Luton manager Graeme Jones believes his Cardiff counterpart Neil Warnock should be treasured as one of the greatest managers the country has produced.
The Bluebirds boss holds the record for the most promotions in English football, with eight, the latest of which came two seasons ago when he guided the Welsh club to the top flight, 19 months after taking over when they were second from bottom in the Championship.
Saturday’s clash at the Cardiff City Stadium will be only be Jones’ second competitive match as a manager, having stepped up from his career as a coach and assistant to take the Town top job in the summer.
Warnock, on the other hand, began managing in 1980 and, despite relegation straight back down to the Championship last term, Jones said: “He is one of the great English managers and he should go down that way. And to have the zest for this beautiful game that he’s got, needs to be treasured as well.
“He’ll be ferocious on Saturday, I know he will, but you have to look forward to that as well. I will be in the other dugout in a different way. I want to win, the same way, but if I could have the same amount of games he’s had I’d be absolutely delighted.
“I’d probably be about 92, if that was the case, but he needs respect, massive respect from the English game.”
Jones also believes that Warnock teams get unfairly tarnished with a reputation as being physical.
“If you’re playing out from the back constantly the opposition will read you, so if you mix it up and go long they’ll get surprised. I think Neil’s teams have always had variety,” said the Hatters manager.
“I think it’s a very, very unfair label to put his door. You can’t be as successful as he’s been and be one-dimensional. And he’s done that over a period of time, so again, I’m going to relate back to that we need to be really respectful of this guy and treasure him.
“We have to give him credit for his desire. I’ve seen him on the side of the pitch, fighting for every ball, challenging his players and the officials. I think he’s 70, and maybe I’m doing him a disservice, but we need to toast him, really. To love the game that much – I’m sure he doesn’t need it financially, he just needs the game, I think – I think it’s a wonderful thing he’s got.
“His promotion record is second to none, so you know what’s coming, and you have to match it. You have to exert your game plan on theirs and see if that’s enough on the day.”
