The Italian had immediately announced that Neil Redfearn would replace the Slovenian. Redfearn, for his part, was only too pleased to accept the offer, graciously ignoring the fact that he was succeeding the man who had earlier replaced him.

His willingness was somewhat surprising: Redfearn knew more than anyone else how tenuous life could be under Cellino and exactly how eccentric he was.

He sat beside the Italian to watch the Wolves match. When the Midlanders equalised, Cellino stormed off. 'He can't sit still through a game,' recalled Redfearn. 'He's holding your leg, twitching, shouting in Italian. Fans were calling up to him. This time he'd been even more agitated than usual.'

'Come back in,' he told Redfearn. 'You take the team. Get them in tomorrow.'

'I don't hope he's here for the rest of the season,' Cellino said. 'I hope he's going to stay at Leeds for the next ten years. Why should the chairman of a club wish to change the coach? Tell me the reason. Am I a masochist? No. Every chairman, president or owner would wish to have someone here as long as Ferguson. Every time we change coach it's not good.

'I never take a coach and say, "He's good for three months but then I'll change him." I get along with Neil. When Darko was here, I'd go to the training ground and I talked with Neil because I get along with him, I like him. He's a nice guy and he belongs to Leeds. He knows more about the players than anyone - the positives and the negatives.'

No one could have blamed Redfearn for biting the hand that feeds him, but he was excited by the opportunity to end the job he had started, inspired by the rich potential he had nurtured in the Academy and itching at the bit to change the fortunes of the club he followed as a boy. He also knew that he had the support of the fans, they had made that perfectly obvious when Cellino passed him over for Milanic a month earlier after he had presided over a four-match unbeaten run.

Redfearn had a history with the club.

'I nearly played here,' he recalled. 'When I was at Barnsley, George Graham tried to sign me. He offered money and Alfie Haaland but Barnsley knocked it back because they thought they were going to stay up.'

After some initial reticence about taking the coach's chair at Elland Road, Redfearn had rapidly warmed to the role and became hugely popular, not least for the faith he showed in the exciting youngsters that he had brought through.

Sam Byram, Lewis Cook, Charlie Taylor and Alex Mowatt were suddenly the backbone of his side.

'I could see these young players coming through. Cook was under 13, Mowatt was under 14. Phillips, Taylor and Byram were in the under 16s. I was looking at the best ways to develop them as individuals within the team. We had a system…they were learning together and bringing each other on. We won the Under-18s league. I could see how good they were getting.

'With Alex Mowatt, we worked on how to get him round the box and getting those shots off. With Sam Byram, we'd work on these positions where we'd get him further forward and receiving it round the box. That comes from the stuff I did with me dad and the experiences I had with him as a coach.

'My only concern was opportunity. Gwyn Williams could see how they were starting to develop. It's about your manager being responsive to it. Neil Warnock didn't really put kids in, he liked to bring in his own group - Brown, Tonge, Kenny.

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'I remember he came into the office one day and said, "Have you got any players?' I laughed and said, "We've got about 300." He said, "I need someone to take to Cornwall for pre-season." I told him, "I've got the best right-back at the club, Sam Byram."

'I think he thought I was having him on, but he put him in and Sam took off, he was brilliant. Nothing fazed him or flustered him. Then one or two others started getting in. They saw Sam and thought, "We can do this." They relaxed. There was the basis of a good side there for years to come.

'Our smart targets were to get two from pro to first-team every season. We were getting four or five. Warnock came in at the time we were in transition with the Elite Player Performance Plan. The philosophy and coaching programme ran through the club and had to be agreed from the top. That's meant to be the identity of your football club, providing continuity. I wrote the club philosophy and coaching programme right through the age groups, from pro development to youth development to foundation.

'It used to be on the Academy website, but they took it down under Cellino because they associated it with me. When he got the hump on with me, they tried to cut off everything to do with me. It's still there in place because, with respect, no-one there has the acumen to put it down. It was to be comfortable receiving and playing anywhere on the pitch and to play a structured passing game going through the thirds.'

Redfearn was over the moon at being given his head on a long-term basis.

