Warnock 'feels like Bin Laden'

By Paul Holland
March 19 2002

Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock believes he has been branded the "Osama Bin Laden" of football following the abandoned match against West Brom on Saturday.

The "Battle of Bramall Lane" was abandoned with the Blades trailing 3-0 and reduced to six players after three were sent off and two went off injured.

Warnock has been accused by West Brom boss Gary Megson of ordering Michael Brown and Rob Ullathorne to feign injury to force the referee to abandon the match after 82 minutes.

But the Blades boss angrily denied the accusation and feels he has been unfairly criticised since the match.

"The way it has all come out so far, you would think I was guilty of committing more crimes than Bin Laden.

"It's all been one way with the blame loaded against us, while West Brom have been painted whiter than white.

"I have no regrets about anything I did on Saturday - and neither do I have any need to apologise for my behaviour or that of my coaching staff.

"People are asking why I did not substitute Brown and Ullathorne earlier if they were injured.

"The simple answer is I asked Brown if he wanted to come off because he has been carrying a hernia problem for six weeks now.

"He kept on telling me he was fit enough to carry on, then only came off when he aggravated the injury eight minutes from the end.

"As for Ullathorne, he didn't even pick up his hamstring injury until after I had made my substitutions.

"So far, we feel that the allegations have been totally one-sided and that is very disappointing.

"Not that I am surprised by the things Gary Megson has come out with.

"In the last four matches in which we have been in opposition as managers, he has made disrespectful remarks about me and my team," Warnock told the Sun.

The Football Association will announce on Thursday the results of its investigation into the events.

Sheffield United may be fined or even have points deducted, but Warnock has welcomed the chance to put his side of the story across.

"It would be totally unfair if we had points taken off us," insisted Warnock.

"We firmly believe the authorities will not feel any justification to go down that road.

"That is why we cannot wait for the inquiry, so we can put our case."

The source of this article came from bbc.co.uk