Neil Redfearn says Leeds' troubles are affecting performances

Leeds head coach Neil Redfearn admitted the club's off-field troubles had helped contribute to their poor recent run of results.

Redfearn, 49, is hugely popular among Leeds fans for steering the club clear of relegation trouble and has won praise from outside Elland Road for the manner in which he has handled a constant stream of controversies that continue to dog the club.

But when asked if the shock departure of assistant Steve Thompson and last week's revelation that six first-team players announced they were unavailable through injury the day before the defeat at Charlton had taken its toll, Redfearn agreed it had.

"It's been a tough season," he said. "Things have happened perhaps since the international break that have made it even tougher. That's common knowledge. That's a fact.

"When you've got everything in place and everything up and running, it's a tough division to get results in and when you haven't got that it's even tougher.

"To say it doesn't affect it would be wrong. It has affected it yes.

"It's frustrating for the players because you talk about momentum but things happen and it disrupts that momentum.

"It would be churlish and wrong to say that it doesn't because it does. It really does."

A large section of Leeds fans believe owner Massimo Cellino has been attempting to undermine Redfearn despite serving a Football League ban due to his tax conviction, and there were chants for the Italian to quit and sell the club at Charlton.

"It's difficult for me to comment on things like that," Redfearn added.

"What I would say is people form their own opinions and if that's how they feel, that's how they feel.

"The thing about Leeds United supporters is they're very passionate about the club, they want success and they want things done right.

"They chant, they sing, they always get behind the team and if it's not so good sometimes they'll let you know.

"And I think that's right.

"I think that's how football should be."

Redfearn will discuss his own future with the club's hierarchy after next week's final game, at home against Rotherham, with the vast majority of supporters expected to voice their support for him between now and the end of the season.

"I've been on my own in the dugout but I've felt like I haven't been," Redfearn said.

"I felt like I've had 20-odd-thousand people in there with me.

"That's been a real plus for me and it's definitely helped me through this season."

On his own future, the former academy manager added: "I've got no God given right to be in charge of Leeds United and the club and the powers that be are far more important than me.

"I've been asked to do a job and I've done the job to the best of my ability.

"My remit was to keep Leeds United in the Championship - I've done that.

"But I understand that football is not always straight-forward.

"But it won't change my view of people at Leeds and my time at Leeds, whatever happens."