Leeds United Owner Massimo Cellino Wants Neil Redfearn as Head Coach for 'at Least 10 Years'

Massimo Cellino is hopeful the spate of sackings at Leeds has come to an end (Getty Images/Paul Thomas)

Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino hopes head coach Neil Redfearn remains at Elland Road for the next 10 years, despite making the 49 year old his third permanent man at the helm this season.

Redfearn replaced Darko Milanic over the weekend after the Slovenian failed to win any of his first six matches in charge in his second spell in the Whites' hotseat this season after being in caretaker charge following David Hockaday's dismissal.

The former Barnsley and Charlton Athletic midfielder won three of his four games while in control of the Leeds first team earlier in the campaign, having been moved from his position with the club's academy, and Cellino hopes he remains on a long-term basis.

"I hope so [Redfearn stays long term]," Cellino, who has sacked three managers since becoming owner last April, told Sky Sports. "He's still young to prove himself and to do something important for this club.

“But we don't give money to the manager to spend. I manage this club. I'll work with my coach; we'll work together because the way in England is not my way to work. If you give the manager that responsibility and then change the manager, you have to change all the players and that's very wrong ”

- Massimo Cellino

"I hope he stays at least 10 years. That is the dream, to keep him as coach for at least 10 years. It's very difficult to say what will be success. If I knew the team I could tell you '20 points' and the team will play a certain style of football.

"But if you don't know which team you're going to have, it's very difficult to say."

Redfearn has already spoken of his desire to enter the transfer market in the new year with the hope of improving Leeds' options in wide positions.

However, Cellino is unwilling to relinquish control over Leeds' transfer business and says Redfearn will have little influence over the addition of new players after the Italian claimed he does not "trust" managers with the responsibility.

"I think he has to build something and take the best that we have got and then in January we have to go into the market," he said.

"But we don't give money to the manager to spend. I manage this club. I'll work with my coach; we'll work together because the way in England is not my way to work. If you give the manager that responsibility and then change the manager, you have to change all the players and that's very wrong.

"For continuity the decision [to buy players] should come from the board and the chairman, not from the manager. The manager is part of the chain of the organisation. I don't trust my manager with these things."

"Their point of view is important, very important and we must work together, but they don't have to decide who we will buy or not."

Source : ibtimes[dot]co[dot]uk