'It was hard to let it all go last time,' he said. 'We were on a good run, but it wasn't a problem. I understood the situation and I just gave Massimo the opportunity to make a decision. I didn't try to put myself in the position.

'My four games as caretaker were for me to help him. I could see the bigger picture. I've been in discussions with Massimo all the way down the line and I know what he's trying to achieve here.'

It was noticeable that Redfearn referred to Cellino by his first name; Hockaday and Milanic had always used the deferential 'Mr President'.

Redfearn said of his pending appointment, 'Obviously, I wanted some assurances about the conversations that I had with him before - where he saw me at the club and the club going forward. He said I was the future of the club and I just wanted to know if that was still the case and he said, "Yeah, you are still the future of the club," so that's obviously got to be reflected in the contract and with certain things.'

Asked if a salary had been agreed, Redfearn said, 'Yes and the salary was never ever going to be the major stumbling block but obviously I want to be here for the long-term. I've developed this Academy and it's just starting to come to the boil in terms of getting these kids through. If we can continue that and I can add the right players to it - these kids are going to be the benefit of this club for years to come and I can see all that taking place. I want to be part of that.'

Things didn't immediately click, with Leeds hammered at Cardiff and then drawing at home with Charlton. The defence looked all over the place, but there were signs of life and Alex Mowatt scored three times in the two games.

The opportunity to really show what they could do would come on 8 November at home to bottom club Blackpool, with Leeds themselves only a point clear of the relegation places.

Redfearn was encouraged by the performance against Charlton, saying, 'I thought we played much better, I thought it was a good performance, I thought we were the better side. I'm disappointed with the fact that they didn't get the result they deserved but it's an improvement from the Cardiff game.

'It was a lot better and it looked a lot more like one of my sides - more like I want them to play. We were competitive and there were 17 shots on goal. The opposition have to feel threatened.

'Those are the plusses but I want to make us the complete package. At half-time I said to the players, "We're doing alright, we look like a nice side but I don't want a nice side. I want us to be a side who win games and affect both boxes, who play with energy and desire to get a result."

'I just feel we're a little bit tender at the moment. I've got to get them to a stage where they can be confident about everything again. But the more they perform like Tuesday, the more they'll believe in what they're doing.

'I thought on Tuesday night we looked much more like ourselves and much more like a Neil Redfearn side. Now we want to take that into Saturday's game against Blackpool and get the three points.'

Redfearn took the opportunity to impose his personality on the side. With Bellusci suspended after receiving his fifth booking of the season against Charlton, Cooper was given the chance to form a partnership with Pearce, while Byram was suddenly first choice again, at the expense of Berardi. Cook, Mowatt, Adryan, Bianchi, Doukara and Antenucci quickly became established as Redfearn's preferred front six.

Redfearn had implored the players to be brave and open up the visitors, who went into the match with a record of one away win in twelve months in all competitions.

Charlton midweek had drawn less than 19,000 to register a new season's low in the Championship and only 23,846 came to see the Blackpool game, some 4,000 less than Wolves, but there was an atmosphere in the ground, a definite expectation as they came to see if Redders could work his magic.

Cook and Mowatt formed a brilliant partnership in midfield and Adryan drew roars of appreciation every time he surged forward. It was the best performance since seeing off Huddersfield in September.

Then the breakthrough, after Mowatt tried a shot at goal. The ball looped nicely up for Cooper, who gathered wonderfully well and fired home emphatically from 20 yards, right in front of the Kop.

'F***IN' GET INNN, you beauty,' roared the crowd.

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Doukara fired wide after good play from Cook and Adryan then had a shot blocked before a stunning second doubled Leeds' advantage.

A rapid counter was started by Byram and with Blackpool stranded with bodies upfield, Leeds went for the jugular. A lovely exchange in midfield resulted in Adryan cutting through Blackpool territory like a hot knife through butter before providing a perceptive pass to the overlapping Doukara, who calmly beat the advancing Lewis with a pinpoint finish.

The home supporters were in rapture, with a booming chorus of 'There's only one Neil Redfearn' echoing around the stadium.

