Fourth time a charm for Redfearn

Neil Redfearn is back again to Elland Road

Darko Milanic survived 32 days at Leeds United and that club lurches from one manager to yet another.

In the least surprising news of the season, Darko Milanic has been sacked as the manager of Leeds United.

Just 32 days since his appointment by controversial owner, and well known 'manager eater', Massimo Cellino, Milanic is the second manager to have been sacked at Elland Road this season.

Cellino had plucked Milanic from the relative obscurity of Sturm Graz in the Austrian Bundesliga to permanently replace David Hockaday, who had survived just six games at the club. However the appointment was met with a collective head scratching not only in Yorkshire, but also in Austria.

Milanic essentially had to win straight away to have any chance of getting through the first few months of his contract, never mind the full two-year term.

The former Maribor manager did not secure a victory in his six games at the club, drawing in three against Reading, Sheffield Wednesday and Norwich City while losing to Brentford, Rotherham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

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Saturday's 2-1 loss at home to Wolves was the final nail in the proverbial coffin for the former Slovenian international who leaves the club sitting in 18th place in the Championship, five points above the relegation zone.

Returning to the Elland Road hot seat is Neil Redfearn who, after three previous stints as the caretaker manager, is finally given the job on a full-time basis. Redfearn had taken 10 out of a possible 12 points when in charge of the club earlier in the season after Hockaday's dismissal and the Leeds United fan base had actively lobbied for the Academy Manager and Head of Coaching to be promoted to the top job permanently. Those same fans chanted for Redfearn on Saturday and the move was made shortly after the end of the game.

Born in Dewsbury West Yorkshire less than 10 miles south of Elland Road in 1965, the 49-year old Redfearn was reportedly a boyhood fan of the club. The youngster grew up in the local area as Leeds were ascending to the top of the old English First Division in the days of manager Don Revie and such legendary players as Billy Bremner, Peter Lorimer, Eddie Gray, Paul Madeley, Jack Charlton and Norman Hunter.

A professional for 24 years amassing an impressive 790 league appearances and over 1000 when late career non-league games are added, Redfearn finally hung up his playing boots six years ago.

The new manager's first game in charge will be at Cardiff City next weekend with two home games against Charlton Athletic and Blackpool following shortly after. One thing is certain, life is never going to be boring at Leeds with Cellino in charge.