (176)
Teams managed
2001 Halifax Town (caretaker)
2002 Halifax Town (caretaker)
2005–2006 Scarborough
2007 Northwich Victoria
2008 York City (caretaker)
2012 Leeds United (caretaker)
2013 Leeds United (caretaker)
2014 Leeds United (caretaker)
2014–2015 Leeds United
2015–2016 Rotherham United

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.


Neil David Redfearn (born 20 June 1965) is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He was the manager of Championship club Rotherham United but was sacked in February 2016.

Redfearn played 790 matches in the Football League, the fifth highest total of all-time, and more than a thousand first team games overall in a career that has spanned 24 years. He has had spells as caretaker manager of Halifax Town and York City and as manager of Scarborough, Northwich Victoria and Leeds United.

Playing career

Born in Dewsbury, West Riding of Yorkshire, Redfearn began his career at Bolton Wanderers on 23 June 1982, having previously been on the books of Nottingham Forest's youth team.[1] He later made his name as goalscoring midfielder at lower-division sides Lincoln City and Doncaster Rovers. In May 1985 he was to witness a nightmare when 56 spectators were killed in a horrendous stand fire while playing for Lincoln against Bradford City. In 1987, he was signed by Crystal Palace for £100,000, and he later played for Watford, before moving again in 1989 to Oldham Athletic.

Redfearn's last season with Oldham constituted a career highlight as he was an ever-present in the team that won the Second Division title and returned the Latics to the top-flight of English football after a gap of 68 years. Redfearn converted the injury time penalty kick in the final game of the season against Sheffield Wednesday that completed a 3–2 victory (after Oldham had trailed 2–0), and snatched the championship from West Ham United, who had prematurely been handed the trophy some 15 minutes earlier. Despite his contribution to Oldham's promotion, he became surplus to requirements with the re-signing of former club captain Mike Milligan from Everton in the off-season and Redfearn was transferred without playing for Oldham in the top flight.

In September 1991, Redfearn joined Barnsley, and it was at this club he arguably spent his prime years. In his seven seasons at Oakwell, he hardly missed a single game, and was named club captain and penalty taker. In the 1996–97 season, Redfearn scored 17 goals as Barnsley won promotion to the FA Premier League for the first time in the club's history. Redfearn missed only one game, and was Barnsley's top scorer with ten league goals in the 1997–98 season. These included Barnsley's first ever top division goal on the opening day of the season, when he put them ahead in the ninth minute at home to West Ham United, although they ended up losing the game 2–1.[2]

It was not enough to save them though, as Barnsley were relegated that season. However, despite being in his thirties, Redfearn's performances had made him a wanted man in the Premier League, and he was signed by Charlton Athletic for £1 million in the summer of 1998. He left Barnsley having played 338 first team games, scoring 84 goals.

In the 1998–99 season, his family did not settle in London, and at the end of the season, Redfearn jumped at the chance of returning to his native Yorkshire, when Bradford City paid £250,000 for his services. Redfearn did not make much impact at Bradford, scoring just once against Leicester City,[3] and joined his 10th team, Wigan Athletic after just nine months in Bradford. Despite a very good goalscoring record, Redfearn never became first-choice at Wigan either, and he dropped down two divisions to join Halifax Town in 2001.

Late playing career and early managerial career

At Halifax, he also got his first taste of management, being appointed caretaker manager alongside Tony Parks following the resignation of Paul Bracewell on 30 August 2001.[4] His spell as caretaker manager came to an end on 12 October following the appointment of Alan Little.[5] Redfearn started a second spell in caretaker charge on 4 March 2002 due to the enforced absence of Little.[6] However, his contract with the club was terminated on 25 April and having been snubbed for the permanent manager's job he joined Boston United as player-coach.[7][8]

Redfearn spent the better part of two years at Boston, before finishing his Football League career at Rochdale in the spring of 2004.[9] Rochdale did not offer him a new contract at the end of the season,[10] meaning he finished his Football League career with 790 appearances and so being fifth in the all-time list of most Football League appearances.[11] His last league appearance for Rochdale took his total to . after which Redfearn dropped down to the Conference, where he became player-coach at Scarborough, managed at the time by his former Oldham teammate Nick Henry. He signed a new contract with Scarborough in April 2005.[12] When Henry was sacked on 24 October 2005 Redfearn was named caretaker manager,[13] before being appointed permanently on 1 November while remaining registered as a player.[14][15] Redfearn resigned on 6 July 2006 after Mark Patterson was brought in as assistant manager.[16] He subsequently signed with Northern Premier League First Division side Bradford Park Avenue later that month.[17] He made his 1,000th competitive appearance on 4 November 2006, when Bradford Park Avenue faced Solihull Borough in the second qualifying round of the FA Trophy.[18]

