Durham Women have made a change in the dugout ahead of their home match with Sheffield United next month

Former Sheffield United Women’s boss Neil Redfearn has been confirmed as the new head coach of Durham Women.

Redfearn has been hired as the replacement for Adam Furness, who after a two-year spell as head coach, is now taking on a new role within the football club, according to a club statement.

The 60-year-old, who was born in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, has signed a short-term contract with the Wildcats that will take him through to the end of this season.

Durham Women are currently competing in the second-tier. They sit ninth in the table, but are alarmingly on a three-match losing streak which leaves them level on points with basement side Portsmouth along with Ipswich Town and Sheffield United, who are all at risk of suffering relegation this season.

Redfearn offers Wildcats vital experience

Redfearn boasts over 40 years of experience in football. As a player he made his professional debut in 1982 for Bolton Wanderers before playing for the likes of Doncaster Rovers, Crystal Palace and Watford among others. Overall, he amassed 790 matches in the Football League before venturing into the world of coaching.

His first coaching job came with Halifax as caretaker manager all the way back in 2001. He also took charge of Leeds United during their time in the Championship where he was praised for developing the likes of Kalvin Phillips, Alex Mowatt, Lewis Cook and Sam Byram among others.

Redfearn managed Rotherham United before going into Women’s football for the first time with Doncaster Rovers Belles and later Liverpool Women.

He managed Sheffield United Women between 2020 and 2022, winning 26 of his 59 matches in charge before resigning.

His most recent role was a four-game stint in charge of Farsley Celtic F.C in the National League North.

Redfearn will be in charge of Durham Women’s final six matches of the campaign and will be in the dugout against the Blades for the penultimate game of the season on Sunday 26 April. The match could end up proving pivotal in the battle to avoid relegation.