One says they are friends and
the other says they have a professional relationship, but Neil Redfearn and
Steve Evans are in agreement about one thing – they both want to win on
Saturday.
The unlikeliest of reunions
comes when Redfearn’s Rotherham travel to Elland Road to face Leeds now managed
by their former boss Evans.
Both men will have their
personal hellos, goodbyes and thank yous to say, but given the situation the obvious focus on Redfearn v Evans.
Evans has always spoken glowingly
about Redfearn, a man who he first crossed paths with at Boston over a decade
ago, but there has been no pleasantries in the build-up to the clash this week.
“I haven't spoken to Steve
this week,” the Millers boss said. “He's getting on with what he does and I'm
getting on with what I do here.
“Obviously, he'll be as keen
to get the points on Saturday as me. I'm looking forward to the game and
looking forward to us putting a performance on.
“The people of Leeds United
know how I am and they'll know I'll be desperate to win because I was desperate
to win for them.
“I spoke to Steve right at
the beginning, just to say good luck. He said good luck back and that was
basically it.
“We have a decent
professional relationship.
“I knew Steve from the Boston
days when Neil Thompson became manager and I went in as player-coach. I was
just going to coach but ended up having to play all the time because of where
we were.
“You come across people on
the circuit, then time moves on and you see them again.”
Despite talking of a long-standing
friendship, something Redfearn plays down, there could have been a frosty
meeting after the new boss has spoken despairingly about the situation he
inherited at Rotherham.
But Evans insists there will
be a beer waiting for his successor whatever the result at Elland Road.
“I haven’t spoke to
Neil recently but I spoke to Neil when he called me within minutes of being
appointed at Rotherham and we spoke within minutes of me being appointed at
Leeds,” Evans said.
“Neil Redfearn is a
man I have known for a long time and I don’t think I have to say publicly the
respect and the liking I have for him.
“He will arrive on
the team coach as a friend of mine and, win, lose or draw we will have a beer.
“One will be happy
and one will be sad but he will leave a friend.
“I’ve got no doubt
that over a period of time Neil Redfearn will do very well at Rotherham United.
“He represents a
fantastic football club and he works for a great man.”
