Owners need to make the right noises to keep Warnock at City helm
THERE’S been plenty of times down the years that Cardiff City’s decision to sell John Toshack has been brought up, almost akin to a footballing parable.
The 1970 move of the local lad turned great striker to Liverpool just when the side were threatening promotion to the top flight has repeatedly been a way of describing how the club’s ambitions may not be in tune with the dreams of the supporters.
Back then – and more and often than not in the five decades since – it has referred to the sale of the Bluebirds better players. It’s a struggle to think of when it could be used to sum up a situation with a manager.
And yet this is where it all seems to be heading with Cardiff City and Neil Warnock at present, with the potential modern-day Toshack tale mentioned on a radio phone-in following this latest win – the 11th from 22 Championship games under the manager in question.
Because Cardiff fans have had a taste of the Warnock effect and, certainly not after this biggest win in seven years, cannot fathom a scenario where it shouldn’t carry on into the new campaign. The hope is that there is no Toshack crossroads to come.
All the noises are the right ones at present. Warnock has quietly, respectfully, set out his agenda for some time now, about how he wants to know he will get enough money to have a go at that eighth promotion he has mentioned enough times even players can cite it.
That said, he stressed in the build up to this game that he felt refreshed and he could see himself staying in situ for a few seasons so much is he enjoying life as a Bluebird.
Chairman Mehmet Dalman, before Saturday’s game, said he expects the 68-year-old to be in South Wales next season, although his confidence came with the caveat of the work that must be done to provide the financial platform at a time where the last of the Premier League parachute money is dwindling and forcing the club to come up with other avenues of revenue to support spending.
But just as the win offered another hopeful glimpse of an united future with Warnock at the helm, so too did the beaten opponents remind that Warnock would not be afraid to walk away if he does not feel it’s right.
Warnock also loved being at Rotherham as he led them away from relegation last year despite being six points from safety when he started with 16 games to go. Yet talks over a new deal broke down.
It was all cordial – hence why Warnock showed plenty of sympathy as his side dished out this beating that hammered another nail in Yorkshire side’s Championship coffin – but, with a new contract on the table, he said he “did