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Neil Redfearn has resigned from his role as Leeds' academy manager claiming his position had been made untenable by the club. Redfearn was officially offered to return to his previous job with the academy in May following his six-month stint as first-team head coach last season, but has accused the club of not letting him return to his post. The 50-year-old was involved in a bitter fall-out with Leeds owner Massimo Cellino, who opted not to extend Redfearn's spell as head coach. Leeds appointed Uwe Rosler in May and Redfearn has claimed the offer to return to his academy role was "not genuine." Redfearn said in a statement: "It is with great sadness that I am resigning from my employment at Leeds United with immediate effect. "I am desperately disappointed that Adam Pearson's 'offer' of a return to my old position as Academy manager was not genuine and the club have since made my position untenable by refusing to let me take up my post at Thorp Arch. "I would, however, like to place on record my thanks to everyone connected with the first team, including the fans, for making last season both productive and beneficial after a difficult start. "Very importantly I would like to pay a special tribute to the Academy where I proudly worked along with others for the best part of six years. "The LUFC academy is now regarded as one of the most productive in the country and last season proved testament to that with the continued development of Sam Byram, Alex Mowatt, Lewis Cook, Charlie Taylor, Kalvin Phillips, Lewis Walters and Chris Dawson amongst a crop of outstanding young players to wear the Leeds badge of honour and to don the famous white shirt. "The Academy Philosophy and Coaching programme that I wrote and developed will be part of my legacy to this great club and hopefully will help shape more top young professional footballers moving forward. "I would like to wish Uwe Rosler and his staff and players every success for next season and beyond so that Leeds can (get) back to the Premier League very soon "Last, but not least, I wish to thank the fans for their unstinting support both during my time at the Academy and whilst in charge of the first team. "It has truly been an honour to represent and serve this great club." Redfearn handed in his resignation on Thursday morning after he and Leeds failed to agree a settlement deal to sever his employment. The former Barnsley and Charlton midfielder, placed in charge of Leeds' academy in 2012 after joining in 2009, took on the head coach's role last November after Darko Milanic had been sacked. Redfearn had been appointed until June and had the option of returning to his role as academy boss if Leeds opted not to extend his role as head coach. Redfearn introduced several young players he had nurtured through the academy into the first team and guided Leeds clear of relegation trouble last season. But his future became increasingly uncertain after Cellino returned to office in early May following his Football League ban and when the Italian launched a scathing attack on Redfearn at a controversial post-season press conference, an acrimonious departure appeared inevitable. Cellino later accused Redfearn of being "weak" and "behaving like a baby," but the club insisted several days later a formal offer for him to return to his role as academy manager had been made. Redfearn's assistant Steve Thompson was sacked without explanation in April and Redfearn was also rocked by the withdrawal of six overseas players through injury on the eve of Leeds' game at Charlton later that month. Leeds were not immediately available for comment but are expected to respond to Redfearn's claims with a statement in due course.
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