Warnock's ready to face up to his demons

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Feelings run high when Warnock's name crops up but none can begin to compare with those that descended on him last time he stepped on the Bramall Lane pitch seven months ago.

Sheffield United had just been relegated by a cruel conspiracy of their own failings against Wigan and unexpected heroics elsewhere.

Warnock had not seen it coming and there was a hint of the impact as the TV camera circled seconds after the whistle.

The extent of his despair only became clear when he faced up to the press later and likened it to hearing that his mother had died from multiple sclerosis when he was just 13.

It seemed an appallingly inappropriate connection but there were no second thoughts from the outspoken Crystal Palace manager as he prepared to return to Bramall Lane tomorrow and reflected on how childhood emotions flooded back that day.

"I can't remember ever seeing my mum walk because of her MS," said the Palace boss, whose United reign ended soon after losing to Wigan. "She slipped over in the snow while carrying me, before I was born, and the disease seemed to come on six months later.

"I heard one or two people blame the fall so I blamed myself for her situation. She was brilliant, really. I loved her. But I just had a chip on my shoulder about it for many years. All the feelings came back when we were relegated.

"It was that type of pain. I couldn't describe it any other way. That's what came into my head and is why I said it."

While Warnock was conducting that press conference, the mood was no lighter in his office, where actor and United director Sean Bean allegedly stormed in and berated his wife Sharon and five-year old son William.

"That's the big screen tough guy for you, reducing a five-year-old to tears," claimed Warnock in his recent autobiography.

Bean denied the account, but Warnock added: "My recollection is clear. The facts are there for all to see."

Bolton manager Gary Megson and former Burnley boss Stan Ternent top Warnock's lengthy list of sworn enemies, but the 59-year-old played down suggestions of widespread animosity towards him by saying: "It's always the quarrels people want to hear about, but when you boil it down, there are only three or four managers I detest."

His successor Bryan Robson is not thought to be among them, but he may not be too enamoured with a suggestion that United should be better placed for promotion.

"I honestly felt they had the best squad and I still think that," said Warnock. "The disappointing thing is this league is the weakest for years. If you take out West Brom, there's not much in it.

"It will be a strange feeling going back. Though I had my critics in Sheffield, I feel the majority were behind me. The one regret is I didn't have time to say cheerio properly. It will be nice to go back and thank them for a great part of my career but I wouldn't like to see us turned over."

His assistant Keith Curle provided an insight into Warnock's style.

Assessing how Palace have moved to within three points of a play-off place with 23 points from their last 11 games, Curle said: "Those who don't buy into the Warnock way are out. Those who do find themselves in a fantastic working environment.

"That's what has happened with the players. They've bought into it and you can see the results."