Warnock back in the big time

Last updated : 17 April 2006 By Richard Brown

After years of failed promotion pushes, hopeless play-off campaigns and a few too many oh-so closes, Neil Warnock has this weekend secured Premiership football for his Sheffield United side, ending the club's twelve-year Premiership exile.

Warnock: 'Ave that
Promotion was confirmed following the 1-0 Good Friday win at Cardiff, with Leeds failing to defeat already-crowned champions Reading on Saturday.

Warnock, who turned down the manager's job at Premiership Portsmouth in December, was man who brought some of the most memorable years of the County's recent history with a side a that boasted the likes of Tommy Johnson, Mark Draper and veteran defender, a now regular under Warnock at Bramall Lane, Craig Short.

During his time here, Warnock lead to the Magpies to back-to-back play-off success, gaining promotion from the Third to First Divisions in straight seasons.

The Magpies' stay in the top flight was, however, short-lived, with the club falling out of the top-flight after just one year, just missing out on becoming one of the Premier League's founding members.

Ultimately, it would not be long before Warnock was to leave the Magpies, resigning from his post over thirteen years ago now; having failed to finish anywhere near the play-off spots as he had hoped.

Regardless, Warnock has kept close ties with the club, and remains a hugely popular figure amongst the Notts supporters, not least for his involvement in severing Nottingham Forest's play-off push of 2003, with his Blades side defeating Forest in the play-off semi-finals.

Warnock's mission, he insists, is not over, with his sights already set on European football.

Heads up, Mourinho; the ‘Mouth of the South' has well and truly met his nemesis.



NCM would like to congratulate the former Notts boss on this tremendous feat.