Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino reportedly ‘regrets’ letting former Head Coach Neil Redfearn and his assistant Steve Thompson leave the club last season, according to journalist Simon Austin.
Redfearn took over the reigns at the Whites following Darko Milanic’s sacking by Cellino in October 2014. The 50-year-old is a figure who Leeds fans know well, having worked with the youth academy since 2009 and working in the first team coaching staff under Brian McDermott.
Thompson was brought to the club after Redfearn expressed his desire to have him as his assistant. Leeds enjoyed a good spell of form following Thompson’s arrival, but that ended following Thompson’s suspension after Leeds’ 3-0 away win against Fulham in March of last season.
Both have gone onto find new jobs. Redfearn is current manager of Championship rivals Rotherham United and Thompson has joined another ex-Leeds manager, Simon Grayson, at Preston North End as first team coach.
Thompson has previously spoken about his time at Leeds by saying “it was complex there, with something of a divided dressing room with players who just weren’t good enough. You had foreign lads smoking before training which was something I just wasn’t used to.”
“One Thursday morning a letter was put on my desk informing me I had been suspended. There was no explanation and it was such a frustrating time for me. The LMA (League managers association) told me to keep my own counsel and that was hard when I saw my name pop up on Sky Sports News as breaking news.”
“There was allegations of me falling out with Football Director Nicola Salerno, but I did not fall out with anyone.”
Redfearn’s replacement at Leeds United was ex-Brentford and Wigan manager Uwe Rosler. He was sacked in mid-October following a slow start to the season for the Whites and was immediately replaced by ex-Rotherham boss Steve Evans. Evans’ Leeds United are set to face Redfearn’s Rotherham at Elland Road on November 21st.
