Neil Warnock: No regrets taking on Leeds United job
Yorkshire Evening Post 18/1/13
By Phil Hay
Neil Warnock admitted today that managing Leeds United was proving to be one of the most difficult jobs of his career – but claimed he had no regrets about stepping into the post 11 months ago.
The 64-year-old reflected on his position at Elland Road after a week in which he faced up to a grim defeat at Barnsley, open criticism of him by United’s supporters and doubts about the future of the club’s leading goalscorer, Luciano Becchio.
Warnock took charge of Leeds in February of last year, replacing Simon Grayson and accepting the remit of winning promotion this season, but that target appears remote with United five points adrift of sixth position after 27 matches.
His time as manager has coincided with the protracted takeover of Leeds by GFH Capital – a deal which took seven months to complete and left Warnock short of funds in the summer transfer window – and increasing unrest among the club’s fans provoked chants of ‘time to go’ against him after Leeds capitulated to Barnsley last weekend.
The former Sheffield United and QPR manager remains hopeful that new signings made before the end of January will sustain his squad’s attempt to qualify for the play-offs but Warnock appears to have little expectation of finalising further deals before Saturday’s game against Bristol City.
“Over the years I’ve had one or two interesting jobs that haven’t been easy,” he said. “I’d put this in that category.
“I’ve had more takeovers than just about any other manager, three out of the last three clubs I’ve been at, and to keep the ship here sailing as it is isn’t an easy job.
“There’s a lot more involved than people realise and that’s why I always say that all you can do is your best.
“But I think it needed someone with my experience to steady the waters here. I don’t know how a younger manager would have coped with everything.
“All managers are expected to deliver. It goes with the territory. But all you can do is your best.
“That’s what I set out to do this season. I can honestly say that it hasn’t been one of my easiest jobs but it’s one I wouldn’t have resisted.
“It’s a fabulous club and I still think the majority of supporters are behind me. You always get a few who aren’t but that’s only natural.
“They’ve had so many promises over the years and they’re frustrated.”
Warnock avoided further protests from the stands during Tuesday’s FA Cup replay at Birmingham and a 2-1 win went some way to atoning for a performance at Barnsley which United’s manager described as “abysmal.”
“Let’s be honest,” he said, “if you went to Barnsley and then paid to go to a cup tie at Birmingham, that takes real hardcore fans. I think the hardcore fans are totally behind us and 1,500 turning out on a night like that deserved a pat on the back. It was great to get a result for them.”
GFH Capital’s buy-out of Leeds’ chairman Ken Bates on December 21 came with a promise of funding for Warnock, though new club director Salem Patel warned that the Dubai-based firm did not plan to spend “crazy money” this month.
United have completed a limited amount of business this month, sealing the permanent signings of Michael Tonge and Ryan Hall, extending Alan Tate’s loan from Swansea City and bringing England Under-21 international Ross Barkley in from Everton until February 12, but Warnock hinted at little significant progress this week ahead of Leeds’ final league match before the closure of the window.
Warnock, who claimed prior to the window that United’s prospects of reaching the play-offs depended entirely on the investment made in his squad this month, said: “I don’t want to give any speculation. We’re trying to get the targets and we’ll have to see. The January window’s a nightmare because you just don’t know what’s around the corner.
“I saw that bad injury to Tottenham’s midfielder (Sandro). He’s had a cruciate operation. They were going to do two or three deals with midfielders going out but they may have to rethink and keep another one now. You never know in the window.
“We’ve shown in a lot of games that we can beat anybody but we’ve also shown that we can lose to anybody. The consistency at the top of the league means we are where we are and that’s why we’re looking for two or three players to move us up towards the better clubs. That’s what I’d like.”
By Phil Hay
Neil Warnock admitted today that managing Leeds United was proving to be one of the most difficult jobs of his career – but claimed he had no regrets about stepping into the post 11 months ago.
The 64-year-old reflected on his position at Elland Road after a week in which he faced up to a grim defeat at Barnsley, open criticism of him by United’s supporters and doubts about the future of the club’s leading goalscorer, Luciano Becchio.
Warnock took charge of Leeds in February of last year, replacing Simon Grayson and accepting the remit of winning promotion this season, but that target appears remote with United five points adrift of sixth position after 27 matches.
His time as manager has coincided with the protracted takeover of Leeds by GFH Capital – a deal which took seven months to complete and left Warnock short of funds in the summer transfer window – and increasing unrest among the club’s fans provoked chants of ‘time to go’ against him after Leeds capitulated to Barnsley last weekend.
The former Sheffield United and QPR manager remains hopeful that new signings made before the end of January will sustain his squad’s attempt to qualify for the play-offs but Warnock appears to have little expectation of finalising further deals before Saturday’s game against Bristol City.
“Over the years I’ve had one or two interesting jobs that haven’t been easy,” he said. “I’d put this in that category.
“I’ve had more takeovers than just about any other manager, three out of the last three clubs I’ve been at, and to keep the ship here sailing as it is isn’t an easy job.
“There’s a lot more involved than people realise and that’s why I always say that all you can do is your best.
“But I think it needed someone with my experience to steady the waters here. I don’t know how a younger manager would have coped with everything.
“All managers are expected to deliver. It goes with the territory. But all you can do is your best.
“That’s what I set out to do this season. I can honestly say that it hasn’t been one of my easiest jobs but it’s one I wouldn’t have resisted.
“It’s a fabulous club and I still think the majority of supporters are behind me. You always get a few who aren’t but that’s only natural.
“They’ve had so many promises over the years and they’re frustrated.”
Warnock avoided further protests from the stands during Tuesday’s FA Cup replay at Birmingham and a 2-1 win went some way to atoning for a performance at Barnsley which United’s manager described as “abysmal.”
“Let’s be honest,” he said, “if you went to Barnsley and then paid to go to a cup tie at Birmingham, that takes real hardcore fans. I think the hardcore fans are totally behind us and 1,500 turning out on a night like that deserved a pat on the back. It was great to get a result for them.”
GFH Capital’s buy-out of Leeds’ chairman Ken Bates on December 21 came with a promise of funding for Warnock, though new club director Salem Patel warned that the Dubai-based firm did not plan to spend “crazy money” this month.
United have completed a limited amount of business this month, sealing the permanent signings of Michael Tonge and Ryan Hall, extending Alan Tate’s loan from Swansea City and bringing England Under-21 international Ross Barkley in from Everton until February 12, but Warnock hinted at little significant progress this week ahead of Leeds’ final league match before the closure of the window.
Warnock, who claimed prior to the window that United’s prospects of reaching the play-offs depended entirely on the investment made in his squad this month, said: “I don’t want to give any speculation. We’re trying to get the targets and we’ll have to see. The January window’s a nightmare because you just don’t know what’s around the corner.
“I saw that bad injury to Tottenham’s midfielder (Sandro). He’s had a cruciate operation. They were going to do two or three deals with midfielders going out but they may have to rethink and keep another one now. You never know in the window.
“We’ve shown in a lot of games that we can beat anybody but we’ve also shown that we can lose to anybody. The consistency at the top of the league means we are where we are and that’s why we’re looking for two or three players to move us up towards the better clubs. That’s what I’d like.”