Leeds United head coach Neil Redfearn has refused to rule out the possibility of returning to lead the club's academy, feeling that it is wrong for coaches to consider themselves only managers or coaches and vice versa.

Redfearn led Leeds' academy before stepping up to take charge of the club's senior side on a permanent basis earlier this season.




The 49-year-old has presided over a turnaround in Leeds' form, pulling the Whites clear of relegation worries and to the comfort of mid-table in the Championship.

 


But he has not seen his contract renewed and is in the dark over whether he will continue to be in charge at Elland Road into next season, despite on several occasions urging the club to make a quick decision over his future.

When Redfearn took over as head coach there was speculation his deal allowed for him to return to the academy if things did not work out.

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And Redfearn was asked by BBC Radio Leeds whether he would go back to the academy, replying: "To be honest I enjoy everything that I've done with the academy and me as a person, when I come in day to day I will just lose myself in what I'm doing, if I'm academy manager, Under-21 manager, Under-18 manager…

"I've really enjoyed that part and I've definitely enjoyed the step up. I've enjoyed seeing the kids come through because they've been a big part of my life. So I feel like I've got a duty to look after that because that's important to this football club.

"For Neil Redfearn, I look at a lot of people when they go into management and they think they've got to be a manager. I think you pigeon-hole yourself. I think if you've got more strings to your bow then you should never say I'm going to be this or going to be that. If you're good at something, do it. But don't pigeon-hole yourself to one thing.

"That doesn't mean to say I don't want to manage because I do want to manage. I do want to be in charge of Leeds United and I want to see this through, I want this to be the best it can be for the people of Leeds, the football club and the kids that have worked hard for the six years that I've worked with them."

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