When the moment of Simon Grayson’s inevitable departure
duly arrived, Shaun Harvey - while typically brushing over the issue that the
decision had been conveniently made to coincide with the closing of the
transfer window - released an official club statement explaining that the
decision was made in order to give the new Leeds United manager as much time as
possible to secure a play-off position.
The wording of the press release, if nothing else,
suggested at least a recognition of a need for urgency if the Whites were to
rescue this season, yet 11 days on and we’re seemingly no nearer an
appointment, indeed on the basis of Bates’ last radio address, this will still
be the case another week down the line.
Now the fact that board have yet again failed the
supporters comes as little surprise, indeed the revelation that Harvey had
chosen to go on holiday in the aftermath of the sacking and Bates has ruled out
a return to Yorkshire until March simply re-affirms the utter negligence of on
the field issues that continues to pervade club policy.
However, what has driven me to despair is the way in
which many supporters have merely accepted the situation. Some people seemingly
still give credence to the drivel the YEP still allow Peter Lorimer to spout
forth on a weekly basis. But surely even those people, the ones who believe
that a target spend of 35% of turnover on the playing staff is an acceptable
way to run a football club, cannot be pacified by the prospect of Leeds United
again trying to do things on the cheap by manoeuvring Neil Redfearn into the
manager’s office…surely not?
Tragically it would seem that I am wrong. Indeed, even
some of more ‘enlightened’ elements are philosophically taking it on the chin.
The mantra appears to be that “Redfearn deserves a chance” to stake his claim –
NO HE DOES NOT!!!
There is one simple, irrefutable reason why Redfearn
should not even, for a moment, be considered. It’s concise and should really
serve as a reminder to those who contemplate otherwise; it’s because:
WE ARE LEEDS UNITED!!!
Yes, that’s right! Remember? One of the biggest clubs in
English football; a club that attracts a national and worldwide following that
all but a very select few others can even dream about! We’re a club that brings
home supporters out in their droves, every time we visit their town. We’re a
club that even after years in the doldrums could command an FA Cup sell-out at
Old Trafford within hours of tickets going on sale, who similarly attracted full houses at White Hart Lane and the Emirates. We’re a club that although
despised by many in the higher echelons of the game, are also missed in at
least equal measure. We’re a club who had a following of 55,000 in Wembley for
a League One play-off final (and could have sold many thousands more had the
Football League not made such a mess of the ticket allocations), who took over
10,000 to Madrid for a ‘dead rubber’ Champions League tie, who can sell out
6,700 tickets for venues like the Ricoh Arena and Oakwell.
Have so many supporters forgotten about this; brainwashed
into pitifully low expectations by the ceaseless Bates regime propaganda that’s been
relentlessly spewed through the club’s media outlets? Seemingly they have.
Yet despite this alarming widespread acceptance of
mediocrity, of a philosophy of competing with the Doncasters and Watfords,
those with an outsiders’ perspective can at least still appreciate what the
club potentially represents. When names of the stature of Raddy Antic and Sven
Goran Eriksson express a firm interest in the Leeds job, it’s a reminder of the
club’s standing within European, never mind Championship football. While
neither man – particularly the latter – would bring a cast iron guarantee of
success, their representations to the club illustrate the cache that a
well-run, ambitious Leeds United would still possess, even existing out of the
Premier League limelight.
So mindful of the pedigree of some of the names
interested in the job, including that of the ideal candidate in our current
situation, Neil Warnock, why should anyone even entertain the thought of Neil
Redfearn? Big clubs appoint big names, those aspiring to regain such status seek out proven experience, or at least exciting promise…neither
merely settle for convenience. Very rarely these days would an ambitious outfit
seek to appoint from within.
The club would argue that Redfearn has made an immediate
impact; if you believe Bates, the team looked like world beaters in
“demolishing” Bristol City. Having been to that game (unlike Bates) I saw an
entirely different display where Leeds were outplayed by 11, then 10 men,
before finally getting to grips with the game following the second dismissal.
It was a display comparable with many of the worst of Simon Grayson’s reign and
ironically stood in stark contrast to the opening hour of his predecessor’s
final game. Against Brighton, the same trait of defensive errors cost the side
any chance of picking up points – do these two games represent a tangible
improvement? Not in the slightest!
Secondly is the assertion that the players like Redfearn.
Well how marvellous! Quite frankly, after witnessing so many pitiful, passionless
showings from this team this season, the last thing the squad requires is
mollycoddling. They need somebody who goes into the dressing room, looks them straight
in the eye, and makes it clear in the bluntest of terms that they play for the
shirt, week in, week out or they find a new club. It was of little surprise
hearing support from McCormack, but you would expect little else from a man who
spent more of last season playing reserve football under Redfearn than he did
for the first team; you’d also expect kind words from those who’ve graduated
through the youth set-up as well – albeit it should be noted that their
opportunities have been gained through performances at other clubs, not under
Redfearn – regardless, this new found joy hasn’t manifested itself out on the pitch.
