Neil Warnock on life self-isolating in Cornwall with his family
The Warnocks are holed up in their countryside home in Cornwall
“Why not start next season at Christmas? What does it matter?"
"The season should be finished the same time for small clubs as well as the big clubs, why do they matter more? "
“I think it’s the wrong decision,” Warnock said. “They could have finished the season whenever this pandemic has finished."
Wednesday 15th April 2020
Neil Warnock first fell in love with Cornwall while managing Plymouth Argyle some 25 years ago.
Now, a quarter of a century on, the 71-year-old football veteran lives in the county full-time with his wife Sharon.
The pair are holed up at their countryside home near Stoke Climsland – which they bought from the Duchy of Cornwall while Warnock was in charge at Home Park – but are only too aware of the dangers of coronavirus, given Sharon’s recent battle with breast cancer.
The Warnocks have two of their children staying with them, are enjoying some long overdue quality time together. But Warnock admits he has to curb the urge to chat with the neighbours.
NEIL WARNOCK:
“Sometimes, we’ll be out walking and we’ll see people we know and we’ll say 'hello' from the other side of the road," Warnock said.
“Sometimes, we just hold our breath when we pass by and it feels like they’re doing the same,” the former Sheffield United manager told the Daily Mail. “None of us want to pose a risk, do we? The vast majority of the time, we’re at home anyway. I cut the grass and feed the ducks and listen to the birds singing.”
Warnock recently tore his hamstring sprinting after the family dog, which in turn was chasing a duckling at the bottom of the garden. The duck was injured, Warnock says, but survived.
In the month of April, Warnock is usually hundreds of miles away from Cornwall, preparing to enter the crucial phase of the football season.
This year, he spotted hundreds of primroses which have blossomed at the top of his garden. The plants flower there every year, Sharon says, but Warnock is never around to enjoy them.
There’s still life in the old dog yet, Warnock says. He left Cardiff City in November, but is only 12 games away from reaching the milestone of managing 1,500 competitive matches. Taking on another job when football finally returns, whether its in the Championship or League Two, is tempting.
But Warnock is worried about the very existence of football. He’s only too aware that many clubs below the top tier are in danger of going out of business because of the coronavirus lockdown.
He has also criticised the decision to expunge the season for all step three to step six non-league clubs, and feels particularly sorry for Truro City, managed by a former player of his, Paul Wotton.
Warnock has been watching Truro since moving back to Cornwall, and has also been spotted at City training sessions.
Truro had been top of the Southern League Premier South Division, and were on a good run of results.
But the opportunity of promotion in his first season as a manager has been snatched away from Wotton.
NEIL WARNOCK:
“I think it’s the wrong decision,” Warnock said. “They could have finished the season whenever this pandemic has finished.
“Why not start next season at Christmas? What does it matter?
"The season should be finished the same time for small clubs as well as the big clubs, why do they matter more? "
“If the Premier League and the EFL did that (cancelled their seasons), there would be absolute mayhem.”
Warnock added: “I enjoyed going to watch Truro play with Paul. I drove into the car park and I said to the guy, ‘is there a space for me?’ He told me I could go anywhere.
“I then saw Paul and he said ‘I left you that one there, team manager'. He still calls me Gaffer.
“I said ‘oh no, that’s you now son'. I enjoyed it, the atmosphere was good, the crowd was good.
“I’m gutted for Paul and everyone there what has happened. I just find it ridiculous.”
All of Truro’s hard work in training and games since last July, plus the many miles going to long distance away games, has ultimately counted for nothing.
“Nobody realises how much travelling Truro, of all the clubs, do, Warnock said.
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