Why it’s taking so long for Leeds to hire an assistant for Redfearn

The United head coach, who signed a 12-month rolling deal earlier this month, has already spoken to club president Massimo Cellino about his preferred choice for his number two.

The name being strongly linked with a move to United is Huddersfield Town joint first-team coach Steve Thompson, a team-mate of Redfearn’s at Bolton Wanderers in the early eighties.

Thompson, 50, shares first-team coaching duties at Town with Steve Eyre, and has been tipped for a reunion with Redfearn ever since he was named as Leeds’ third permanent head coach of the season on November 1.

Thompson arrived at Huddersfield in June to assist then manager Mark Robins, having spent ten years coaching at Blackpool before leaving the Seasiders in February.

For his part, Redfearn is conscious that bringing in new staff can take time and says the past week’s training schedule at Thorp Arch had been already planned previously and did account for there not being a new number two in place.

Redfearn and the club’s existing coaching staff planned all aspects of training and will continue to do so prior to an appointment.

On the assistant head-coach issue, Redfearn said: “I have left it with the club and I know the guy that I want.

“The club have been in talks with him and it is in their hands.

“We have just had to get on with this week. We had planned this week out anyway between us and there’s enough of us (here) to work it through to make it right. It has not been a problem.

“But obviously, the club want to get it resolved as well, which is good.”

On whether an appointment will be made ahead of United’s return from action after the current international break at Blackburn Rovers next Saturday, Redfearn added: “Hopefully. But I know sometimes this things take time.

“The club want to do it right, which is the right thing and the club are sorting it out.”

United youngster Eoghan Stokes netted a sweetly-taken goal for the Republic of Ireland under-19s in their 1-0 European Championship qualifying win over Malta in Waterford.

They host Gibraltar in Wexford today.