Warnock relishing Coventry challenge

Last updated : 05 September 2003 By Chris Maxwell
The 21-year-old was languishing in the Reds second-string before being handed the opportunity to join former Anfield colleague Gary McAllister at cash-strapped first division side Coventry City.

Liverpool-born Warnock has enthusiastically taken his chance to claim rare first-team experience and admits that he is now ready to accept that his future with the Reds could well be a bleak one.

Warnock said: "I can't emphasise enough how much I'm enjoying it here. Since the moment I joined I've been treated with nothing but respect.

"Coventry is a brilliant club. Just little things like coming in of a morning and having people ask you how you are make a difference. At Liverpool, I was just seen as a kid in the reserves. Here, it's like I'm a grown up - a real first-team player."

"I was a bit shocked when I was told I could come here for a year. Originally I thought it would be three months. I was a bit surprised I didn't get an explanation about why I'm here for so long when it's the last year of my Liverpool contract. I was a bit confused about that.

"But you have to be realistic and it doesn't look like my chance at Liverpool will happen now and I'd had enough of playing in the reserves, waiting for an opportunity which didn't look as though it would ever come.

"I wouldn't be as upset if I had to leave Liverpool now because I'm enjoying it so much here. Football should be all about enjoyment, and it's a long time since I've felt as good about things as I do now.

"Gary McAllister is brilliant to work for. He's got the team playing really good football, but the luck just hasn't been with us.

"If you look at our results you'd think we weren't doing so well. But some of the decisions against us have been diabolical."

"Because I'm under 24, any fee at the end of my contract will go to a tribunal. I hope if Liverpool don't see me as part of their plans they will release me rather than expect Coventry to pay a fee they can't afford.

"Obviously if Liverpool indicated to me they thought my future was there and were going to give me a chance, I'd want to stay."