Neil Warnock reveals his biggest managerial regret after missing out on Sunderland and turning down Chelsea

The 71-year-old, who was appointed at Middlesbrough in June, will take charge of his 1,500th game this weekend when Boro host Barnsley at the Riverside.

Warnock has previously said he was offered the Sunderland job while at Notts County, but delayed his decision due to the Black Cats’ FA Cup involvement.

Malcolm Crosby had taken caretaker charge of Sunderland that season and was appointed permanently by chairman Bob Murray after they reached the cup final.

When asked if he had any regrets during his managerial career, Warnock replied: “Not really. Probably my biggest regret, not Chelsea, I turned Chelsea down, it didn’t feel right Chelsea, the traffic, the motorway, working for Ken Bates, it didn’t feel right at that stage of my career.

“But I should have walked out at Notts County and gone to Sunderland. I just didn’t want to let the players down at Notts County, that’s probably my one disappointment.

“I like Bob Murray, I thought Sunderland was a fabulous club. My assistant Mick Jones was a mad Sunderland fan and that was probably the biggest regret I’ve had in my career not going there at the right time.

“That would have been the right time, but I played with Malcolm Crosby at Aldershot and he was a lovely lad and I didn’t want to jump on his toes.

“I remember saying to Bob ‘wait until you get knocked out of the FA cup and I’ll come’ and they ended up at Wembley!”

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