Thursday 30 October 2014 15:19, UK
Neil Redfearn has claimed he is regarded as the "future of the club" by Leeds owner Massimo Cellino.
Redfearn remains in negotiations with Cellino over becoming the third permanent manager of the season at Elland Road following the sacking of Darko Milanic on Saturday.
The 49-year-old has again been asked to take charge of first-team affairs on a temporary basis ahead of Saturday's trip to Cardiff, but insists he is "very close" to agreeing a full-time contract.
"I had a good chat with Massimo yesterday and we went through one or two things. It's not that far away," said Redfearn, who is currently the head of the club's academy.
"I wanted some assurances from the conversations I had, where he saw me at the club and the club going forward. He said I was the future and I wanted to know if that was still the case. He said 'you are'. I wanted the contract to reflect certain things."
The former Crystal Palace and Barnsley midfielder also confirmed he would be assured of reclaiming his role with the academy if he became another victim of Cellino's propensity for sacking managers.
It's a massive football club with a great tradition and the owner has a desire to make it great
"It seems to be shorter here (a coach's life) but you can spend the rest of your life wondering. You have to go on and make things happen and be positive. There's no let up now," he added.
"This is a massive honour. It's a massive football club with a great tradition and the owner has a desire to make it great (again). I can see that, that's a genuine opinion from me and if I can be part of that down the line it's a fantastic honour. I'm capable of doing it now it's a case of knuckling down and concentrating on the footy."
Redfearn, a lifelong Leeds fan, has been appointed as caretaker manager four times since joining the Leeds academy in 2009, and he insists he would be happy to take on any role at the club.
"I would be happy taking the Under-11s," he added. "Massimo sees me here for the long haul but there are no guarantees in football. If it was as easy as guaranteeing wins we would all be managers.
"It's got to be worked at and earned and I know that as well. The bigger picture is whatever happens needs to be for the good of Leeds United. If it takes me on, great, if it doesn't I will be back with the academy.
"Massimo tells me what he thinks. But I give it back to him and he wants to know. He's strong, but we get on well. He knows I am strong and we have to make it work together."
