Warnock has back-up plan

Warnock's club, who are locked in a £40million survival battle with the Hammers on and off the pitch, will be safe even if they lose to Wigan on Sunday, providing Alan Curbishley's side are beaten by champions Manchester United at Old Trafford.

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That would relegate West Ham, spare the Blades from suing for losses over their rivals' escape from a points deduction and, most of all, save the Premier League from a lengthy court battle over the Hammers' fielding of illegally registered players.

Warnock, still angry that Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez fielded an understrength line-up at Craven Cottage last week in the game that secured Fulham's status, feels sure Ferguson's men will not switch off, despite having the title wrapped up and an FA Cup Final against Chelsea next week to think about.

He said: "I am sure Sir Alex will field a strong side. We're not talking about Liverpool here, but Manchester United.

"No doubt, Benitez will play his strongest side against Charlton now they are relegated."

Warnock, who will be closely following events at Old Trafford, said: "We have to assume West Ham will win. I do hope they are losing 4-0 at half-time but our lads can't change their approach.

"I am sure we'll be taking the game to Wigan and they'll be trying to catch us on the break."

Warnock deflected questions about how he will feel if West Ham stay up, but ominously said he would consider answering them after the game.

"You can only concentrate on your club," he said, anticipating the "greatest achievement of my career if we stay up".

"When I came here seven-anda- half years ago, I said this was my ambition. The club were in such a terrible state that people must have thought I had one foot in the cuckoo's nest.

"Now we have a chance to move up another level and keep our new generation of fans."

Although Warnock is guaranteed to stay at the helm, he revealed that he had rejected the terms of plc chairman Kevin McCabe's opening offer.

He said: "I was offered a two-year contract a few weeks ago but it wasn't acceptable.

"I said to leave it until the end of the season but Kevin wants me to stay and if everything is OK I will do."

As probably the lowest paid Premiership boss, finance is clearly the one sticking point before manager and chairman meet next midweek.

First comes a much bigger number crunch, with so much at stake for Premiership survival. But Warnock's nerves have been soothed by his nine-year- old daughter, Amy.

"I picked her up from school the other day when she'd obviously been talking with her mates.

"She said, 'Daddy, whatever happens on Sunday, I love you loads and the family will always be together'. That put it into perspective."

Bramall Lane talisman Phil Jagielka, who has played every minute of the Premiership season, said: "It helps that there are many scenarios that can keep us in this beautiful division.

"I feel we're in the best position of the three clubs. If we don't concede, we won't go down, simple as that."

Jagielka, who has cancelled the first week of a family holiday to accept his call-up to the England B squad who play Albania at Burnley on May 25, believes Warnock's calmer approach this season has helped his side.

He added: "People were tuning in to see the gaffer rant and rave but they just see him calm and collected — a lot cooler than I would have thought. Maybe his blood pressure is telling him to calm down.

"He's not a perfect angel but he has changed a bit, which has helped himself and the squad."

THE £60M DROP

1. The new three-year TV deal guarantees that even the bottom club receives prize' money of £30m next season.

2. Clubs relegated in 2007-08 will still pick up two annual parachute payments of £11m.

3. Gate receipts and other income is around £10m more than in the Championship.