Former Leeds boss gives his view on the sale of his former protege.
Two years ago the thought of selling Alex Mowatt was unthinkable for Leeds United, especially to Barnsley.
Last Friday that was exactly what they did, with the deal a result of the midfielder’s lack of progression over the past 18 months.
Leeds’ Alex Mowatt celebrates scoring their second goal
Mowatt’s rise at Leeds ground to a swift halt after his former academy coach Neil Redfearn was let go as head coach and departed the club entirely in July 2015.
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Redfearn gave his thoughts on the sale to TV Yorkshire after Leeds’ 1-0 FA Cup exit at the hands of non-league Sutton United, and appeared to take a subtle dig at the man who replaced Mowatt in the side, Pablo Hernandez.
Redfearn said: “I’d rather have somebody that puts the ball in the back of the net than somebody who nutmegs people.
“I would have persevered with Alex Mowatt. In the right set of circumstances I would have thought Garry would have felt the same. He’s a player who can only get better.”
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Redfearn’s comments indicate that if he was still Leeds manager, Mowatt would be in his team instead of out the door, and that he is not convinced by Hernandez’s silky skills.
Alex Mowatt of Barnsley (C) is shown the red card by referee Christopher Kavanagh
Yet this week the pair enjoyed contrasting fortunes, with Mowatt sent off on his Barnsley debut after just 41 minutes.
At Leeds, Hernandez came off the bench to set up Pontus Jansson’s headed winner against Blackburn, to ensure the Whites remain in the thick of the play-off race.
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