• The Championship

Leeds begin manager search after Warnock exit

Neil Warnock already said he doesn't want to manage in the Championship again next year © PA Photos

Enlarge

Neil Warnock has left Leeds United with six games to go, after the manager claimed he was not going to stay in the Championship next season.

Leeds have gone without a win in six games and disgruntled Leeds fans chanted "Warnock, time to go'' as central defender Jake Buxton's late header earned Derby a 2-1 win on Monday.

After the game Warnock said: "We are not going to get into the play-offs now so it is a good time to put somebody else in charge until the end of the season. I don't think they should rush into a permanent appointment because there are no outstanding candidates at the moment, but there will be in the summer."

A statement on the Leeds website later read: "The decision has been taken with a view to preparing for the 2013/14 season and Neil Redfearn will be asked to take control of first team coaching until a permanent appointment is made. This may well be after the end of the season dependent on the availability of the club's preferred choice to become the next manager.

"A short-list has already been prepared as Neil was always going to leave at the end of the season in the event that we did not get promotion. However, with availability of suitable candidates changing all the time then we will adopt a flexible approach, so as to ensure that we make the right appointment."

Chief Executive Shaun Harvey said: "We would like to thank Neil for his efforts during his time as our manager and share his disappointment that we could not achieve promotion this season.

"We now need to look to the future and the search for his replacement is underway, for which there is no fixed timescale as securing the services of the right person is the primary objective, so as to give us the best chance of promotion next season.

"We would also like to thank Mick Jones and Ronnie Jepson, who will leave the club with Neil, for all their hard work since coming to the club."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.