Neil Redfearn fronted a press conference this afternoon just hours after the suspension of his Assistant Head Coach, Steve Thompson.

It quickly became clear Neil Redfearn knew nothing of the suspension beforehand and was as surprised as the Leeds United fans by the morning’s events. A statement from Leeds United provided no clarity, only confirmation of the suspension, putting the decision on Cellino’s right-hand man, Nicolas Salerno.

A confused Neil Redfearn said he felt ‘undermined’ by the decision and was now considering his own future in the wake of these events. Thompson is a good friend of the Leeds United boss and their time together has seen a remarkable turnaround in fortunes for Leeds who have climbed clear of a dangerous relegation battle to secure a comfortable mid-table spot.

With no explanation for Steve Thompson’s suspension and given a perceived reluctance by the club to renew the contract of Neil Redfearn, despite the great work he’s done bringing a new generation of youth players into the first team and dramatically improving the club’s form, speculation has taken hold with many positing theories that Thompson’s suspension is nothing more than a move to unsettle Neil Redfearn.

It sounds like wild conspiracy but given the reaction to Brian McDermott’s sacking last year, Massimo Cellino would be reluctant to sack a man who the Leeds United fans hold in the highest regard. If he does – as contract delays may suggest – wish to replace Redfearn at the end of the season and this is part of some twisted game to ease the backlash, Leeds United will have reached new levels of madness.

Elsewhere, The Sun claim Neil Redfearn has been told not to play Mirco Antenucci due to fears he’ll score and trigger a goal bonus, which if true, raises genuine concerns about the club’s financial health.

All of this comes on a day when Leeds Fans LLP unveiled plans for a supporter-led investment scheme to purchase a share of the club. Given the kind of characters this club generally attracts, getting the fans in a position of power (albeit, minority ownership) is long overdue.