Neil Warnock has announced he will step down as Huddersfield head coach but has vowed to make a return to management and keep going like the Rolling Stones.
Warnock will sign off after Wednesday’s match at home against Stoke but the 74-year-old insists he is not ready to call it a day after more than 1,600 games in the dugout.
“I know I’ve had more comebacks than Frank Sinatra,” he said referencing his many attempts to retire before being lured back into the game. “But if the Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney are still going strong into their 80s, I’ve got a few years left in me yet.”
Huddersfield are on the verge of announcing their new manager as part of a three-year plan to return to the Premier League with former Luton and Southampton boss Nathan Jones is among the favourites to be offered a chance to build on Warnock’s successful seven-month reign.
Warnock returned for a second spell at Huddersfield manager, having managed them between 1993-1995, in February to guide the club out of the Championship relegation zone in an unlikely escape he ranks among his best in a managerial career spanning almost 45 years. He plans to go back into semi-retirement until early next year, when he fully expects a call from another club in need of a fire-fighting saviour to lead them to safety.
“I’m definitely not retiring,” he added. “Some people have said I’m leaving down to health reasons but I’ve not felt this healthy for years. This job has invigorated me and I’m not going out to pasture just yet.
“I’ll take it easy for a few months, I don’t want to do much until after Christmas, I’ll let everyone else struggle and I’m sure there’ll be an opportunity somewhere. I’ll do a spot of fishing and see if I can get on that TV show with Mortimer and Whitehouse if I can.
“I’m sure there’ll be a few fans pleased that I’m going, but they all know we’ve put a good shift in. Who knows, I might get offered £5 million to go and coach in Saudi? I’d have plenty of offers for someone to carry my bags then! You just don’t know what’s round the corner and at my age you live for today.”
Warnock learned of Town’s decision following the 2-1 victory over West Brom at the start of the month. He will receive an emotional send-off at the John Smith’s Stadium as he brings down the curtain on his second spell in charge, and he added: “I knew this wasn’t long-term but I thought I’d be here a bit longer, maybe until Christmas.
“The club wants to go its own way and I say good luck to them. I’ve got a great allegiance to here but we might go somewhere else for a few months later this season if we’re needed. There’s still about 20 clubs I wish I’d managed so you don’t know what’s round the corner but it wouldn’t bother me going back to where it all started at Gainsborough.
“My message to the fans? Think themselves lucky they’ve had me for seven months! Town haven’t told me who my successor is so that means I probably don’t like him. If they’re back in the Premier League in the next couple of years, then it’s been a good decision, hasn’t it?”
