[LFC1892]

Warnock Bitter over relegation.

Warnock 'bitter' over drop - PA Sport



Photo Getty


Related Stories>>Blades crash out of EPL14 May 2007

//ord=Math.random();//ord=ord*10000000000000000000;document.write('');

Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock admits to feeling 'bitter' over the circumstances surrounding his side's relegation from the EPL.

Warnock claimed the West Ham situation, coupled with the decisions of Manchester United and Liverpool to field weakened teams in recent weeks, made his side's slide harder to take.

But Warnock clearly attempted to rein in the considerable anger he feels over the situation, and said he expected any lingering furore to quickly disappear.

Warnock said: "I am bitter about all the circumstances over the last two weeks really but by Tuesday it will all be fish and chip paper. I have just got to get over that bitterness."

"It is only human to look at the dossier and not understand why they (West Ham) haven't had any points deducted and that is why you do get disappointed."

"But by Tuesday it will all be in the bin and there won't be a big hoo-haa. Sheffield United - so what. West Ham are a big club with big reputations and they've obviously got good solicitors."

Of Sir Alex Ferguson's decision to start the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs on the substitutes' bench as his side lost 1-0 at home to West Ham, Warnock added: "I think I was sold a dummy earlier in the week."

"But Sir Alex has his own reasons and obviously the Cup final was more important to him. But fate's fate. Probably Chelsea will win the FA Cup final and AC Milan will win the Champions League."

Warnock refused to be drawn on his own future and preferred to pay tribute to his players whom he said had proved themselves worthy of their Premiership status.

Describing relegation as a 'gut-wrenching, horrible feeling', Warnock added: "All season we have not made it difficult enough for other teams and given goals away when we have been in good positions."

"They haven't had to work hard for either goal today and we have committed suicide really. The lads have been magnificent and tried their hardest and I couldn't have got much more out of them."

"But it is still very disappointing when you go down because of the thickness of a post."

Wigan boss Paul Jewell expressed his sympathy for the Blades and reiterated his anger at the West Ham affair, calling the time of the Premier League's announcement 'scandalous'.

He added: "The ideal scenario for the Premier League might have been for Manchester United to beat West Ham and some people think West Ham have got off the hook a little bit."

"But I don't want to go down that route. The reason we had to go into the final game to stay up was that we weren't good enough over the 37 games before."

Jewell insisted he had never lost the belief that his side would survive despite starting the day as big favourites for the drop as they had to win to stand any chance.

He added: "I have been in football for a long time and I know when people have some doubts in their mind you have got to play on them."

"Sheffield United didn't have to win today to stay up but we had nothing else in our minds but to win the game. I said to the players, they will be edgy because it is all in their hands."

"I feel like I have just run a marathon. It is a great achievement for a club of our size and we have had to overcome a lot of obstacles."

"People's persona of Wigan is that it is probably the least attractive club in the Premiership so we deserve great credit for being there for a third successive season."