Neil Redfearn - Late Playing Career and Managerial Career

Late Playing Career and Managerial Career

At Halifax, he also got his first taste of management, being appointed caretaker manager alongside Tony Parks following the resignaton of Paul Bracewell on 30 August. His spell as caretaker manager came to an end on 12 October following the appointment of Alan Little. Redfearn started a second spell in caretaker charge on 4 March 2002 due to the enforced absence of Little. However, his contract with the club was terminated on 25 April and having been snubbed for the permanent manager's job he joined Boston United as player-coach.

Redfearn spent the better part of two years at Boston, before finishing his Football League career at Rochdale in the spring of 2004. Rochdale did not offer him a new contract at the end of the season, meaning he finished his Football League career with 790 appearances and so being fifth in the all-time list of most Football League appearances. His last league appearance for Rochdale took his total to . after which Redfearn dropped down to the Conference, where he became player-coach at Scarborough, managed at the time by his former Oldham teammate Nick Henry. He signed a new contract with Scarborough in April 2005. When Henry was sacked on 24 October Redfearn was named caretaker manager, before being appointed permanently on 1 November while remaining registered as a player. Redfearn resigned on 6 July 2006 after Mark Patterson was brought in as assistant manager. He subsequently signed with Northern Premier League First Division side Bradford Park Avenue later that month. He made his 1,000th competitive appearance on 4 November 2006, when Bradford Park Avenue faced Solihull Borough in the second qualifying round of the FA Trophy.

Redfearn quit Bradford Park Avenue in March 2007, joining Northern Premier League First Division rivals Stocksbridge Park Steels, but left on 19 June to become manager of Conference side Northwich Victoria. He resigned on 17 September 2007, after the club only managed one point from their first nine games, leaving them bottom of the Conference National.

He joined Northern Premier League Premier Division club Frickley Athletic as a player in September 2007. He left the club over a month later to join Bridlington Town on 5 November. He left them in January 2008 after the departure of manager Ash Berry. He was appointed as York City's youth team coach in February. He joined Emley in July, where he would play when his commitments with York's youth team allowed. Redfearn moved onto Salford City of the Northern Premier League Division One North in October 2008. He took over as caretaker manager at York on 21 November 2008, following Colin Walker's sacking and was in charge for the team's 2–2 draw against Crawley Town. Following Martin Foyle's appointment as manager on 24 November, Redfearn took up the position of assistant manager at the club.

Redfearn left York over a month later after being appointed coach of the under-18 academy team at Leeds United on 30 December and he assumed this role on 1 January 2009. He took over as manager of the Leeds reserve team in December 2010 following the sacking of Neil Thompson. He was appointed caretaker manager at Leeds following the sacking of manager Simon Grayson on 1 February 2012. On 4 February he won his first match in charge by beating Bristol City 3–0. It was later confirmed by club Chairman Ken Bates that Redfearn would retain the managerial post for the following three games. After two wins and two defeats in his four game spell as manager, Redfearn was replaced as manager by Neil Warnock as permanent manager on 18 February. In April 2012, Redfearn guided Leeds' Under 18's side to a 2nd place finish in the Under 18's League, narrowly missing out on top spot to Newcastle's Under 18's team.