Redfearn quit Bradford Park Avenue in March 2007, joining Northern Premier League First Division rivals Stocksbridge Park Steels,[19] but left on 19 June to become manager of Conference Premier side Northwich Victoria.[20] He resigned on 17 September 2007, after the club only managed one point from their first nine games, leaving them bottom of the Conference Premier.[21]

He joined Northern Premier League Premier Division club Frickley Athletic as a player in September 2007.[22] He left the club over a month later to join Bridlington Town on 5 November.[23] He left them in January 2008 after the departure of manager Ash Berry.[24] He was appointed as York City's youth team coach in February.[25] He joined Emley in July, where he would play when his commitments with York's youth team allowed.[26] Redfearn moved onto Salford City of the Northern Premier League Division One North in October 2008.[27] He took over as caretaker manager at York on 21 November 2008, following Colin Walker's sacking,[28] and was in charge for the team's 2–2 draw against Crawley Town.[29] Following Martin Foyle's appointment as manager on 24 November, Redfearn took up the position of assistant manager at the club.[30]

Coaching and managerial career

Leeds United

Redfearn left York over a month later after being appointed coach of the under-18 academy team at Leeds United on 30 December 2008 and he assumed this role on 1 January 2009.[31][32] He took over as manager of the Leeds reserve team in December 2010 following the sacking of Neil Thompson.[33] He was appointed caretaker manager at Leeds following the sacking of manager Simon Grayson on 1 February 2012.[34] Three days later he won his first match in charge by beating Bristol City 3–0. It was later confirmed by club chairman Ken Bates that Redfearn would retain the managerial post for the following three games.[35] After two wins and two defeats in his four-game spell as manager, Redfearn was replaced as manager by Neil Warnock as permanent manager on 18 February 2012.[36] In April 2012, Redfearn guided Leeds' Under 18's side to a second-place finish in the Under-18s League, narrowly missing out on top spot to Newcastle's Under-18s team.[37]

Following the departure of Neil Warnock on 1 April 2013,[38] Redfearn again took charge of the first team for the game at for the 2–1 away defeat against Charlton Athletic on 6 April.[39] In April 2013 manager Brian McDermott announced that Redfearn would become the new First Team Coach as well as combining his role as Reserve Team/Development Squad manager. When McDermott left in May 2014 Redfearn stood down from his role of first team coach to continue his role as reserve team/development squad manager as well as his role of Academy Manager.

Redfearn's spell as the Head Of Academy was heavily praised due to the influx of Leeds academy players breaking through into the first team such as Dominic Poleon, Chris Dawson, Sam Byram, Alex Mowatt, Lewis Cook and Kalvin Phillips.

On 28 August 2014, Redfearn was appointed caretaker head coach after head coach Dave Hockaday and his assistant Junior Lewis were sacked by owner Massimo Cellino, having been in the job for only 70 days. This was the third time Redfearn had been appointed as a caretaker manager/head coach of Leeds.[40][41] Redfearn picked up a victory in his first game back in charge with a 1–0 win on 30 August against Bolton Wanderers.[42] On 20 September, Redfearn's Leeds picked up a 3–0 win over local rivals Huddersfield Town.[43] After recording a record of three wins and one draw in his latest stint as caretaker, Leeds announced that Redfearn would be stepping back down into a role described as "Academy manager and head of coaching."[44] with Darko Milanič appointed the new Head Coach of Leeds on a two-year deal replacing previous Head Coach Dave Hockaday, he was joined at Leeds by his SK Sturm Graz Assistant Novica Nikčević.[45]

On 25 October 2014, Milanič was sacked by the club after only 32 days in charge. Cellino confirmed that Redfearn would be appointed as Leeds' new head coach.[46][47] On the 27 October 2014 Redfearn confirmed that he verbally agreed to become Head Coach of Leeds after receiving reassurances that if it does not work out, he will revert to his previous job back in the academy.[48][49] On 1 November 2014, Redfearn was confirmed as the club's new head coach, on an initial 12-month contract with the option of a further 12 months, the contract also had a clause that would see Redfearn return to the academy if he was to leave his role as head coach.[50] On 18 December 2014, Steve Thompson was hired as Redfearn's new assistant manager.