Unfortunately, Leeds repeated their Wolves mistake and settled for what they had, allowing Blackpool to work their way back into the game after the break. The visitors pulled a goal back from a corner shortly after Austin and Tonge had replaced Adryan and Bianchi to take the sheen off the performance.

The low key second half was a concern for Redfearn but halting an eight-game winless streak was the objective and that was secured in splendid fashion.

'I thought we were excellent in the first half, some of the movement and the passing was different class,' said Redfearn. 'That was as good as I've seen them play. It could have been anything. It wasn't just the pressure, it was good football culminating in three goals.

'The second half was a damp squib, but the result was the main thing and that came off the back of a good first half. It was a good, important win and I thought we earned it. We never gave Blackpool a chance to settle, the start was excellent and for the first 10 minutes we were like a whirlwind.

'We have got footballers and there is no point in us lumping it up the pitch. We have to pass it and play and the more they do that, the more they will pick results up.'

Leeds struggled to build any momentum despite a 2-0 victory against high-fliers Derby courtesy of a brace from Antenucci on 29 November.

This was the game in which Adryan delivered his laughable 'dying fish' dive after being laid low by Johnny Russell. Even his teammates were embarrassed. As a result, Adryan was awarded the inaugural 'Fallon d'Floor' for the most outrageous dive of 2014 after receiving 32% of a public vote.

Redfearn admitted that Adryan 'needs time' to adapt to English football, though he could be 'a big player for this club in the future'.

It would be 20 January before the next win. Leeds had slipped to third from bottom after a draw at Bolton ten days earlier.

There was an air of tension around Elland Road.

Ten days later, victory against Bournemouth courtesy of a first half goal from Luke Murphy ended that winless streak.

Giuseppe Bellusci was shown a straight red card after being adjudged to have brought Callum Wilson down inside the area to concede a penalty with four minutes remaining. Substitute Yann Kermorgant stepped up from 12 yards but smashed his penalty against the bar and over to the delight of the home crowd.

The ten men of United were hanging on but the final whistle brought Elland Road to its feet as Redfearn's side celebrated doing the double over the Cherries and securing their first win since late November. It was a notable victory with Bournemouth ending the season as champions.

Redfearn had finally been able to bring in Huddersfield first-team coach Steve Thompson as his assistant the week before Christmas.

It was an uphill struggle to get Thompson, with Cellino ringing Rdfearn to say, 'You don't need an assistant. You're my coach, we'll do it together.' Redfearn protested that there were 30-odd players and he needed some support, commenting, 'F***ing hell, I'm doing this on my own.'

The chances of a much needed freshening up of the squad in the transfer window was denied Redfearn because of a transfer embargo.

It did not prevent United from signing loanees and free transfers on wages of less than £12,000 a week. They brought in Sol Bamba, who debuted at Huddersfield. Leeds pulled off another win as substitute Billy Sharp threw himself in where it hurt at the back post to head United into the lead in the final minute right in front of the travelling Leeds fans. He leaped into the stand to celebrate with them.

At the start of the season, Cellino had told the squad that the diamond midfield would be the formation of choice at Elland Road. It was no secret that he liked the system but the commitment to it had bled United of form and points.

Redfearn now adopted a more stable 4-2-3-1, with Antenucci alone up front.

On occasions the diamond had worked to perfection for Redfearn but often it had been ineffectual.

Antenucci's tap-in at Ipswich on 6 December was their only goal in open play for six games, and United failed to win once in the month.

Redfearn said the new system allowed United to 'defend with more width and attack with more width', giving his full-backs scope to get forward as usual but freeing them of sole responsibility for creativity out wide.

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That paved the way for attacking left-back Charlie Taylor, another Academy graduate, to swell the ranks of home-produced players in the side to four. Consequently, Stephen Warnock departed to Derby County in the window.

He commented, 'I've got no grudges against anyone. I was made captain, a great honour, and I've not got a bad word to say about the club. I went in there under Neil Warnock and I think he lasted about two or three months which was a shame. Brian McDermott came in and he deemed me surplus to requirements but I ended up forcing my way into the team.

