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Neil Warnock 'parts company' with Leeds United

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments366

Former Leeds United manager Neil Warnock

Leeds manager Neil Warnock has parted company with the Championship club.

Warnock left about two hours after Monday's 2-1 defeat by Derby, a loss that left Leeds well adrift of the play-offs and just five points clear of the relegation zone.

United, who have lost three successive matches, have six league games left.

"We need to look to the future and the search for his replacement is under way," said Leeds chief executive Shaun Harvey.

"There is no fixed timescale as securing the services of the right person is the primary objective to give us the best chance of promotion next season."

Warnock spent 14 months at Elland Road after replacing Simon Grayson in February 2012.

His assistants, Mick Jones and Ronnie Jepson, have also left the club.

Leeds academy manager Neil Redfearn will take charge until Warnock's successor is appointed.

"We would like to thank Neil for his efforts during his time as our manager and share his disappointment that we could not achieve promotion," added Harvey.

"We would also like to thank Mick Jones and Ronnie Jepson, who will leave the club with Neil, for all their hard work."

Warnock, 64, had previously admitted he would leave the West Yorkshire side if they failed to win promotion to the Premier League.

The former Sheffield United and QPR manager also indicated he could leave before his contract expires in the summer, once it was mathematically impossible for the Whites to clinch a return to the top flight for the first time since 2004.

Last month, he held talks with Leeds owners GFH Capital, a Dubai-based equity group which bought the club from Ken Bates in December, about possible successors.

"I don't think they should rush into a permanent appointment because there are no outstanding candidates at the moment, but there will be in the summer," said Warnock in his post-match media conference following the defeat by Derby.

"I have been a manager for 33 years and these last 12 months have been the hardest. I have given it my best shot, but, being honest, we haven't been good enough in the final third of the pitch."

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366 comments

  • Comment posted by josh, at 21:00 1 Apr 2013

    It would be foolish to pass judgement before Robbie Savage's expert analysis is released.

  • Comment posted by User0055953142, at 21:01 1 Apr 2013

    As a Huddersfield fan, (yes I know we're nothing to Leeds fans!) I've always revelled in Leeds doing badly. But you know what, it's not funny anymore.
    Paying supporters want a Chairman that gives a crap, players that give a crap, owners that give a crap, and A MANAGER THAT GIVES A CRAP.
    I think Warnock was just after a bit of glory. I don't like that.
    I hope you get someone decent.

  • Comment posted by peter, at 21:14 1 Apr 2013

    See ya, Colin.

    He gave it a good go, but you can't polish a turd. Selling your best players and replacing them with free transfers or 36 year old has beens doesn't get you anywhere.

  • Comment posted by K Smith, at 21:16 1 Apr 2013

    The guy is a dinosaur, and a pain in the neck to listen to. Leeds are well shot of him.
    Get in a younger manager with more ideas better suited to the modern game, not the 1980's.

  • Comment posted by Jacks, at 23:20 1 Apr 2013

    As a West Ham fan who lives in Bury, I couldn't be more pleased to see this gob on legs back on the dole where he belongs. Good luck to Leeds for the rest of the season and woe betide any other club that falls for his 'charm' and appoints him.

  • Comment posted by Dooter, at 23:35 1 Apr 2013

    Time for a spring clean. Cut the ridiculous £36 ticket prices and start to get some bums on seats. Promote the youngsters like O'Leary did i.e. keep faith in Byram, Dawson et al and on no account sell them for ten bob and an orange. SELL the aged dross rather than just terminating their contracts. Save money by appointing Redfearn on a 2 Yr. contract. Finally push Bate's bathchair into the sunset

  • Comment posted by andy, at 21:12 1 Apr 2013

    yes , great news has made my easter. now let's get somebody who knows how to play football positively. MOT

  • Comment posted by TheSkyisBlue, at 21:16 1 Apr 2013

    @24

    Er, he's resigned mate, not been sacked. Just like he said he would do once it was mathmatically impossible for them to get promoted.

    I know Warnock doing something honourable is unusual but there you go...

  • Comment posted by DasBeast, at 21:32 1 Apr 2013

    Hooooooray! Anybody that complains that he hasn't had money for creative midfielders after letting Adam Clayton leave in favour of Michael Brown had earned their p45

  • Comment posted by s_divx, at 23:26 1 Apr 2013

    How is any club supposed to do well when they sell there best players and simply chase money. I didn't agree with the departure of Simon Grayson and its a shame I was proven right.

  • Comment posted by User0504791356, at 07:40 2 Apr 2013

    Leeds are a massive club who will eventually get back to the premiership by sheer support. Warnock is good for stability at championship level. However to move up, you need a young manager who can build a philosophy and team over a long term aim. With less finances you have to make smart acquisitions to compete at the highest level, you can't do a Chelski or Sheikh City. Gd Luck Leeds (Spurs Fan)

  • Comment posted by User0368076087, at 21:38 1 Apr 2013

    One of our worst managers in decades, signed or loaned 23 different types of garbage in one year and turned us into the ultimate total anti football team. Problem now is any manager who comes in under the present hybrid owners will fail a credability test! No progress until the rampant short-termism is eradicated.

  • Comment posted by Parrot, at 21:23 1 Apr 2013

    Warnock expected to walk Leeds into Prem, enhance his dubious rep and get a big club. Leeds are an average Champ team and need to forget the glory days. Players get sucked into the Leeds big club fantasy and forget what they are playing for. Need a good hands coach willing to build a club, not a media glory boy.

  • Comment posted by Drasticus Maximus, at 21:43 1 Apr 2013

    How about introducing a 'Manager Transaction Tax'? Each time a manager leaves a club the PL and FA have to plough another £1'000'000 into grass roots footie. Then football might actually benefit from this idiotic merry-go-round.

  • Comment posted by User0423333872, at 00:01 2 Apr 2013

    Warnock's a football dinosaur. Some of the players - mostly his mates -have been in the main, atrocious. However, I don't totally blame him. Ken Bates is the man who has destroyed this club. His influence is clearly still stifling the club.

  • Comment posted by cynical simon, at 07:31 2 Apr 2013

    How did Leeds find the only skint arabs in the business world?

  • Comment posted by FridayYodel, at 21:01 1 Apr 2013

    I hope he becomes a daily columnist with the Independent so that we can read more regular, rather than weekly reports on the progress of his children in their academic and sporting pursuits, and the jolly family activities he so enthrals us with.

  • Comment posted by User0902787385, at 21:30 1 Apr 2013

    Couldn't have happened to a nicer person!

  • Comment posted by jwalker2805, at 00:01 2 Apr 2013

    No loss. Terrible manager and an odious little man.

  • Comment posted by David Jones, at 23:24 1 Apr 2013

    As an Evertonian, but long time admirer of the Leeds team of the 1970s and the O'Leary years, I genuinely feel sorry for the great Leeds fans. You've really been through the mill. If you can avoid relegation then a big manager with not just good man management skills, but real flair could easily be attracted to the position. I sincerely wish all Leeds fans a brighter future.

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