Leeds United all but confirm appointment of Brian McDermott
Former Reading manager set for a swift return to the game
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Your support makes all the difference.Brian McDermott is on the verge of being named the new manager of Leeds United.
The former Reading manager has held advanced talks with the Elland Road outfit and is expected be named as Neil Warnock's successor this week.
Leeds released a statement this afternoon confirming the developments.
It read: "The process of appointing a permanent replacement for Neil Warnock has progressed significantly this week and when all matters are finalised we will be in a position to make a formal announcement.
"Neil Redfearn will remain as caretaker manager until such time when an appointment is made, and he is being kept informed of the situation by the club's board."
52-year-old McDermott was sacked by Reading earlier this year after the Royals struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League after promotion from the Championship the year before.
Since being removed from the club, Reading have performed little better and seem certain to return to the Championship.
Should that happen, the Royals will likely come up against their former manager if the final details of the deal to install him as manager of Leeds can be completed.
However, Leeds' own threat of relegation has not yet been staved off. A late push for the promotion places has turned into a battle for survival. After a run of four straight defeats, with five games to go they sit just five points above the bottom three.
Owners GFH Capital will hope to install McDermott by Friday so that he can take charge of their weekend match against mid-table Sheffield United. With their final two games against promotion chasing Brighton and Watford, securing points as soon as possible is Leeds' top priority.
McDermott, who managed non-league Slough and Woking before joining Reading's back-room staff in 2000 as a scout, has made no secret of his desire for a swift return to management.
The vacancy at Elland Road was made available after Warnock stepped down 10 days ago after defeat to Derby County made a place in the play-off places an impossibility. Redfearn has been placed in temporary charge of Leeds following Warnock's departure.
Leeds will look to McDermott's experience in the Championship in which last season he steered Reading to the title as the Berkshire club won 15 of their last 19 matches to reach the top flight for only the second time in their history.
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