'This season David Hockaday stood my ground and wanted me to be involved. I think the chairman was quite happy to let me move on at the time but Dave fought my corner and gave me a chance. Hopefully, I proved him right.'

Jason Pearce also departed, joining Wigan for £300,000 while Michael Tonge moved on loan to Millwall.

'Recruitment wasn't ideal,' said Redfearn. 'He's brought Nicola Salerno in as head of recruitment, who is a very nice guy. But I'm not sure he understood the demands of the Championship or what it took to do well there. He said, "We've got this Albanian centre-forward, he's brilliant." I saw the footage on Scout 7 and got Alex Davies to do some more clips for me. He just looked raw and the level he was playing at just wasn't good.

'When he scored a goal you could hear one bloke clapping, because there was no-one there. Cani came in and trained and I'm thinking "You're miles away." He was a nice enough kid. I think he was Bellusci's mate. He worked hard enough but was nowhere near. I had people like Steve Morison, who was not scoring but playing well and working hard. And he's an experienced big man. He came to see us and I went "I'm sick of you. You think everything should be on a plate. Why don't you man up and show us how good you are?"

'And it was like a relief for him. He found himself again. I saw him grow as a person. He was massive in us doing alright. We played one up top and everything that went into him he got hold of it or shook it up. He was great for Mowatt and Byram. Billy Sharpe was itching to play but we weren't strong enough to play 4-4-2.

'We played Brighton away. Cellino was banned and said, "Andrew Umbers is coming to the game and he's bringing his wife. His wife has never seen us win. You need to get something lucky. You need to wear something purple - socks or a belt. Or you need to shake Eddie Gray's hand, he was born on the 17th." He sent it me in a text.'

A 3-0 victory at Fulham in the middle of March saw Leeds in an improbable twelfth position. They were 14 points off the Play-Offs but a crucial 17 clear of relegation.

It was no coincidence that the run came at a time when Cellino was banned from any involvement at Elland Road, nevertheless Redfearn had still to contend with the undermining tentacles of the absent owner.

'My dealings then were with Matt Child, so it was quite a sane environment…Matt fought for me to get Thommo in. There was a clause in my contract that I'd pick the team. I think he knew it wasn't the be all and end all for me, so he never had that hold over me.

'I just need the right people round me, like Thommo. And I knew what these kids were capable of. The first time we did the running the Italians were blowing. I used to say to the players, "If you lose it, run after it and let them see you run after it. That's it. We've got to be brave enough to pass it, I'll give you a plan. This is your theatre. If they see you run after it you'll be like gladiators." If there wasn't the influence of Cellino over the Italian lads, I would have helped them too, because you could see them thinking, "I like this."

'They'd speak to him. Perhaps in their culture that's what happened. The president brought players in and the coaches came and went. They were always quite respectful. The bit I like is on the grass with the players. I'm a tracksuit manager. As a coach I'm at my strongest. I'm honest and genuine.'

Redfearn said he had been involved in discussions about player retention and recruitment in the summer and had also spoken to the club about pre-season, but had not received any confirmation that he or Thompson would remain in place for the following campaign.

The pair were under contract for the rest of the current season and their deals included clauses giving United the right to tie them down for a further 12 months.

Redfearn admitted that he was working under the assumption that he would continue in post. 'I've got to start thinking that way. I've got to accept that I'm going to be here. We need to make sure we've got the right blend, the right system and the right way of playing so we can hit the ground running next season. Pre-season's going to be important. We've done well, we've got a bit of momentum now and I want to keep that going.

'We've talked about players for next season, who we're going to keep, and we've been planning pre-season but nothing official's been announced. It's the club's decision and it'll be down to them. They'll make a decision when the time's right.

'I think I've done enough if I'm honest. I've got the backing of the players, they love what they're doing and they've got a clear sight of where they're going.

'People know we've done well. I spoke to Chris Hughton at Brighton and he was very complimentary about the fact that we've got the club in a better position and got results the right way. We know what we're doing. It isn't as if we don't.'

It appeared certain that no decision would be made until Cellino returned from his disqualification.

