Leeds United v Fulham: Redfearn hopes patience pays in search for deputy

Leeds United host their former striker Ross McCormack’s Fulham this afternoon and while his backroom staff have helped cover for the absence of a regular No 2 alongside him, Redfearn admits that the situation is not the ideal scenario.

Huddersfield Town first-team coach Steve Thompson is the man who Redfearn wants as his deputy, but developments have proved painfully slow.

Redfearn said: “The club knows what I feel, the person that I want. I have got to leave it with the owner and be patient. It does get frustrating but it is important that it’s done the right away and it does take time. We have got to be respectful of other clubs.

“I have just basically got on with it. I have concentrated on what I have done.

“I have got a squad of 20 which I can manage and I have got a good assistant in Matt Pears and Neil Sullivan and some of the academy staff have mucked in too. At the moment, it is working, but in an ideal scenario you would have another body in.”

After seeing his side provide a lesson in not how to defend in a 4-1 loss at Ipswich Town last week, Redfearn will not need telling twice about the dangers of doing that with a certain McCormack likely to be in the visitors’ ranks today on his first return since his £11m move south.

On McCormack, who fired an eye-catching 29 goals last term, Redfearn said: “He did great for Leeds, there are no two ways about it.

“His goal total was unbelievable and his ability to finish – it goes without saying that he is a proven goalscorer.

“We have just got to make sure we are diligent and switched on and keep him away from the box.”

He added: “I want a performance and I want us to play well again. When you are building a side from scratch, which is basically what we are doing, it takes time. It is not going to happen overnight and you will sometimes have days when it is not so good.”