, A week at the Whites – the season’s over but the drama is far from it

A week at the Whites – the season’s over but the drama is far from it

It’s been another dramatic week at Leeds United. Player departures, a new Executive Director, and the increasingly likely departure of the Head Coach have dominated the local headlines; but are not the only goings on at the club.

Firstly the week started positively at Elland Road. Midfield sensation Lewis Cook, who was rumoured to be attracting attention from a number of top Premier League clubs, signed a new two year contract. The 18-year-old recently claimed the 2014/15 Young Player of the Year award at the club’s End of Season Awards and said that “I’m delighted to sign with Leeds United, I’ve really enjoyed this last season…I’m enjoying my football and enjoying being here. I’ve got no regrets.”

On the same day there was more positive news, as Adam Pearson joined as Executive Director, leaving his role at Sheffield Wednesday. Pearson, who previously held the Commercial Director position at the club in 2001, has been brought in to assist Massimo Cellino with the running of the club. Speaking about his appointment, Pearson said that “I’m here to assist Massimo as much as possible on all sides of the club and I’m really looking forward to it. I’ll be like his right-hand man as executive director at the club, trying to get the club moving forward in the right lines and in tune with its supporters”

The following day it was announced that the transfer embargo placed upon the club in January had been lifted. Leeds will therefore have no restrictions in place for the summer transfer window which opens on July 1st, and it has been suggested that it will be a window filled with activity for the West Yorkshire club.

On Wednesday, Redfearn’s future was put into further doubt with suggestions that Nigel Adkins, the former Southampton and Reading manager, is being lined up by Cellino as the club’s next Head Coach. Adkins however, played down the link saying that “This hasn’t come out of my mouth. They’ve got a manager in place who did a really good job last year.”

Wednesday also saw the announcement of the club’s retained list for next season. The full list can be viewed here and the significant names on the departure list were Rodolph Austin, Stuart Taylor and Aidan White. Youngsters Kalvin Phillips, Lewis Walters and Eric Grimes were all offered new contracts and will continue to push for a regular first team spot next season.

Thursday brought the official introduction of Adam Pearson with a press conference called where Pearson and Cellino answered questions on the club. The press conference ended up providing more questions than answers, with Cellino even leaving for a smoke halfway through a question leaving Pearson to talk to the press on his own, despite having only been at the club for 3 days.

One of the main talking points of the press conference was the future of Neil Redfearn. When asked, Cellino said that “No-one wanted Neil to succeed more than me. I don’t know what has happened in last ten games. I have to find the right coach for this club and not because I want to please the fans for 15 days.”

Cellino also faced questions on the suspended assistant coach Steve Thompson and pleaded his innocence about the decision. “I was disqualified. What happened was very, very surprising. I like Thompson as a man. I spoke to Steve and said ‘it’s hard to believe that I don’t know what’s happened but I don’t. I’m sorry.’”

Another bizarre statement from Cellino was his claim that he was behind Charlie Taylor’s breakthrough into the first team, as he sold Stephen Warnock to Derby in January without telling Redfearn. Despite Redfearn having worked with Taylor and assisting his development in his role as Head of Youth Development, Cellino claims that Milanic and Redfearn did not play Taylor in the first team saying that “I had occasion to give Warnock (to Derby). I did it without telling Neil Redfearn or anyone. Two games after, Neil came and said ‘Massimo, he’s bloody good Charlie Taylor.'”

The week concluded with Redfearn’s fate being all but sealed, following an outspoken attack on him by Cellino in the Sunday Mirror. In the interview, Cellino said that “he tried to play the fans against me to keep his place. Do you think that Neil Redfearn loves Leeds more than me?

“Tell me why I am in Leeds, why am I so involved with the club? Why am I putting in a lot of money, killing myself? Because I fell in love with this club. But to love this club is to do something for this club.Neil Redfearn does the (Leeds United fans’) salute. He challenged me. If you are good I can accept the challenge. But not if you are a bad coach.

“He wins two games and he disappears. He loses five games and he comes to me to ask my advice. Then he wins and disappears again.

Cellino concluded his attack on Redfearn, who has served the club for over six years, by stating that “He has to respect the chairman. He has to respect the club. He’s like a baby. He’s been badly advised and used by someone. He is not a bad person but he has a weak personality.”

This week has been full of drama, turmoil and confusion, but it is not something that is extraordinary at Leeds. The future can never be predicted due to the nature of Massimo Cellino and his current ownership of the Whites. What is looking very likely is the departure of Head Coach Neil Redfearn, despite his popular status amongst Leeds United supporters. The season may well be over, but the drama is far from it, and Leeds United will undoubtedly be the most active club during the summer; but not only in the transfer window.

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