MIDDLESBROUGH v QPR THREE IS MAGIC NUMBER Warnock and ‘lieutenant’ duo are determined to save Boro
AT a combined age of 189, you would have thought the oldest football swingers in town would have had enough.
But Neil Warnock, 71, Kevin Blackwell, 61, and Ronnie Jepson, 57, are refusing to go gracefully and will today continue their latest assignment – making sure Middlesbrough remain in the Championship.
They are up against one of their many former clubs – QPR – at the Riverside after a win and a defeat in their first two games in charge.
Before the call came from Boro chairman Steve Gibson, manager Warnock was enjoying life in Cornwall, assistant Blackwell was building a new kitchen, and coach Jepson was preparing for a trip to Wembley with Northampton.
Suddenly, all their best-laid plans were binned, though Jepson enjoyed watching the Cobblers reach League One on Monday at Exeter’s expense in the promotion play-off final.
By then the trio had already collected three points with a 2-0 win at Stoke on Saturday – only for their wings to be clipped with an agonising defeat in added time to fellow strugglers Hull City on Thursday evening.
Blackwell, who was once signed by Warnock as a keeper for Scarborough back in 1986, knows what makes him tick.
“His man-management skills are second to none,” said Blackwell. “He is a master at getting people to play for him.
“I believe we get jobs because we all know what we’re doing. We never complicate things.”
But Blackwell (right, above) insists strong-willed Warnock, who has dubbed himself the Red Adair of football for his numerous rescue acts, doesn’t get things all his own way.
“Neil respects that I have my opinions as well and he knows
I’m not afraid to have my say. Our record together suggests that we are on the right lines,” he added.
“If there is a big decision to be made, it’s made quickly – there is no messing about.”
Blackwell, who has at times
MARK WARBURTON will not throw in his QPR youngsters just for the sake of it.
The Rangers boss is reluctant to play the likes of Faysal Bettache, Joe Gubbins and Aramide Oteh, despite losing three games.
Warburton (left) said: “We need to develop our young players at the right pace. There is a clamour to throw them in, but the damage that can be done by throwing a player in too soon is huge.” had to cut the ties between them to manage Leeds United, Sheffield United, Luton and Bury, admits it was a no-brainer to join Warnock on Teesside.
“I think we were all surprised when Boro came calling – it was really out of the blue,” he said. “I’d spent much of lockdown doing jobs around the house, including building a new kitchen. But that can wait. This was too good a job to turn down.
“Already Neil has made a big impression. He is great to have around the training ground.”
And Jepson (left), the junior partner of the triumvirate, couldn’t resist another Warnock-inspired challenge, even though he was deeply involved with League Two Northampton’s promotion play-off push under Keith Curle.
Within 24 hours of helping them into the final, he was off with Warnock, who admitted: “I need my lieutenants.
“Everywhere we have been we have worked together.”
So Warnock’s love of gardening and fishing in Cornwall is on hold for now.
There is still much work to be done for the golden oldies.