After a change in formation, with Redfearn playing a 4–2–3–1 formation, 2015 saw Leeds pick up an upturn in form, helping Leeds climb from towards the relegation zone positions to a midtable position.

On 2 April 2015, Redfearn's Assistant Steve Thompson was suspended by Leeds for an 'internal matter' by Leeds Sporting Director Nicola Salerno, with Head Coach Redfearn advising he was kept in the dark as to the reason's why Thompson had been suspended.[51]

Also on 2 April 2015, a story emerged that Redfearn had been put under pressure to 'not select' top scorer Mirco Antenucci, because Antenucci's contract featured a clause of an extra year on his contract, should he score 12 goals in his first season. Antenucci's agent Silvio Pagliari confirmed the clause was correct.[52] Despite this, Redfearn started Antenucci, with Antenucci making a relatively rare start against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 6 April in a 4–3 defeat.[53] On 24 June 2015, former Sporting Director Nicola Salerno proclaimed the decision to not play Antenucci prior was Redfearn's decision.[54]

On 9 April, after rumoured Premier League interest in Alex Mowatt and teammates Lewis Cook, Charlie Taylor and Sam Byram, Redfearn challenged Leeds United's owners to keep a hold of their home grown talents.[55]

On 18 April 2015, 6 of Owner Massimo Cellino's signings (Mirco Antenucci, Giuseppe Bellusci, Souleymane Doukara, Dario Del Fabro, Marco Silvestri and Edgar Cani) controversially pulled out of the squad with an 'injury' the day before a 2–1 loss against Charlton Athletic.[56][57][58]

On 14 May 2015, Owner Massimo Cellino carried out a press conference unveiling Adam Pearson as the club's Executive Director to work directly alongside Cellino. The press conference included Cellino leaving halfway through for a cigarette break only to return, and for the press conference to run for over an hour, with Cellino refusing to reveal the future of Redfearn.[59]

However, on the 16 May, with speculation mounting further about his future as Leeds United Head Coach, Cellino in an interview with The Sunday Mirror proclaimed Redfearn to be 'weak' and 'a baby'.[60]

On 20 May 2015, Leeds announced Uwe Rösler as the new head coach, thus ending Redfearn's reign at the club, with no announcement made of Redfearn's departure as head coach, Leeds Executive Director Adam Pearson revealed in the Rosler press conference that Redfearn had been offered back his previous role as Academy Director.[61]

On 10 June 2015, Redfearn had accepted to return to his role at the academy.[62] On 16 July 2015 Redfearn resigned as academy director.

Rotherham United

On 9 October 2015, Redfearn was appointed manager of Championship club Rotherham United on a two-and-a-half year deal.[63] He was sacked as manager on 8 February 2016, with Rotherham 22nd in the table.[64]

Personal life

Redfearn's father Brian is a former professional footballer.[65] He is a lifelong Leeds fan.[66] Redfearn married Susan Roberts in Dewsbury in 1985.[67] His current partner is former Women's footballer Lucy Ward.[68]

Managerial statistics

As of 8 February 2016.
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record Ref
PWDLWin %
Halifax Town (caretaker) 30 August 2001 12 October 2001 8 2 3 3 25.0 [4][69]
Halifax Town (caretaker) 4 March 2002 25 April 2002 10 3 1 6 30.0 [6][7][70]
Scarborough 24 October 2005 6 July 2006 29 6 7 16 20.7 [13][16][71]
Northwich Victoria 19 June 2007 17 September 2007 9 0 1 8 00.0 [20][21][72]
York City (caretaker) 21 November 2008 24 November 2008 1 0 1 0 00.0 [28][69]
Leeds United (caretaker) 1 February 2012 20 February 2012 4 2 0 2 50.0 [34][69]
Leeds United (caretaker) 1 April 2013 12 April 2013 1 0 0 1 00.0 [38][69]
Leeds United (caretaker) 28 August 2014 23 September 2014 4 3 1 0 75.0 [40][44][73]
Leeds United 1 November 2014 20 May 2015 33 11 7 15 33.3 [50][69]
Rotherham United 9 October 2015 8 February 2016 21 5 2 14 23.8 [69]
Total 120 32 23 65 26.7 —

