Neil Redfearn's time as Leeds head coach appears certain to end this week after club owner Massimo Cellino branded him "weak" and "a baby" in an interview with the Sunday Mirror.
Redfearn's deal to coach the first team expires on June 30 and Cellino - back in office after serving a Football League suspension for breaching it's Owners' and Directors' rules - has shown no willingness to renew it.
That decision has caused ire amongst Leeds' fans after Redfearn saved Leeds from relegation from the Championship after being given the job in the wake of the ill-fated reigns of unknown duo David Hockaday and Darko Milanic.
And Cellino has risked the wrath of the supporters more with an outspoken attack on Redfearn, claiming the 49-year-old tried to turn them against him during his ban and saying that he loves the club more than his coach does.
"He tried to play the fans against me to keep his place. Do you think that Neil Redfearn loves Leeds more than me?" the Italian said in the Sunday Mirror.
"Tell me why I am in Leeds, why am I so involved with the club? Why am I putting in a lot of money, killing myself? Because I fell in love with this club. But to love this club is to do something for this club.
"Neil Redfearn does the (Leeds United fans') salute. He challenged me. If you are good I can accept the challenge. But not if you are a bad coach.
"He has to respect the chairman. He has to respect the club. He's like a baby. He's been badly advised and used by someone. He is not a bad person but he has a weak personality."
Cellino's comments to the paper came after he refused to directly discuss Redfearn's future in a bizarre 70-minute press conference on Thursday, which was punctuated by him walking out midway through for a cigarette, leaving newly-appointed executive director Adam Pearson to try and answer questions he had no answers to.
Cellino - who faces two further court hearings relating to tax issues in June - is upset that Redfearn did not attend a drinks reception from him upon his return to Elland Road, although Press Association Sport understands Redfearn was not invited to the event in question.
Redfearn - who it is also understood has it in the terms of his contract that he had to be told if he was being kept on by May 1 - has yet to speak to Cellino since his return to office.
Deposed Brentford manager Mark Warburton and former Leeds assistant boss Gus Poyet are the frontrunners to replace Redfearn, who was asked to respond by Press Association Sport on Sunday.
Source: PA
