{"id":3092,"date":"2026-05-02T07:24:33","date_gmt":"2026-05-02T07:24:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=3092"},"modified":"2026-05-02T07:24:33","modified_gmt":"2026-05-02T07:24:33","slug":"i-snubbed-chelsea-to-stay-loyal-to-club-their-next-move-destroyed-me","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=3092","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;I snubbed Chelsea to stay loyal to club &#8211; their next move destroyed me&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_5f510e\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">The veteran Premier League icon was crushed by what happened<\/h2>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37088717\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Neil Warnock in 1991\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37088717.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Neil-Warnock.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37088717.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/0_Neil-Warnock.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37088717.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_Neil-Warnock.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37088717.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Neil-Warnock.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Neil Warnock after leading Notts County to promotion to the top flight in 1991\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Neil Warnock after leading Notts County to promotion to the top flight in 1991<cite aria-label=\"Image: Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Former Premier League boss Neil Warnock once revealed his decision to reject the Chelsea job &#8220;destroyed&#8221; him. His error of judgment felt even more painful after he was sacked just months later.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Warnock, 77, was excelling at Notts County, guiding the club to promotion to England&#8217;s top division in 1991. It was during this period that he received a lucrative proposal from Chelsea, who are once more searching for a manager after dismissing Liam Rosenior, but declined their approach to stay at Meadow Lane.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Warnock later regretted that decision, as County couldn&#8217;t stay in the division and he was sacked in January 1993. He expressed his regret over what might have been the most important appointment of his managerial career.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Speaking on Seaman Says with Betway last year, he said: &#8220;I&#8217;ve never been at a club where I thought we had got to go and try and win the league.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">FOLLOW OUR CHELSEA FB PAGE! Latest Blues news and more on our dedicated Facebook page<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;I have won leagues, but I&#8217;ve never had a team where we&#8217;ve been favourite or everybody thought we should be doing this. I&#8217;ve always had to sort of build it. I&#8217;ve always gone into a club that&#8217;s rock bottom.<\/p>\n<p><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_0548ba\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">FA Cup final referee announced with assistant to make history at Wembley<\/span><\/span><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_0548ba\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">Premier League could trial major rule change after Chelsea vs Leeds incident left players fuming<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;I know it sounds silly but I&#8217;m at Torquay now. I was in the top flight with Notts County. I took them up from the third division to the first, which is the Premier League now, in consecutive years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;I turned Chelsea down, I turned Sunderland down and stayed put. And then they sacked me six months later, and it destroyed me. After what I&#8217;d done, I thought, &#8216;Wow&#8217;.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37088718\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37088718\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.45\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Neil Warnock\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37088718.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_The-Prince-Of-Wales-Opens-New-Road-At-Mousehole-Football-Club.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37088718.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_The-Prince-Of-Wales-Opens-New-Road-At-Mousehole-Football-Club.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37088718.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_The-Prince-Of-Wales-Opens-New-Road-At-Mousehole-Football-Club.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37088718.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_The-Prince-Of-Wales-Opens-New-Road-At-Mousehole-Football-Club.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Warnock was sacked shortly after turning down Chelsea\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Warnock was sacked shortly after turning down Chelsea<cite aria-label=\"Image: Hugh Hastings, Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Hugh Hastings, Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Warnock went on to manage the likes of QPR, Sheffield United and Cardiff City. Yet he&#8217;ll forever be left pondering what might have been had he taken the reins at Stamford Bridge when the opportunity arose.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Since leaving Notts, he racked up another 17 managerial roles in various capacities. So while the circumstances surrounding his departure may have &#8220;destroyed&#8221; his spirit at the time, it clearly didn&#8217;t extinguish it entirely.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37072395\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37072395\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Liam Rosenior waves\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37072395.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_FILE-Chelsea-Sack-Coach-Liam-Rosenior.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37072395.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/1_FILE-Chelsea-Sack-Coach-Liam-Rosenior.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37072395.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/1_FILE-Chelsea-Sack-Coach-Liam-Rosenior.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37072395.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_FILE-Chelsea-Sack-Coach-Liam-Rosenior.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Chelsea are again looking for a new manager after sacking Liam Rosenior\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Chelsea are again looking for a new manager after sacking Liam Rosenior<cite aria-label=\"Image: Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The seasoned football nomad is currently serving in an advisory role at Torquay United, who emerged from administration last year. The club presently compete in the National League South and are set to feature in the play-off semi-finals on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The Gulls are looking to return to the top tier of non-league football, while Notts are set to be involved in the League Two play-offs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><em><u>Join our new WhatsApp community<\/u><\/em><em>  and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don&#8217;t like our community, you can check out any time you like. 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Learn more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_section-container__JMDzM AffiliateContent_content-details__U6C2M AffiliateContent_has-content-img___LY95\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_section-content__QCkL9\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_content-image__FxPNL\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Content Image\" fetchpriority=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article33404045.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s510b\/0_Sky-Factbox.jpg\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_section-container__JMDzM\">\n<div id=\"product-description\" class=\"AffiliateContent_section-content__QCkL9\">\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside <!-- -->Formula 1, darts and golf.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The veteran Premier League icon was crushed by what happened Neil Warnock after leading Notts&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3093,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3092","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chelsea"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3092","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3092"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3092\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3093"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3092"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3092"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3092"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}