Neil Redfearn is in pole position to make a surprise return to Newcastle United as Under-23s manager, according to the Daily Mail.
The newspaper claims that the 53-year-old is the leading candidate to take over the post vacated by Ben Dawson, who has moved up to an academy role as Head of Coaching.
Redfearn spent a brief time with the Magpies as Dawson’s assistant earlier this season before moving on. He is currently expected to beat out former Newcastle man Lee Clark to the U23s post.
He has extensive coaching experience, having managed Leeds United, Rotherham United and Liverpool’s women’s team amongst others.
OPINION
This is a bit of a curveball, isn’t it? Redfearn was obviously at Newcastle earlier this term, but he got out of town pretty quickly. He wasn’t at the club for long, so you wondered whether there was something amiss behind the scenes there. Apparently not, though, if he’s truly in line for this U23s job. He’s a good candidate for the post, too. He’s built up an impressive coaching resume and has achieved a fair bit in the sport. He’s not a top drawer manager, which is why he’s gunning for an U23s job, but he’ll probably do well in the position. Clark, you would think, might be too used to being the number one to really help out the younger players at St James’ Park. You can see why men of this calibre, former Championship bosses, want to manage this young group of Magpies, though. Dawson’s team enjoyed a phenomenal season and are very much an up-and-coming unit. Any coach worth their salt would want to work with them, and it seems that Redfearn is going to get that chance.
