Football
PA Sport 10y

New Leeds United coach Darko Milanic dreaming of Premier League

New Leeds head coach Darko Milanic wants to fulfill the fans' dreams of taking the club back to the Premier League, and insists he does not fear the chop from owner Massimo Cellino.

Milanic, a 46-year-old former defender who captained Slovenia at Euro 2000, has been brought in by Cellino to replace Dave Hockaday, who was sacked after just six games in charge.

The Italian businessman has a reputation as a hatchet man -- he went through 36 coaches in 22 years at Cagliari -- but Milanic said he has not been given a timescale to get Leeds back into the top flight, and he does not worry about being sacked.

Milanic, who has signed a contract until 2016, moves from Austrian club Sturm Graz and previously had a successful spell in charge of Slovenian side Maribor.

He told a news conference at Elland Road: "It is a dream for everyone, for the fans, that we make it to the Premier League but we know that it will be very difficult.

"When we talked [to Cellino] last Sunday he told me my job is to make the squad better, play better on the field and be prepared to play in the Premier League but not that we are going for the Premier League.

"For me I am concentrating on the extremely important first game and then the next game. I don't look to 2016 -- I live now in this moment.

"I am very motivated and excited about the new job at Leeds United. I like that the fans come in the stadium and have fun with us but you have to have order on the pitch and be aggressive and play like a team.

"I want to make some changes technically -- I saw that here are many talented guys and I will push them to play.''

Asked if he was worried about Cellino's reputation for firing coaches, he replied: "No. In our job it is a risk every Saturday, every game. I have to do my best.''

Leeds sporting director Nicola Salerno told the news conference that it was unlikely there would be new permanent signings in the January transfer window, but that there would be the possibility for loan deals.

The club have won three and drawn one since Hockaday's departure and Milanic confirmed caretaker boss Neil Redfearn will be in the dugout with him for future games, starting at Brentford on Saturday.

Leeds, meanwhile, refused to comment on a report in The Guardian detailing the full findings of Cellino's conviction for tax evasion in an Italian court.

The Football League has said Cellino can be barred from ownership if the findings say he was guilty of a "dishonest'' offence.

The Football League has yet to receive the court's ruling, however, and the Italian's lawyer has lodged an appeal against the conviction.

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