• Redfearn left Rotherham United in February 2016 after four months in charge • ‘The women’s game is on a steep upward curve,’ says former Leeds manager

Doncaster Rovers Belles have appointed the former Leeds United manager Neil Redfearn as the Women’s Super League 2 leaders’ new head coach.

Redfearn was formerly Leeds’s head of academy before assuming caretaker charge on three occasions and being named first-team manager on a permanent basis in 2014. After being abruptly replaced as manager by Uwe Rösler six months into the job he returned to his previous role as academy manager. He resigned in July 2015, citing the position as untenable under the former owner Massimo Cellino. He left his role at Rotherham United less than a year later, after four months in the job during which he lost 14 out of 21 matches.

The 52-year-old will succeed the interim coach Kate Rowson after the former Belles manager Emma Coates left the club to join the England set-up in October.

Dick, Kerr Ladies decorate Deepdale with the resplendent tribute they deserve | Suzanne Wrack Read more

Redfearn, a highly respected coach credited with nurturing the former Leeds youngsters Charlie Taylor, Lewis Cook and Sam Byram – now of Burnley, Bournemouth and West Ham United respectively – takes over Doncaster with the team riding high in WSL2, unbeaten in six league matches this season.

“The women’s game is on a steep upward curve and it is our aim to have Doncaster Belles competing at the highest level against the elite football athletes of WSL1,” Redfearn, who made more than 1,000 appearances across a 25-year playing career, said. “I look forward to continuing the good work and working with the players and staff of the club.

“I have been hugely impressed by the players’ buy-in over the last six weeks towards my training methods and beliefs of how the game should be played and hopefully we can keep improving and be successful collectively and individually going forward.”

Faye Lygo, the Doncaster chairwoman, said: “His experience within the game is invaluable and will bring a new dynamic to the team, but most importantly for us he shares our values and visions, particularly surrounding development.”

Redfearn’s first game in charge will be away to the division’s bottom club, Watford, on 7 January.