Head coach opens up on short-lived spell in charge of Newcastle United

Redfearn and Ben Dawson took charge of the first-team squad last summer following the departure of Rafa Benitez.

The ex-Leeds United manager had just been appointed as head coach of the club’s Under-23 side when he was told to get a work visa for last summer’s Premier League Asia Trophy fixtures in Nanjing and Shanghai.

“I’d been head coach for a week when they said I’d have to go to Edinburgh and get a visa because I might have to take the first team in China,” said Redfearn told the Yorkshire Post. “Soon after Rafa announced he was going.

“The lads at Newcastle were brilliant. They were uncertain times, but they’d got to do their pre-season work anyway, and they were such good professionals who listened and did as they were told.

“They were an absolute pleasure to work with. It was a good experience and a good tournament for us. We took a walloping off Wolves in the first game, but we beat West Ham.”

Steve Bruce linked up with the squad midway through the tournament following his appointment as head coach, though he was not allowed to take charge of the team in China.

“Steve Bruce was a great appointment for me,” said Redfearn, who left Newcastle late last year.

“I’ve always been a fan of Bruce and the team he has around him, and they’ve done a good job there. We were just holding the fort, and I think the supporters knew that.”