Love is the key BLUEBIRDS BOSS ENJOYING BEING MR POPULAR FOR ONCE
FANS’ FAVOURITE: Neil Warnock has won over Cardiff supporters TODAY’S GAMES
Birmingham v Fulham Bolton v Nottm Forest Brentford v Hull Bristol City v Sheff Utd Cardiff v Reading Derby v Barnsley Ipswich v Midd’brough Leeds v QPR Millwall v Aston Villa Preston v Burton Sheff Weds v Norwich Sunderland v Wolves
NEIL WARNOCK believes his love affair with the Cardiff fans has been the key to his stunning success at the Welsh club.
The Bluebirds must beat Reading at home this afternoon to finish second in the Championship and secure automatic entry into the top flight.
It is a far cry from 18 months ago when Warnock took charge of a club second from bottom and in crisis – on and off the pitch.
Now, as he bids for a record-breaking promotion, the former Scarborough, Huddersfield, Notts County, Plymouth, Sheff United and QPR chief admits being adored by the Cardiff supporters is massive. Warnock, 69, need only cast an eye at under-fire counterparts – in the Championship and Premier League – to realise how lucky he is.
For while Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has been hounded by unhappy fans, he can do no wrong with the Bluebird masses.
It is a feeling that is a rarity for the tough-talking Yorkshireman, whose abrupt style has upset many over almost 40 years. Warnock said: “I am like I am here because of our fans. I don’t know any that don’t like me. “You look at some of the managers in the Premier League – and even in the Championship – and their fans don’t like them. It’s horrible, that. “I couldn’t cope with what Arsene has had to go through at Arsenal but our fans have given me more energy.
“However, if ever they chanted for me to get out, they wouldn’t have to wait long.
“I can’t tell you how many older Cardiff fans have told me how pleased they are with this season – and I love that.
“That’s what we’re in the game for. Everyone wants to be loved, don’t they?
“As a manager, you know you’re going to take the brickbats from other clubs’ fans.
“But I do enjoy making my own fans happy. I feel proud.”
Should Cardiff return to the elite next lined up to do business as long as the club are in the Premier League.’’
Should a deal be done, it will end eight years of Tan at the club’s helm.
Cardiff made it into Premier League under his control in 2013 but that ended in relegation straight back into the second tier 12 months later.
Since then, the £150million debt owed by the club to Tan has been reduced to nearer £70m.
If he were to cash in, Tan would want at least £150m.
Although he has long been keen to offload his shares, he will not do so on the cheap and this summer could be the perfect time to get the sort of offer he would deem acceptable. season, they will be hoping it is a far more enjoyable experience than that of four years ago.
The 2013-14 season was a complete disaster, with the club’s Malaysian owner Vincent Tan and supporters at loggerheads as they went straight back down.
Warnock is confident there will be no repeat of that bad feeling – even if the Bluebirds are unable to survive among the big boys.
He said: “When I came here it was very fragmented so the first thing I did was talk to every department about working together.
“Then I looked at the players and thought, ‘If I can’t do something with you lot, there’s something wrong’. That was my first conversation with them.
“It would be different this time if we went up. I’m not saying we’d stay up but I think we could go into the Premier League enjoying every minute of it.
“But the hardest part is getting there – whether through automatic promotion or through the play-offs.”
Meanwhile, Reading boss Paul Clement insists Cardiff will feel the pressure more than his own relegation-threatened side, who need a point to guarantee safety without relying on games elsewhere.
Clement said: “There’s going to be pressure on both sets of players but maybe more on them because how many times have we seen a team that’s ended up not getting the second automatic spot and then don’t end up getting promoted through the play-offs?
“They’ll know this is their big chance, otherwise they are going to fall into a group of teams where anything can happen.”