I have to believe I will be with Leeds next season, says Evans

In each of the three seasons during Massimo Cellino’s reign at Leeds United, the man at the helm of the team has gone into the final game facing questions about his future.

Brian McDermott and Neil Redfearn both dealt with those enquiries by revealing no talks had taken place with the Italian but that this would, hopefully, be rectified once the curtain had come down on the campaign’s final act.

Current incumbent Steve Evans, despite suggesting last weekend that his fate might be known before the trip to Preston North End, yesterday trotted out similar words to those once uttered by McDermott and Redfearn, stressing a need to be patient after confirming no fresh talks had taken place with Cellino since United’s defeat at home to Charlton Athletic.

“I went on record last weekend as saying I do believe he knows his decision,” said the Scot at his final pre-match press conference of the 2015-16 season.

“The president has been on other business, but that day is coming closer for all of us. Certainly, it won’t be going much beyond the weekend.”

Evans has to hope that it is a case of third time lucky for a head coach heading into the summer under Cellino, but the decision seems to be less cut and dried than in the final weeks of the last two seasons.

McDermott had seemed to be on his way out ever since that farcical weekend in January, 2014, that saw him sacked and then reinstated.

Likewise, Redfearn had looked to be a dead man walking ever since his trusted assistant Steve Thompson had been removed when Leeds were on a good run of form.

The United side that will take on Preston tomorrow also looks in better shape than it did a year ago. Whether this equates to Evans’s claim that the addition of “two or three” key signings could turn the club into genuine promotion challengers is debatable but there is, it seems, a decent foundation on which to build.

“I have to believe I will be here,” added Evans. “I am still continuing with planning for next season and I will do that until someone tells me otherwise. I understand that if I am the chosen one I have to deliver the play-offs, if not promotion next season.

“But if I am sitting here in year’s time then you will be sitting with some champagne, a bit like Leicester were (yesterday).”

That last comment was in response to Claudio Ranieri, fresh from the Foxes clinching the Premier League title, providing the media with a glass or two of bubbly ahead of yesterday’s press conference.

Earlier this week, another Italian – former international goalkeeper Walter Zenga – was linked with the Elland Road post, but Evans insists experience of the Championship is key if United are to have a chance of being successful next term.

“I believe that if this club are going to get success,” added the Scot, “we do need stability and we need additional talent so that everyone feels there is an opportunity to have a great season. That was the feeling at Burnley (last summer) and at Middlesbrough. Same at Brighton.”

As for his relationship with Cellino, Evans added: “There is a lot of mutual respect there. That is why if we sit down and it is a negative chat for me, Mr Cellino will tell me. I will be the first to know.”