Neil Warnock has revealed that he was offered the Chelsea managerial job back in 1992 when Ken Bates was in charge.
Now boss at Crystal Palace, Warnock is preparing to face Chelsea at Selhurst Park this weekend, and he has revealed the conversations he had with Bates back in the early 90s and has admitted that the head-job at Stamford Bridge was offered to him.
The 65-year-old decided to retire from football after his spell at Leeds United, but once Palace fired Tony Pulis, a return to football was on the cards as Warnock eyed another role with The Eagles.
Speaking ahead of the match with Chelsea, Warnock revealed all about his conversations with Bates and that he was offered the chance to manage Chelsea back in the dark days at The Bridge.
“I got the Chelsea job offered to me. Stamford Bridge was falling to pieces but Ken came out with this model of the ground with skyscrapers and hotels,” Warnock told The Daily Telegraph.
“Ken said: ‘This will be it in five years.’ I said: ‘Ken, do you honestly think I’ll be here in five years working for you?’ He laughed his head off. Ken was good company.
“I was tempted by Chelsea but I’ve always been a bit loyal, daft as it sounds. I was at Notts County, I took the lads up from bottom of the Third Division in those days to the top flight in two years.
“It was a miracle really. They all came to see me and their families. So I said: ‘OK I’ll stop here.’ Six months later I got the sack!”
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles
