Neil Warnock managed 19 different clubs over his amazing career, including a 14-month stay at Leeds United from 2012 to 2013.
Prior to Massimo Cellino’s arrival at Elland Road, Warnock managed Leeds for 63 games, during which time Luciano Becchio, Luke Varney, Rodolph Austin, and Tom Leeds played in defence.
For Leeds fans, this is the type of Championship era that has faded into obscurity. Finishes in the bottom half of the table remain consistent. Warnock led Leeds to 13th in the Championship before leaving in 2013.
Ross McCormack was also a member of Warnock’s League Cup squad that advanced to the quarter-finals. A side that defeated Everton in the League Cup and Tottenham in the FA Cup fourth round.
Leeds defeated Oxford United 3-0 earlier this season before falling 5-1 to Chelsea in the League Cup quarterfinals. In this game, Ross McCormack and Lee Peltier were left on the Leeds bench.
Ross McCormack offers a humorous Neil Warnock anecdote in Leeds.
McCormack shares an amusing story on Open Goal about how, in the closing few minutes of the game over Oxford, Warnock turned to the Leeds bench, where McCormack and Peltier were present.
The former Leeds striker explains how Warnock and Peltier agreed to split the latter’s appearance fee if he sent him on for the final few minutes of the comfortable win, which included goals from Austin, Lees, and Sam Byram.
However, because it was in the Cup, the appearance fee did not apply: “We’re in the Cup. It’s like the 91st minute, and he [Warnock] turns around; ordinarily, the assistant would say, “Get ready, Ross. You’re on.”
“Warnock turns around and orders us to move in so we’re all together in the dugout. He asks, “Who gets appearance money?” Except for Lee Peltier, no one raises their hands; Warnock asks, “How much?.” Peltier refers to himself as ‘two grand boss’. He says, ‘Alright, it’s a grand after tax, £500 apiece, I put you on.’
“Pelts walked on laughing for the last minute and that was it. That was Saturday; Monday morning, the assistant says, ‘Pelts, the gaffer wants to see you’. He went through Pelts because he did not receive any appearance fees in the Cup. “So he fined him £500,” McCormack added.
Neil Warnock admitted regret for his Leeds United spell.
Leeds were still a long way from challenging for promotion, and Warnock left the club on the verge of relegation to the Championship. Warnock said shortly after his exit from Leeds that he felt he could get Leeds promoted.
Warnock told The Independent in 2013: “The squad lacked depth and the owners decided against investing which might have helped us win promotion. Leeds are the biggest club I have managed, fantastic fan base.”
Not long after Warnock’s departure, the club was bought by Massimo Cellino and McCormack was told he was not allowed to train at Leeds by the Italian to avoid injury prior to his £11m move to Fulham.