There was speculation that Cellino was considering walking away from the club completely because of the continual opposition from the footballing authorities. Rumours grew that movie star Russell Crowe, a Leeds supporter, and drinks giant Red Bull might be readying a buyout, while Leeds Fans LLP, a group which hoped to bring a minority stake in United under the control of the club's support, unveiled plans to raise £10 million through financial commitments from fans.

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On 2 April, as Redfearn and Thompson were preparing Leeds for the visit of Blackburn after the international break, Thompson was handed a letter informing him that he had been suspended, a decision signed off by sporting director Nicola Salerno.

After reading it, his face fell and he said to Redfearn, 'F***ing hell, have you read this?'

Redfearn rang Umbers, 'What the hell's going on?'

'It's nothing to do with me, it's Nicola Salerno.'

Redfearn contacted Salerno to ask, 'Nicola, what's going on?'

'It's not me, it's Andrew Umbers.'

An unidentified individual claimed that Thompson had bad-mouthed Salerno, but when Redfearn spoke to him, he said nothing had happened. According to Redfearn, 'You could never meet two nicer guys in football. Thommo would never disrespect anyone and Nicola's not like that. So I don't know where they cooked this story up. They took it out on Thommo because of the Antenucci thing.'

'The Antenucci thing' revolved around his contract, which stated that when he got to 12 goals, he would be offered a new deal. Redfearn spoke to Cellino and was told, 'Don't let him get to 12 goals. He's one of these that downs tools.'

Redfearn felt that the issue was petty, saying, 'He was starting to nick a goal or two. They were trying to make me fall in line…But they'd put me in charge of football matters. And I thought he was worth another year. If he got 12 goals and that was in his contract, then fair play to the lad.'

Salerno rapidly followed Thompson out of the club, deepening the mystery.

Redfearn seriously considered whether his position was becoming untenable, saying, 'It's undermining yes because you're trying to put something together under the belief that you're getting the backing that you need. It's disappointing. It just seems a really strange decision.

'I love this football club and I've loved working with the players. We're a good team, me and Steve, we work together well. It makes it harder. I've got to have a real good, long, hard think. From where before it was a no-brainer, now I need to have a good think.

'I've got to think about what I really want to do, to be honest. I love this football club, I love everything about it. I love all the stuff that it stands for. I was brought up on Leeds United as a kid under the Revie years and what they stood for - the principles and beliefs - shaped me as a footballer. There's a lot of things about this football club that are really good, but this situation is a difficult situation for me.'

Redfearn remained steadfastly loyal to Cellino in public, saying, 'The owner's put a lot of money in and he's got a plan and a vision. It's in its infancy and at this moment it's tough. I'm not speaking for them all, but I think the vast majority realise we've got a new owner and he's got a vision for the club. They realise we've got a young side who are going through change.

'In the conversations I've had with Massimo, he said it was going to take two years for him to put it all together here. He's been in this situation before at Cagliari. He's been in a situation where it was tough. Like I said, it's in its infancy at the moment so it's going to take time.'

He added, 'The lads will want to get a result for Thommo' against Blackburn on 4 April.

The result they got was a 3-0 battering, thanks in no small part to some inept defending from Bellusci. All three goals came after the dismissal in the first half of Rudy Austin for punching a Rovers player off the ball.

The long-suffering supporters stood solidly behind the manager, chanting 'There's only one Steve Thompson/Neil Redfearn' as the Whites went down. Redfearn acknowledged the support with a grateful but grim wave to the Kop.

Two days later, Redfearn blooded another of his young guns, 19-year-old midfielder Kalvin Phillips, away to Wolves.

He earned his promotion after netting a stunning second half strike as the Under-21s blitzed Huddersfield 5-0 in the Professional Development League. His way was eased with Austin suspended and Cook injured. He lined up alongside Byram, Taylor, Mowatt and Murphy in a five-man midfield.

Phillips was involved in a shock opening goal after 11 minutes which stunned Molineux. Kevin McDonald was in possession but was forced back to his own goal line by Phillips' persistent harrying. Rather than attempt to clear up field, McDonald tried to play the ball across the face of his own area. His clearance bounced off central defender Richard Stearman and fell kindly into the path of Taylor, who had the simple task of side-footing his finish under goalkeeper Carl Ikeme.

