Exclusive: Warnock won over by direct approach of Bates

The 63-year-old, confirmed as Simon Grayson’s successor on Saturday morning, watched from the stand as his new side produced a stirring fightback to beat Doncaster Rovers 3-2 at Elland Road.

Luciano Becchio’s stoppage-time winner meant a happy end to a whirlwind 48 hours for Warnock, who the previous day had flown out to Monaco to meet United chairman Ken Bates and seal a return to his native Yorkshire.

Warnock’s decision to accept Bates’s offer came as a blow to Wolverhampton Wanderers, who had placed him at the top of their wanted list to replace Mick McCarthy, and Huddersfield Town.

Speaking exclusively to the Yorkshire Post in his new office at United’s Thorp Arch training ground yesterday afternoon, Warnock said: “I have never been as popular, which is quite unusual for me.

“Last week I spoke to four clubs (including Leeds), while since then I have also had another couple on the phone asking if I was still available.

“I am not blowing my own trumpet but there aren’t a lot of good managers around and it is difficult for clubs to get the right fit.

“To me, Leeds just felt right whereas when talking to the others there were one or two things that didn’t.

“What I liked when I spoke to the chairman (Bates) was that he didn’t say, ‘Let’s talk about the possibility of becoming manager’.

“Instead, he made it clear on the phone before we even met that he wanted me to come here.

“Where the others wanted to interview me and talk about this and that, Ken just said, ‘We know each other, come over (to Monaco) and we’ll sort things out’. I just thought to myself, ‘That’s how you do business’.

“Having said all that, the biggest thing for me was the fans. It is not the financial situation because I am on a lot less than I was on (at QPR) but instead the potential to work with a 30,000 crowd. The thought makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

“I remember coming to Elland Road when Manchester United played there once and I had never seen or heard anything like it. The crowd was magnificent.

“I have been back a few times to watch games and it always amazes me just how many fans keep turning up no matter how well the team is doing. That is true support.

“The place was rocking in the final 20 minutes on Saturday and you can’t tell me that the players weren’t inspired by that. In fact, sitting here with you in this office 24 hours on, I have got goosebumps.

“Everyone got behind the team and they dragged a win out of a defeat.”

Warnock’s arrival at Elland Road has led many in the game to ask whether two of football’s biggest characters will be able to work together in harmony.

One man who has no such fears, however, is the Leeds manager. He said: “I have always got on well with Ken, right from when we first met to discuss the Chelsea job (in 1991 when Warnock turned down Bates’s offer to stay at Notts County).

“When Sheffield United won 4-0 at Elland Road (in 2005), I went to see him (in the boardroom). Then, when Leeds beat my Crystal Palace team 4-0 a couple of years later I went to see him again.

“I thought I owed him that bit of happiness. Things like that, he appreciates. I am not someone who just pops up when things are going well.

“When I took over at Crystal Palace, the headlines were all about how me and Simon Jordan couldn’t work together. But we did.

“The thing about the chairman is that I think he does a lot of good things. That is not me trying to creep round him and there will be times when I’ll have to tell him what I feel is right for the club and he’ll have to listen.

“But we have that relationship where he respects me and I respect him.”

After seeing how Doncaster were able to capitalise on United’s defensive frailties, Warnock is looking to bring in at least one signing before the weekend visit to Portsmouth.

He is, however, also keen to stress that every member of his squad will start with a clean slate.

The Leeds chief added: “I have worked with Leigh Bromby and Michael Brown before, while in the past I have tried to sign (Billy) Paynter and (Lloyd) Sam when he was doing well at Charlton.

“There are two or three who haven’t been in the picture recently who know they have an opportunity now. It will be interesting to see how they react to that.

“I think I can get a lot out of Becchio too, if I am honest. I told him before the game, ‘Can you remember how you played against (Warnock’s) Crystal Palace in that (Carling) Cup game?’ He won every header that night.

“He said ‘yes’ so I asked him to do the same against Doncaster. His finish to beat Doncaster was special and I think the fans will see a difference in him, as will be the case with one or two players.”

Meanwhile, the Football Association seem certain to launch an investigation into the brawl that broke out in the tunnel between the two sets of players at the end of Saturday’s derby.

Rovers manager Dean Saunders declined to speak to the media after the game, as did both teams.