Judgement call on which manager has had bigger impact

NEIL Warnock has been acclaimed by many as the manager of the season . . . but is his record really any better than John Sheridan’s?

Ex-Athletic boss Warnock (67) saved Rotherham from relegation in the Championship, having taken over from Boundary Park legend Neil Redfearn in February.

Warnock entered the fray with the Millers two points adrift of safety. Six wins, six draws and two defeats later, the club secured their place in the second tier for a third straight season.

Sheridan has had slightly longer in the hot-seat at SportsDirect.com Park, but has also had an energising effect on a side seemingly destined for relegation.

SAFETY

Athletic were five points away from safety when he came back to the club, but nine wins, six draws and five losses later and a 20th straight campaign in League One was assured.

Warnock has been hailed as a miracle worker by the national media. His points-per-game record stands at 1.71, nosing him ahead of Sheridan’s impressive 1.65.

Athletic, though, were even deeper in the relegation mire than the Millers — unbeaten in their last 11 fixtures ­— had been before their well-travelled manager took on his 16th job in a distinguished career in the divisions.

That leaves it as something of a judgement call as to which of the distinguished pair really has had the bigger effect.