Nouha Dicko grabbed a first half double and Benik Afobe scored his 29th goal of the season at the start of the second half to restore order for Wolves.

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A 65th minute own goal from Danny Batth gave the home side the jitters and Alex Mowatt cashed in on their nerves to fire Leeds level before substitute David Edwards pounced two minutes from time to complete a pulsating 4-3 victory for the home side.

On his day to savour, Phillips said, 'It felt brilliant and it's an honour to put the white shirt on for the first-team.

'I thought we were really unlucky with the result, but my debut has given me a lot of pleasure for the rest of my life.

'I thought it went alright. I could have kept the ball a little bit better, but I was getting cramp towards the end of the game. I was surprised not to be subbed to be honest. I was knackered! But I thought I did quite good. I could hear the fans every single minute.'

Redfearn felt his decision to start Phillips was thoroughly vindicated, beaming, 'Kalvin had a great game, to say it was his debut. I thought it was a great debut. Kalvin's been ready for a while. It wasn't if, it was when. Why not today? He's playing in front of a good crowd, on the telly. He can show people what he's about and I thought he did.'

The coach added, 'I can see things coming together. On the pitch and on the training ground, I can see these young lads blending and finding their feet. I can see the seniors buying into the philosophy of what we are trying to achieve and I can see the overseas lads integrating…And I can see it getting better and better.

'I'm tough enough to deal with being in charge of Leeds United. I think that's important and I think people are perhaps seeing that. I also know that it's a great club that is just starting to get to its feet and I think perhaps the football world are realising that.

'For the first time in a long time, this club is together on the pitch and in the stands. For me, you want to be about it because you want to be involved with something that's going to be successful and I honestly believe that this football club in the next couple of seasons can be really successful.'

Phillips kept his place and scored in the next game at home to Cardiff, popping up to fire home from eight yards after Taylor's lofted ball into the area found him unmarked. It wasn't enough to prevent the Bluebirds winning 2-1 after comical defensive errors by Bellusci and Bamba.

United fell apart after the departure of Thompson, losing five games on the bounce. Away to Charlton, Redfearn had to contend with the rebellion of the 'Sicknote Six'. Doukara, Silvestri, Bellusci, Antenucci, Del Fabro and Cani all cried off, complaining that they were injured.

The six were all Cellino's men rather than Redfearn's. Berardi arrived in the same manner, but pointedly travelled to Charlton, admitting later to The Square Ball that the injuries were a fabrication. 'A few players had a few problems, they had injuries,' Berardi said. 'The other ones had a problem with the manager, so they took the decision. I don't want to say names.'

Amid accusations that the players had gone 'on strike', Cellino insisted he had nothing to do with the events.

Redfearn saw the entire episode as Cellino undermining him, as he had earlier with McDermott. Leeds lost the game and strains of 'We want our club back', 'Sell the club and f*** off home' and 'Massimo, time to go' poured often out of the packed away end.

The manager bemoaned the lack of clarity about his future as rumours emerged that Cellino would replace him.

Cellino's return to resume control at Elland Road was via a remarkable press conference on 14 May. Cellino launched a blistering attack on Redfearn, describing him as 'weak' and 'a baby…He tried to play the fans against me to keep his place. Do you think that Neil Redfearn loves Leeds more than me?

'The next coach, or Neil Redfearn, whoever is to be the coach, I cannot wait more. I have to take the decision because we are late. We are already late. Who put Redfearn in that position? Me. Who wants Neil to succeed more than anyone? Me. It was my choice. I took the risk but I don't know what's happened in the last ten games. No-one called me.

'As a man I tell you I am sorry because I like him. In the club you have to take decisions. I don't need to justify my decision. I need to choose the best coach for this club. Is Neil the best coach for the club in the future? He's not expensive. He's from here.

'Then I ask myself are you sure that you aren't thinking Neil is good because you are a coward with the fans because you won't change it? I have to find the right coach for this club and not because I want to please the fans for 15 days and not because I'm worried someone will tell me "Cellino, it's time to go." You don't want to change it. We have an option with Neil Redfearn for next season. We are engaged with Neil that if he isn't chosen for the first-team, he gets back his position in the Academy. That's what he asked.

