Neil WarnockNeil Warnock all but resigned as Leeds United manager tonight, admitting that he won’t be in charge for the next game and suggesting the club should appoint an interim manager immediately.

A 2-1 home defeat to Derby County was Leeds’ 6th consecutive game without a win and the Elland Road Kop vocally projected their disapproval with chants of “time to go” at the final whistle.

Warnock was late to his post-match interview with Yorkshire Radio, finally taking to the air around 8pm and admitting the play-offs were no longer a realistic aim.

While most fans would concede that Neil Warnock oversaw a difficult period in Leeds United’s history, there’s no getting away from the fact that the team he assembled simply isn’t good enough.

Whether Warnock had the funds to mount a serious play-off challenge is open to debate, but he did bring in an awful lot of players during his spell at Elland Road, very few of which can be considered a success story.

Leeds United start their search for a new manager with the club now closer (on points) to the relegation zone than they are the play-off places. A poll of over 2,000 fans conducted by The Scratching Shed found 36% would like to see Martin O’Neill replace Neil Warnock while 31% said they want Gus Poyet.

Update (21:02) – Leeds United have confirmed Neil Warnock’s departure with Neil Redfearn taking charge on a temporary basis. Full statement here