NEIL WARNOCK

The report I remember most vividly from school is the one I destroyed before I got home, telling my parents I'd lost it. Three words stood out, and still do: 'Must try harder'.

I would like to apologise to anyone who has put a bet on me becoming the next Scotland manager.

I would like to wish Harry Redknapp the best of luck filling my old seat in the dugout at Queen's Park Rangers. It was one of the achievements of my managerial career getting QPR back into the Premier League after a 15-year absence and I would be very sad to see them go back down after all the hard work the players, staff and myself put in.

The way that I am, most of my time as a manager has been putting fires out and I don't enjoy dealing with chairmen and owners but I know it's part of my job.

Most of the clubs I have had, they have been in a precarious situation when I have taken over and I have had to change it, even going back to Scarborough and all that.

I love the way the Cardiff fans get behind their team, which is why I do that clenched fist action at the end of games. They get really up for the match, I can hear them and I just help offer my own support in return.

I've played for managers who said one thing and did another and players find you out like that. You've got to trust them and they've got to trust you.

People talk about flip charts, tactic boards and other rubbish like that. But the truth is that as a manager you just need to get the best out of the players at your disposal.

People just do not realise what a football life can be. Since 1968 I've never had more than a few weeks out of work, when I left Sheffield United and I have not had a Christmas.

When you're younger, you have three or four bad results and you worry about everything. You worry about injuries, because they always seem to be your best players.

When you're younger, you worry about the sack and getting abuse and things, but when you get to my age, you become less bothered about those things. It becomes more like a hobby and less like life or death.

Oh, I love Cornwall, it's so special. We bought the house when I was with Plymouth Argyle and we've just kept that on and kept modernising things.

However successful someone is in their field of business, and however well-meaning and hard-working, it is difficult to come into football and immediately work out how the industry works, who to trust, what to do. That is the sort of role I think I can fill.

I can't replicate how I feel when that whistle goes on nights like that, knowing you've won it, that people are going home smiling. You don't get that sat on my tractor in Plymouth or doing the shop in Tesco.

I like experience in my side, but you need a balance and young players give you energy, pace and, often, a freshness which means they have no fear.

As I found at QPR, a club in the process of a takeover is paralysed.

Personally I have not encountered racism at matches, or in clubs I have worked in, for many years.

If I want another job, I'll get one. I haven't set a date of when to stop managing.

A few eyebrows have been raised at Adel Taarabt joining Milan. Having worked with Adel for two years, I am not as surprised as most people seem to be. He is a player of immense ability and, if he is handled right, and motivated himself, he can win games at any level.

It doesn't bother me what division I am managing in.

Older readers will remember there used to be matches on Christmas Day. I remember leaving the fireside and the presents to watch matches on the day as a boy but such matches were rare by the time I began playing.

Apparently I have 12 league games to go to get 1,500 and that is really tempting to me.

I enjoy working with players who want to work and I get more satisfaction with that than ready made teams or players.

There's two or three managers I can't stand. I detest them and they know that.

I never thought I'd rather watch England's cricketers batting for a draw than their footballers in the World Cup but it was a lot more exciting.