Cardiff City v Rotherham United: Paul Warne hoping to earn his own legendary managerial status

PAUL WARNE is the first to admit that Neil Warnock showed him hidden depths during his time at Rotherham United.
Rotherham United interim manager Paul Warne (Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe).Rotherham United interim manager Paul Warne (Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe).
Rotherham United interim manager Paul Warne (Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe).

Viewing the veteran manager from afar ahead of him breezing through the doors at the AESSEAL New York Stadium just over 12 months ago, Warne believed him to be the archetypal “hard taskmaster” who rung every last drop out of his players.

Upon working with Warnock at the Millers, Warne soon found some subtle nuances instead and it left a distinct impression upon him.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

On renewing acquaintances with the Cardiff City manager Warnock, who masterminded the Millers’ remarkable great escape mission in an unforgettable final third of 2015-16, when they went on an 11-game unbeaten run to beat the drop, Warne said: “It was a pretty archetypal Rotherham side who fought very well for him and I learned a lot from him.

“He was different to what I thought; I thought he was going to be a really hard taskmaster, but he was more of a psychologist and cajoled the players.

“He was really good with them and he got the best out them. They wanted to do well for him, but they were also a little bit scared of him because they knew if they crossed him they probably wouldn’t get back in the team again.”

Warne acknowledges that the veteran manager’s feats were something truly special and will be remembered for many years to come.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

While he would love to replicate some of the successes of Warnock at Rotherham, he admits he has some way to go, despite lifting morale and spirits over the past few months during his interim spell in charge.

Warne added: “What he did here was amazing. The achievement is something they will talk about for years.

“I would like to think people (will) talk about me in the same vein, but, at the moment, I haven’t done as well as Neil did.”

Bottom club Rotherham go into today’s encounter 14 points adrift of fourth-bottom Burton Albion, who have a game in hand.

But they have been buoyed by impressive displays in the draw against Blackburn and derby defeat to Huddersfield.