ONE-TIME York City youth team manager Neil Redfearn is expected to be in the dug-out in caretaker charge of Leeds United at Birmingham tomorrow despite a double-pronged attack from two former United strikers.

Ex-Dutch international Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has declared his interest in the vacant managerial position at Elland Road as has another former Leeds man, goal-poacher Robbie Fowler.

The 42-year-old Hasselbaink, who represented the Yorkshire club with distinction between 1997-1999, is keen to start a managerial career and would like the chance to take charge of the club he classes as one of the biggest in England.

He said: "Leeds United is a wonderful big club where I had two great years. .

"I've got experience, I know I could take the club forward and I know I can take the club back to where they need to go.

"But what do Leeds United themselves want? That's the most important question. How do they see things? At the moment there are so many things going on they need to sort out first, or maybe they have already.

"But if they want to talk to me, of course I would be interested. Who doesn't want to manage Leeds United? It's one of the 10 biggest jobs in the country."

Hasselbaink, who has coached in England with Nottingham Forest before, was a key figure in his time at Elland Road and scored 42 goals in 87 games before being sold to Atletico Madrid.

The Championship club are searching for a replacement for Dave Hockaday, who was sacked by owner Massimo Cellino a fortnight ago after just 70 days in charge. Redfearn, head of youth development at Leeds, has been in temporary charge since Hockaday's dismissal.

Fellow ex-striker Robbie Fowler has also believed to have applied for the role.

Fowler scored 183 goals in 369 appearances for hometown club Liverpool before completing a £12million move to Leeds in 2001.

The former England international failed to hit the same heights at Elland Road and had a spell at Manchester City before a brief return to Liverpool and short spells at Cardiff and Blackburn.

Fowler moved to Australia in 2009 to extend his playing career with North Queensland Fury before joining Perth Glory in 2011. He reportedly applied for the manager's job at Macclesfield in May.