October 27 2008

Neil Warnock

The latest news from Selhurst Park seems in tune with the world in general... unremittingly bleak, according to Jamesey.

On a wonderfully sunny and crisp Monday morning, with the global recession deepening daily, comes the news that CPFC manager, Neil Warnock, intends to retire and live in idyllic bliss in Cornwall come the summer of 2010.

As one who took early retirement at 60 myself, I have a lot of sympathy with Neil's desire for a hassle-free life and an easier regime in the autumn of his years.

The company I worked for encouraged me to go early, not because I was bad at my job, but because the ethos of a younger, fresher management was the order of the day. And it just happens that older, higher-paid employees can often be replaced by cheaper, younger versions, Well, I never.

Assuming that Neil has been correctly reported on The Times website, he feels he has had enough after 42 years in the game.

I just wish he had kept his decision to himself.

So the two most important people at CPFC both want out.

Chairman Simon Jordan has emphatically stated that he intends to be gone by the end of this season in 2009 provided a suitable buyer comes along.

Now, it seems, no sooner has he cleared his desk, he will be followed through the exit door by our manager.

That's not much of an example for the supporters, backroom staff and players to see the people who should resolutely be building for the future are both intending to put their involvement at Selhurst Park in the past.

In common with many HOL members, I was deeply suspicious of Neil Warnock at the start. I had never liked him and thought he was just a loud-mouthed tyke.

However, his admirable management strategy over the past year has won me over totally, so I don't like hearing him talk about retirement.

I must also say that his continued obsession with Sheffield United' s relegation and the West Ham Tevez affair and feuds with Graham Poll and Gary Megson are worrying.

At a time of the season when we are still in the lower reaches of the CCC I would have thought his energies would be far better spent addressing problems here rather than railing against perceived injustices done to the Blades in the past.

Still, nobody's perfect and I would be the first to wish a long and happy retirement to Neil.

But people can change their minds and Sir Alex Ferguson's volte face is the classic example. He decided against going at 60 and went on to win loads more silverware for his club and is still going strong at nearly 67.

In this life, you never know.

Email Jamesey with your comments to jevans3704@aol.com

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