Originally Posted by
upthemaggies
Saturday 14th January 1989
Warnock's first column in the matchday programme
Neil Warnock's Team Talk
NOTTS COUNTY are renowned throughout football as the oldest League club and when the chairman offered me the manager's position, I regarded it as an honour to be joining a club with such great tradition. Inevitably, I suppose, I am still in the process of finding my way around and trying to put names to faces but I realise only too well that the settling in period must be brief.
It goes without saying that the No.1 priority is to ensure that Notts County avoid the drop to Division Four and we need to get on with the job of pulling clear of the relegation zone as quickly as possible. In many ways, Meadow Lane is a totally new scene for me and I must confess that it's not easy to recall happy memories of my previous visits. During my playing days with a variety of clubs, I hated coming here because I knew in advance that all I would get from the likes of Brian Stubbs and David Needham was plenty of bumps and bruises. The sooner we can get back to the situation where visiting teams are made to realise they are not welcome (for 90 minutes at any rate), the better it will be - and that's a situation I'm keen to recreate.
No doubt some of you will never have heard of me and maybe you were disappointed that a big-name manager failed to land the job. But I can only ask at this time for help and understanding. I'm not kidding myself. I know that the task I've taken on will not be easy but I assure you that I will be doing everything in my power to earn your respect by giving you something to cheer.
The result at Swansea last week was disappointing but it was a useful exercise from my point of view. I learned a lot from it - and saw much that encouraged me during the course of the afternoon. I was also made aware of certain problem areas and once I've had chance to assess things more closely during the next few weeks, it could well be that I will be thinking in terms of bringing in a new face or two. Having said that, I'm very fortunate to have inherited the current staff and I'm hoping I can give them the little bit of fresh impetus they need at the moment.
In my opinion, the difference between the top and bottom clubs is minimal - maybe even a matter of confidence - and although that's a commodity we were lacking at Swansea, I'm hoping the players will show more belief in their ability this afternoon. Nothing would please me more than to get away to a winning start against Blackpool but I know enough about them to realise that we face a tough assignment. Sam Ellis is an old friend and I wish him well. But he will understand when I say that I want our lads to go out this afternoon and really play to their true capabilities.
We were 20th that day in January, finished the season 9th. Promoted the season after, and the season after that.
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