Neil Warnock hails current Leeds United unity and reflects on own 'impossible' promotion task

Experienced manager Warnock was brought in by former Whites chairman Ken Bates in February 2012 with Warnock replacing Simon Grayson who was axed with Leeds tenth and three points off the Championship's play-offs in their second season back in the second tier.

United ended up finishing 13th and Warnock then said his side's promotion bid in his first full season in charge was over before it began when the club sold winger Robert Snodgrass to Norwich City the following July.

With Leeds only five points above the Championship dropzone and eight points off the play-offs in 12th, Warnock left the club the following April with the Whites ending up 15th - a finishing position they would occupy for two seasons in a row.

"It was a really frustrating and disappointing time for me because I knew how big a club it was," said 71-year-old Warnock, now manager of Middlesbrough and speaking as part of a 'Fall and Rise of Leeds United' documentary on Sky Sports.

"I was just putting fires out.

"When we sold Snodgrass we had no chance of going up and I'd never been at a club where I thought we had no chance of going up.

"It was good to go and see what kind of club it is and how big it is but the fans really have been short changed really over the years.

"It's lovely to see everybody together now.

"It was like trying to manage with both your hands tied around your back, it was impossible.

"You couldn't really say anything publicly. You have to bite your tongue really.

"You'd like to tell everybody everything but it's impossible for a manager.

"I was quite relieved to leave if I'm honest at that stage because I couldn't see any future there."

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Thank you Laura Collins