Warnock says it’s time to move on now

NEIL WARNOCK accepts Cardiff have to move on after the discovery of Emiliano Sala’s body – which he says has brought peace and comfort to the late Argentine striker’s family.

Sala’s body was formally identified by the Dorset coroner on Thursday night.

“While everybody expects the worst, when it happens – and I got a phone call last night – it is strange,” said Cardiff manager Warnock, above.

“But it brings the family peace and offers them comfort – that’s what my wife Sharon said from the start.

“You don’t ever forget things like this and we all have things like this happen in our lifetime.

“You have to move on and put things at the back of your mind.

“There are certain aspects of that for me, having met Emiliano, but the players have grasped that we have to move on and we’ve now got 13 cup finals.” Cardiff owner Vincent Tan expressed the condolences of the club to Sala’s family and said they would continue to work with the Air Accidents Investigation Branch to determine the cause of the crash.

Tan said in a statement: “My deepest heartfelt condolences to the family of Emiliano Sala for their loss. May Emiliano’s soul rest in peace.

“I am personally very sad over this incident. This fine young man would have been very happy and successful at Cardiff City, where he would have made a new home and many friends.

“Cardiff City will continue to work with the AAIB and investigators to find out how the crash happened and to assist Emiliano’s family. We have offered to arrange to take Emiliano back to rest with his family in Argentina. Even though he will be there, his soul will always be in our hearts. We feel a tremendous loss but the biggest loss is borne by Sala’s family. May Sala’s soul rest in peace.”

The club have asked the Premier League to again wear commemorative shirts at Southampton today.

Both Southampton and Cardiff are expected to wear black armbands at St Mary’s and a minute’s silence will be observed before kick-off.

Nantes and Cardiff are involved in a dispute over the money for the Sala transfer, with the French club having demanded that the first £5.27million instalment be paid within the next week.

Cardiff have withheld the first scheduled payment until they have clarified the facts surrounding the documentation of the transfer.

“The least of my worries is the record signing – finance does not come into it from my point of view,” said Warnock.