'Last year I was rushing. Now I have time and this decision is important because we have to build the team for next season. The decision should not be for the short term because decisions for the short term are dangerous.

'If the coach is bad, it is my mistake. I have made mistakes, a lot of mistakes because I make all the decisions.'

Cellino questioned Redfearn's relationship with the fans, claiming that it took more than passion to run a successful football club. A case of pot calling kettle black?

He furiously claimed that Redfearn had 'challenged him' by saluting the Leeds supporters.

The Italian claimed the credit for Charlie Taylor's emergence and revealed he sold Stephen Warnock to Derby County 'without telling' Redfearn, seeking to play down Redfearn's reputation as a coach who favoured blooding young players.

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Cellino said he had first become aware of Taylor's talent while the 21-year-old was playing in the League Two Play-Offs on loan at Fleetwood Town and nearing the end of his deal at Elland Road.

'Darko Milanic and Neil Redfearn did not [play] Charlie Taylor. I was watching this boy that made his choice to stay in Leeds. He could take more money to go to another club, but he chose to stay in Leeds and nobody gives him a chance to play.

'Then I had occasion to sell Warnock. I did it without telling Neil Redfearn or anyone. Two games after, Neil came and said, "Massimo, he's bloody good Charlie Taylor."

'Sometimes there's not one coach in the world I know that likes to play young players. No-one. They prefer experienced players and stronger players, mentally and physically. When they are p***ed off with someone they go for the young player. Not one of those [coaches] is different but I'm here to protect those [players]. I don't play young players because I want to sell them. I act in a different way.'

Cellino said that 51% of United's survival was owed to the form of Mowatt and Cook but went on to vent his anger at the cost of the Academy, saying the wage bill for young players there amounted to £1.2 million.

'No way in the world you pay those Academy wages. I ask, "Why are we paying that?" And they tell me because otherwise they can go to someone else.

'We have a problem. We have a good player from Leeds, he's been here from nine years old and is nearly 16 now. Apparently one team from Manchester is coming to take the player. I might start the Academy at 16 years old because if we do the work and then they go to Manchester because they have a couple more pounds than Leeds, that's really wrong.

'But here we have big luck because in Leeds they grow beautiful players. Not because we are good but because it's DNA. The thing that makes me proud, different to Cagliari, is that players there say, "We want £1,000 or we go away." In Leeds, it's not like that. That's something I'm proud to say.'

Redfearn had the support and affection of the supporters, something that Cellino coveted and he could never forgive him.

Returning executive director Adam Pearson asked Redfearn to meet him and confirmed that Cellino was looking for another manager.

Redfearn said, 'I'm not stupid. Just make him be right with me.'

Redfearn met Pearson at Thorp Arch. 'There was only the groundsman and another car and Uwe Rosler was in there.'

Rosler expressed his sympathies and Redfearn answered, 'It's not your fault, mate, you're just a pawn in the game, like me.'

There was almost universal condemnation of Cellino's decision to replace Redfearn. The coach had endeared himself to players and supporters alike and professionals outside Elland Road were unanimous in their support for him.

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

After eleven years in the job, Lucy Ward, Redfearn's partner, was sacked for 'gross misconduct'. She won an unlawful dismissal and sexual discrimination case against the club.

Cellino's lawyers dismissed her as a 'controlling' woman but the club was ordered to pay £290,000 in damages.

Ward always spoke her mind in Cellino's company and that earned her respect which made their working relationship tolerable. Then he decided to sack Redfearn, Ward's partner, and decreed she must also go because he saw them as 'a pair'.

The tribunal found that Ward was sacked on a pretence.

'I don't think it soured things for me, but it was disappointing,' said Redfearn. 'I was coaching there for eight years and, in the time I was there, you saw a lot of quality players come through and I was very proud of that…I was a Leeds United supporter as a kid, it's a great club and I enjoyed my time there. There aren't many people who can say they managed their boyhood club.'

Part 1 Watermelons - Results, table and transfers