Neil Redfearn confirmed as permanent Leeds boss

London: Leeds have confirmed Neil Redfearn has signed a 12-month rolling contract to become the Championship club`s fourth permanent manager in five months.

The 49-year-old was already in charge as caretaker boss for the second time this season following the sacking of Darko Milanic last weekend.

He had been given a glowing endorsement from the club`s controversial owner Massimo Cellino and was officially handed the job on a full-time basis just hours before Leeds were due to kick off their second tier clash at Cardiff on Saturday. 

Former Crystal Palace and Barnsley midfielder Redfearn, who had been working as head of the Leeds youth academy, is the latest boss to attempt to survive under Cellino who is known as the `manager-eater`, having dismissed 36 bosses in 20 years at Cagliari and Brian McDermott, David Hockaday and Milanic since buying Leeds in April.

Milanic was his most recent casualty, the Slovenian removed after just 32 days in the job and six winless matches.

Redfearn took 10 points from 12 games in his temporary spell in charge earlier this season.

And Cellino immediately put Redfearn back in the hot-seat after firing Milanic last Saturday, then spent the last week negotiating with him to make the permanent step up.

Even though neither man is hoping for a negative ending, a clause has been added to Redfearn`s deal to ensure he can return to his former job if he is unsuccessful with the first team

Speaking about getting the job this week, Redfearn said: "It seems to be shorter here (a coach`s life) but you can spend the rest of your life wondering. You have to go on and make things happen and be positive.

"There`s no let up now. This is a massive honour. It`s a massive football club with a great tradition and the owner has a desire to make it great (again). I can see that, that`s a genuine opinion from me and if I can be part of that down the line it`s a fantastic honour. I`m capable of doing it, now it`s a case of knuckling down and concentrating on the footy."

Redfearn, a boyhood Leeds fan, is widely credited for overseeing the development of current Leeds first-team players Sam Byram, Lewis Cook and Alex Mowatt.