Former Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock reveals he was once offered the Sheffield Wednesday job as he prepares to face The Owls with Middlesbrough

Warnock’s Middlesbrough side will host Wednesday this weekend, a game the Boro boss is looking forward to given his Sheffield United connections.

Wednesday are in desperate need of a win and four points from safety with three games to go in the Championship.

In contrast, Boro, who sit 10th in the table, have little to play for in terms of their divisional status for next season, yet the Teessiders did beat relegation-threatened Rotherham 2-1 last time out.

“I did notice a difference the other night,” Warnock told BBC Tees. “I thought the dressing room and the atmosphere was really good, and I want the same.

"I want us to enjoy coming in, getting changed, going out. Alright, there is not that edge because we can’t do one or the other, so as a manager you just don’t know what that means for certain players.

"From my own point of view I’m glad it’s Sheffield Wednesday because that’s always the game I look for in the calendar, when do we play Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough, when do we play them at home.

"I’m just disappointed there are no fans in because obviously the Wednesday fans give me a rousing applause when we play against them,” Warnock laughed.

When discussing Wednesday, the Boro boss went on to say: “I nearly took over there you know. Milan Mandaric offered me the job on the Friday night and I said listen you have the weekend to think about it Milan and ask your chief executive what they think about it and let it out in the press. I said if you still want me next week I’ll take over.

“On the Monday he said ‘oh yes I see what you mean Neil’ but in fairness to the Sheffield Star they did a poll and I think it was 60 per cent said they have me which I thought was good.”

Boro defender Grant Hall is a doubt for the game after he was forced off with a head injury against Rotherham.

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