Honours

Oldham Athletic

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2004). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2004/2005. Harpenden: Queen Anne Press. p. 337. ISBN 978-1-85291-660-2.
  2. ↑
  3. ↑ "Bantams out fox Leicester". BBC Sport. 23 October 1999. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
  4. 1 2 "Bracewell quits as Halifax boss". BBC Sport. 30 August 2001. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  5. ↑ "Halifax appoint Little". BBC Sport. 12 October 2001. Retrieved 25 December 2010.
  6. 1 2 "Halifax look to Redfearn". BBC Sport. 4 March 2002. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  7. 1 2 "Halifax in squad clear-out". BBC Sport. 25 April 2002. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  8. ↑ "Redfearn signs for Boston". BBC Sport. 29 July 2002. Retrieved 25 December 2010.
  9. ↑ "Dale seal Redfearn deal". BBC Sport. 19 March 2004. Retrieved 25 December 2010.
  10. ↑ "Eight to leave Rochdale". BBC Sport. 10 May 2004. Retrieved 25 December 2010.
  11. ↑ "Coaching staff". Leeds United A.F.C. 30 July 2008. Retrieved 25 December 2010.
  12. ↑ "Redfearn commits – Henry next?". Non-League Daily. 1 April 2005. Retrieved 25 December 2010.
  13. 1 2 "Scarborough boss Henry departs". BBC Sport. 24 October 2005. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  14. ↑ "Boro appoint Redfearn". Non-League Daily. 1 November 2005. Retrieved 25 December 2010.
  15. ↑ "Redfearn wants to carry on playing". Non-League Daily. 28 October 2005. Retrieved 25 December 2010.
  16. 1 2 "Redfearn quits Boro". Non-League Daily. 6 July 2006. Archived from the original on 25 March 2012.
  17. ↑ "Park Avenue seal Redfearn deal". Non-League Daily. 29 July 2006. Retrieved 25 December 2010.
  18. ↑ May, John (3 November 2006). "Redfearn's millennium roam". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 December 2010.
  19. ↑ "Redfearn makes Steels switch". Non-League Daily. 12 March 2007. Retrieved 25 December 2010.
  20. 1 2 "Vics appoint Redfearn as new boss". BBC Sport. 19 June 2007. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  21. 1 2 "Northwich boss Redfearn resigns". BBC Sport. 17 September 2007. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  22. ↑ Simpson, Andrew (22 September 2007). "Redfearn dusts down his boots". Northwich Guardian. Retrieved 25 December 2010.
  23. ↑ "Redfearn Joins Unibond Side". Halifax Town A.F.C. 5 November 2007. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
  24. ↑ "Ainsworth Goes Up in World". Halifax Town A.F.C. 5 January 2008. Retrieved 3 March 2008.
  25. ↑ "Redfearn lands City role". The Press. York. 5 February 2008. Retrieved 25 December 2010.
  26. ↑ Booth, Mel (22 July 2008). "Redfearn signs for Emley in big coup". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Retrieved 25 July 2008.
  27. ↑ "Berry wastes no time". Non-League Daily. 27 October 2008. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
  28. 1 2 Flett, Dave (21 November 2008). "York City sack manager Colin Walker". The Press. York. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  29. ↑ "York 2–2 Crawley". BBC Sport. 23 November 2008. Retrieved 23 November 2008.
  30. ↑ "Neil Redfearn appointed York City assistant manager". The Press. 24 November 2008. Retrieved 25 December 2010.
  31. ↑ "Porter named as assistant at York". BBC Sport. 30 December 2008. Retrieved 30 December 2008.
  32. ↑ "Leeds appoint Redfearn to academy". BBC Sport. 31 December 2008. Retrieved 25 December 2010.
  33. ↑ "Leeds United aim to name new youth boss soon". Yorkshire Evening Post. Leeds. 1 December 2010. Retrieved 25 December 2010.
  34. 1 2 "Simon Grayson sacked as manager by Leeds United". BBC Sport. 1 February 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  35. ↑ "Redders given extended period – Chairman". Leeds United A.F.C. 8 February 2012. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
  36. ↑ "Neil Warnock appointed Leeds United manager". BBC Sport. 18 February 2012. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
  37. ↑ "Academy lads praised for achievement ...". Leeds United A.F.C. 25 April 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
  38. 1 2 "Neil Warnock 'parts company' with Leeds United". BBC Sport. 1 April 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  39. ↑ Match report: Charlton 2–1 Leeds
  40. 1 2 "Club Statement: David Hockaday". Leeds United F.C. 28 August 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  41. ↑ https://twitter.com/LUFC/status/505055655783583744