We also had captain Lonergan praising Redfearn’s tactical
nous after the Bristol game. What were the intricacies of this tactical master
class? To keep things solid – Eureka! We appear to have a real visionary on our
hands here…if you forego consideration of how busy our keeper was at Ashton
Gate, oh and the shambolic final half hour yesterday. But never mind that,
that’s just another inconvenient truth designed to de-rail the propaganda
machine.
Then there’s Redfearn’s seeming lack of a philosophy, of
confidence, drive, ideas and ambitions. Listening to his post-match dissection
provided yet another depressing chapter to this sorry season. He spoke of the
same things that Grayson did, about tightening up at the back, about
concentration, about hard work on the training ground. He saw fit to praise the
players’ efforts (no wonder they like him) but most alarmingly, he also
revealed his mindset. When asked about the equaliser, he replied “…having got
1-1, the last thing you want to do is get beat” – we were playing Brighton at
home! Any criticisms from the terraces about Redfearn not possessing a winning
mentality as Andros Townsend was left to warm up until the closing minutes,
fully vindicated by that one statement!
Where was his ambition? Where was the assertion that he
was looking to grasp this opportunity with both hands? Where was the rhetoric
about implementing new ideas? Were these the words of an inspirational,
talismanic leader of men, capable of dragging a club off its knees and
instilling the belief necessary for a promotion campaign? I think not.
While I stated that big clubs who prosper don’t appoint
with convenience as their chief criteria, that’s not to suggest that the ideal
candidate can never be found by promoting from within, it’s just an extremely
rare occurrence. The last such instance at Leeds was of course David O’Leary; now
contrast his approach when offered a chance to impress his employer. O’Leary
was bold from the very outset, stating very firmly that he wanted to take the
club in a new direction and he backed those words up, immediately instating
Jonathan Woodgate and Stephen McPhail in the first XI for his opening game at
Nottingham Forest. He spoke passionately about the club, his ideas and where he
wanted to take us.
Nothing that’s been said in support of Redfearn stands up
to stringent examination, he shouldn’t even merit a second thought as potential
candidate. I’ve found nothing at all to support his case, but even while some
of the “benefit of the doubt” brigade remain, one look at his track record
should alone resoundingly close the case for the prosecution before Bates,
Harvey or Lorimer choose to try and argue any further: P
Pl W D L
Halifax Town (caretaker manger): 30th Aug 2001 – 12th Oct 2001 8 2 2 3
4th Mar 2002 – 25th
Apr 2002 11 3 1 7
Scarborough: 24th Oct 2005 – 6th
July 2006 29 5 7 17
Northwich Victoria: 19th June 2007 – Sep 2007 9
0 1 8
York City (caretaker manager): 21st Nov 2008 – 24th Nov 2008 1 0
1 0
Leeds United (caretaker manger): 1st Feb 2012 to present 2 1 0 1
Career Stats:
Played: 60
Won: 11
Drawn: 13
Lost: 36
Win percentage:
18%
Twice not considered not good enough for the Halifax Town job - that in itself exposes the folly of putting Redfearn in the frame for the post, but
even more pointedly, it’s an examination of the permanent posts he's held that really ring alarm bells.
Only 5 wins in 29 games at Scarborough is a shocking return, but even more
worryingly, having been given the majority of the pre-season to build a side to
reflect his philosophy at Northwich, he was sacked after 9 games – he collected
a single point from a possible 27!!
Neil Redfearn is not and never will be the answer for
Leeds United; he may be for Ken Bates, but as we know, by his own admission,
the team remains Bates’ second priority. Most rational supporters know it and
the LUFC Trust know it, and as the hugely successful ‘March for Change’
illustrates, an increasing number of fans are quite rightly buying into their
ideals.
The LUFC Trust aren’t proposing anything revolutionary,
they are simply campaigning for what we as Leeds United fans have a right to
expect – ambition from the board, investment in players and a serious drive for
promotion, and the appointment of the manager is the most pivotal decision for any such
regime. If you haven’t joined, please do it now; who could possibly take issue
with such a sentiment? Don’t settle for second best any more, not if the name
of Leeds United is to count for anything!
In the meantime, I can only grasp on to the hope that the
sighting of Keith Curle at Elland Road suggests that next Saturday’s visit of
Doncaster provides the stage for Redfearn’s final hurrah.
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