Can Neil Redfearn fix the issues at Leeds?

Neil Redfearn is back in the Leeds top job

Neil Redfearn is back at Leeds but the big question is whether or not he's the man to finally get Leeds United back on the up?

Neil Redfearn was ratified as Leeds United's fourth permanent manager in five months before the club lost to Cardiff on Saturday.

Leeds are the archetypal footballing 'sleeping giant' - a club steeped in tradition with a large fan base itching to see their side restored to former glories.

Is boyhood fan Redfearn the man to finally guide the Elland Road club back into the Premier League?

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Passion for the job

Unsurprisingly, Redfearn talked of the 'great honour' he felt at taking charge of his boyhood heroes.

The 49-year-old took over on a caretaker basis earlier this season when Dave Hockaday was removed and duly recorded three wins and one draw in four games.

That unbeaten run has already been consigned to the history books following the 3-1 loss against the Bluebirds on Saturday.

The scale of the job at hand cannot have been lost on Redfearn during a disjointed performance against a side that have had their fair share of troubles this season.

Currently 19th and only four points above the relegation places, Redfearn's first concern is to end a seven-game winless streak and get Leeds moving in the right direction.

Putting Faith in Youth

Redfearn had formerly been working as head of the Leeds' youth academy and has inserted a clause in his contract agreeing he can return to that post should things fail to work out with the first team.

During his spell in charge of youth development, the new boss has been credited with nurturing the careers of first-team players Sam Byram, Lewis Cook and Alex Mowatt - scorer of Leeds' goal at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Youth will continue to play a key role for Redfearn now he has taken charge of the first team - six of the 14 players used against Cardiff were under the age of 24.

Given Leeds are unlikely to splash large amounts of cash in the January transfer window, the manager will have to cut from the cloth he has inherited. That will amount to a difficult challenge.

Goals are proving hard to come by with just 15 in as many league outings to date. Leeds are lacking the firepower of a Ross McCormack-type figure.

Mirco Antenucci has offered some hope, the 30-year-old Italian finding the net four times in 11 appearances since arriving in August.

The 'Manager Eater' lurks

The constant threat for Redfearn will be the shadow of Leeds owner Massimo Cellino hanging over his every move.

The Italian dismissed 36 bosses in 20 years at Cagliari and already both Hockaday and Darko Milanic have found themselves cast aside after only six games in charge each.

That must be a worrying factor for Redfearn and he has already alluded to it.

"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," he said.

The new Leeds boss must be applauded for accepting the challenge given he has witnessed at first hand the ruthless streak the club's owner possesses.

Given the performances of the team this season, it looks as though the best Redfearn can hope for is to steer Leeds towards mid-table respectability.

In all likelihood, that will not be enough to satisfy the demands of Cellino and Redfearn could find himself axed like those that have gone before him.

Leeds are lacking the quality required to get out of this division and the owner must realise that constantly rotating the manager will do nothing to mask that fact.