Neil Redfearn, who rejoined Bradford City as lead professional development phase coach, has been appointed.
Ryan Farrell has been appointed to the position of academy head of coaching, and the former manager of Rotherham United and Leeds United will assume leadership of City’s Under-19 team.
Redfearn, a former midfielder who played for Barnsley, Lincoln City, Crystal Palace, Doncaster Rovers, and Oldham Athletic, is back with the Bantams after making 21 appearances in the team’s Premier League debut.
He arrives following a recent spell as assistant caretaker manager at Oldham, where he and Steve Thompson oversaw three wins and three draws in six matches.
A period in charge of Newcastle United’s Under-23s came before the 58-year-old spent two years as head coach of Sheffield United Women between 2020 and 2022—his third job in the women’s game after stints at Doncaster Rovers Belles (2017–2018) and Liverpool Women (2018).
He said, “It feels really good to be back at City. It has been a while since I played here, but this is a fantastic club with a good history of bringing young players through, so it is a great place to be.
“I have gotten good experience from my time at other clubs in similar roles. We have some fantastic young players on our books, and it is a good time to try and bring that talent to the fore, which I am excited to be a part of.
“The experience of having one foot in the academy and another in the first team, as I did at Newcastle United and Leeds United, will help. It is good to have your own identity, and it is always nice to have your own players on the first team.
“It was only a few weeks ago I was on the grass helping out at Oldham Athletic, and this is a challenge that really excites me. This is a big club in its history and tradition, and we want to give these boys the opportunity to kick on and further their careers.”
Head of coaching Farrell said: “This is a really positive appointment and a really exciting time for our academy.
“Neil brings in a wealth of knowledge and experience, which we are sure will have a positive impact on the PDP and the wider academy.
“In bridging that gap between the PDP and the first team, Neil has been there, seen it, and done it.
“He has been in those environments, seen the pathways, and knows what it takes for players to progress from under-18s and under-19s to the first team.
“I am really proud and privileged to be moving up to head of coaching, on a personal note, following on from some great people in Conor Marlin, Martin Drury, and Lewis Nightingale, who have created really strong foundations for me to build on.
“I am hoping to share my experience of being here for a number of years within our academy and to draw on Neil’s experience in the game as a player here and elsewhere, and as a coach and a manager.
“Collaborating powerfully within the academy can only have a bigger impact on our players moving forward.”
City’s head of academy, Mark Litherland, added, “We are really excited.
“We had over 85 applicants for this position, including several former Championship managers, but for me, Neil was the outstanding candidate.
“You cannot buy Neil’s wealth of experience in what he has achieved both playing and coaching, so to have him in the building working with our Under-19s is pivotal for us as a club moving forward.
He is aware of the value of closing the gap between the first team and the young team and youth development.An enormous amount of good work has been done in the past, and Ryan Farrell is now the head of coaching.
“Now that we have established such solid foundations, it is time to expand upon them and move forward.”
In addition, City has used this chance to express their gratitude to former head coach Marlin for his efforts and wish him all the best in his future endeavors. Marlin left the team during the summer to seek a different opportunity.
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