I know people will see me as a DINOSAUR but I’ll win over Aberdeen fans
Warnock brings an old-school style to Dons but relishes fresh challenge
When you kiss the badge, you mean it at Aberdeen
IT was standing room only at Cormack Park yesterday as Neil Warnock was unveiled as Aberdeen’s new manager. Having started out in management 44 years ago with Gainsborough Trinity, the 75-year-old brings unrivalled experience to the interim role as the Dons seek to salvage their season while the search for Barry Robson’s permanent replacement begins.
While Warnock’s record as a manager — an unequalled eight promotions in England across 16 different clubs — is the reason Aberdeen hired him, his charismatic personality seems set to illuminate Scottish football in the coming months. Mail Sport’s JOHN McGARRY was present to hear what the plain-speaking Yorkshireman had to say on his first day in the job.
Why have you agreed to take the job on?
‘It’s been a long time coming managing in Scotland. I’ve always wanted to manage up here.
‘It didn’t come out of the blue, but it’s just… when you get to my age, you think twice about whether the chance would come. I’ve had that many retirements, haven’t I?
‘I applied for the job once years ago and never even got a reply, which I felt let down about really at the time and I used it a little bit to motivate myself. I thought: “I’ll show them what they’re missing” and managed to get promotion that following year.
‘I know it’s a long way. Sharon, my wife, said: “Aberdeen?!”, you know?
‘But it’s not for the money — I’ve had some good offers in the last six-eight weeks.
‘It’s just I’d like to have a go in this league and I’d like to have a go with a club like this.’
What do you think is realistically possible in four months?
‘If the players give me everything here — I’ve got goosepimples now telling you — I’ll man their corner. They’re the type of players I love.
‘I’ll be disappointed if people pull out of tackles, headers, and they don’t stick with their men, or centre-halves try dribbling when they shouldn’t do.
‘But the days have changed when you can go off like I used to do, so you’ve got to try to do it in a right way — but I want the pride back now.
‘Aberdeen’s one of those clubs for me where you kiss the badge and you mean it. Not like the Premier League, where they kiss the badge and they’re off next week, and never have a reunion or anything like that.
‘So, it’s an opportunity. The potential’s anything. I know money’s vital, but I don’t think any of my promotions or successes has been down to money, and don’t think I’ve ever had a team with the best wage bill in the league — usually they’re in the bottom half with their financial situation.
‘It’s amazing what you can do with a group of lads if they believe and commit themselves to what you want them to do.
‘I like to think that’s my strength: getting the best out of the players who are here.
‘In the games that’s left, I want to try to do as well as we can and that includes the cup competition.’
How will you operate?
‘I get called a dinosaur and all sorts of names — some I can’t repeat — but in my career as a football manager, from start to finish, nothing’s changed in that, to be successful in management, 90-95 per cent is man management.
‘You can have all the diplomas and coaching certificates and everything, you know. You want to try to win games.
‘A r s e n e Wenger changed the whole concept by bringing in the nutrition and you name it, and a lot of clubs are driven with stats now, aren’t they? But I like judging things with my own eyes and having a look.
‘There will be players who have been bombed out, who aren’t really getting games, who’ll come into the fold.’
How will you win over those fans who are sceptical about the appointment?
‘I like making people smile. I like coming into a club and meeting everybody really. I’ve just met the cooks, they’re very important to me, as I’m quite hungry at times.
‘It’s good — we can have four months now and the only pressure on me is I want to win. I can’t see me getting the sack in four months.
‘So, I’ve got to try to enjoy it and make the fans enjoy it.
‘Looking at the fans’ comments, there’s 50 per cent want me and 50 per cent don’t, so I’ve got to convince the other 50 per cent to enjoy it while I’m here. ‘I know it sounds silly, at my age, but I’m quite excited. That’s how I am, that’s why I come back to football and get to
grips with things.’
What about the suggestion that you are a Rangers fan?
‘I’ve always had good fun when I’ve worked on talkSPORT with Alan Brazil and Ally McCoist. Ally is very nice — I’m a big fan of Ally. But we’ve always taken the side of Rangers due to Alan Brazil with his Celtic connections in there.
‘But I’ll be hoping we can get a victory on Tuesday night as always. Because once I’m in a club, I’m in there lock, stock and barrel.
‘I’ve already had three or four messages from my mates down there who are Rangers fans. I’ve been to a few games down there. That’s why I do get tainted with that.
‘The hospitality was superb. But I wouldn’t mind beating them.’
Can you explain your affiliation with Morton?
‘My wife’s grandparents came from Dunoon, so we’ve had a log cabin there since 1990 and then we built a house. We just love it there.
‘I’ve always loved coming up to Dunoon and going over to watch some of the games.
‘We’ve got bricks on the wall at Morton. It’s a nice little ground, isn’t it?
‘They are doing well. I messaged him (Dougie Imrie) the other night after they won 5-0 and said: “It’s a piece of cake this job, isn’t it?”
Do you thrive on your reputation as the man fans of other clubs love to hate?
‘I love that. I’ve been at a lot of clubs.
‘When someone says they don’t like me but they’re glad I’m here, it’s the biggest compliment they can give me, really.
‘If we win at Ibrox the fans will be standing waiting for me outside wanting to lift me up on their shoulders. I know all about how much this game means.’
Which players impressed you against Celtic?
‘I thought in the second half they did well. I thought the full-backs did ever so well.
‘I don’t think you’d get a better finish (by Bojan Miovski) in the Champions League let alone Scottish football.
‘It was an unbelievable finish, wasn’t it? I thought the lad Killian Phillips did well for his first game.
‘I rang my mate at (Crystal) Palace and he told me I’d like him as he was my kind of player. He runs all day and works hard. I thought the subs did well when they come on.
‘It just showed you, when they have that little bit more belief, that they can give a good account of themselves.
‘I’ve got my opinions from the game at the weekend. I’ve told Peter Leven what I’m thinking and he helped me on one or two.’
Alex Ferguson’s achievements at this club are legendary. Have you had a message from him yet?
‘Not yet, no, but we’re not really on (each other’s) Christmas card lists if I’m honest — but I don’t think we should go into that, because he’s a legend up here, isn’t he?
‘I don’t think we’ve spoken since the (Carlos) Tevez situation (the striker relegated Warnock’s Sheffield United in 2007 despite the transfer having breached dual ownership rules).’