  42. ↑ "Leeds Vs Bolton Wanderers". Leeds United Official Site. 30 August 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  43. ↑ "UNITED TAKE DERBY DAY SPOILS". Leeds United Official Site. 20 September 2014.
  44. 1 2 "United confirm Darko Milanic". Leeds United F.C. 23 September 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  45. ↑ "UNITED CONFIRM DARKO MILANIC". Leeds United Official Website. 23 September 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  46. ↑ "Cellino: Neil Redfearn is the new head coach, 100 per cent". HITC. 25 October 2015.
  47. ↑ "Neil Redfearn to be confirmed as new Leeds United manager". Squawka News. 25 October 2014.
  48. ↑ "Leeds United: Redders happy to take over". Yorkshire Evening Post.
  49. ↑ "Leeds United: Redfearn agrees to be new boss". Yorkshire Evening Post.
  50. 1 2 "Neil Redfearn appointed as Leeds United head coach". BBC Sport. 1 November 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  51. ↑ "Leeds United suspend assistant manager Steve Thompson". The Guardian. London. 2 April 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  52. ↑ "Leeds United: Redfearn put under pressure not to play Antenucci UPDATED". Yorkshire Evening Post. 2 April 2015. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  53. ↑ "Dave Edwards headed home a late winner as Wolves beat Leeds". BBC Sport. 6 April 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  54. ↑ "Leeds United under Massimo Cellino – Nicola Salerno lifts the lid". Sky Sports. 24 June 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  55. ↑ "Keep young stars, Redfearn challenges Leeds". Yorkshire Evening Post. 9 April 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  56. ↑ Press Association (19 April 2015). "Leeds United striker Steve Morison left bemused by latest chaos at Elland Road". Daily Mail.
  57. ↑ "Neil Redfearn: 'freakish events' caused six Leeds players to miss game". The Guardian. London. 19 April 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  58. ↑ "Leeds United should sack six players who pulled out of Charlton game at short notice, says former Whites captain Trevor Cherry". Daily Mail. London. 19 April 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  59. ↑ Wobschall, Leon (14 May 2015). "Leeds United: Redfearn future unclear after Cellino press conference". Yorkshire Evening Post. Leeds. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  60. ↑ "Leeds owner Massimo Cellino says manager Neil Redfearn is 'weak' and 'a baby'". Sky Sports. 16 May 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  61. ↑ "Uwe Rosler named Head Coach". Leeds United F.C. 20 May 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  62. ↑ "Neil Redfearn Returns to Academy Role". BBC Sport. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  63. ↑ "Neil Redfearn: Rotherham United appoint ex-Leeds head coach". BBC Sport. 9 October 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
  64. ↑ "Neil Redfearn: Rotherham United sack manager". BBC Sport. 8 February 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  65. ↑ "Profiles". Halifax Town A.F.C. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012.
  66. ↑ "Leeds United: Fan Neil is ready to step into the breach". Yorkshire Evening Post. 28 October 2014.
  67. ↑ "England & Wales marriages 1837–2008 Transcription". Neil D Redfearn. Marriage quarter: 2. Marriage year: 1985. District: Dewsbury. County: Yorkshire. Volume: 4. Page: 1003. Retrieved 16 December 2014 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  68. ↑ Jack Gaughan (10 June 2016). "Lucy Ward case could cost Leeds United more than £500,000 as owner Massimo Cellino performs U-turn in giving evidence due to 'press attention' concerns". Daily Mail. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  69. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Managers: Neil Redfearn". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  70. ↑ "Results/matches: 2001/02". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  71. ↑ "Results/matches: 2005/06". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  72. ↑ Williams, Mike; Williams, Tony, eds. (2008). Non-League Club Directory 2009. Tony Williams Publications. p. 112. ISBN 978-1-869833-59-6.
  73. ↑ "Results/matches: 2014/15". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Neil Redfearn.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/3/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.