'Delighted' - Ex QPR, Leeds United and Crystal Palace manager lands curveball new job

Former QPR and Leeds United manager Neil Warnock set the internet alight on Tuesday night as a new role at National League South side Torquay United was confirmed on social media platform X.

The 75-year-old is involved in the club after a recent takeover saw the Bryn Consortium, made up of local businessmen, buy the club. Warnock managed Torquay in 1993 and has been advising the consortium in bidding for the club, which had been in administration.

Warnock took charge of 16 different clubs across an impressive 44-year career in management. His last post was a short stint with Aberdeen in Scotland this year after leaving Huddersfield Town last September.

Warnock has now been appointed as Football Advisor at Torquay and the club confirmed the news with a hilarious video on social media. Sitting next to newly appointed manager Paul Wotton, the two have a conversation about the weather while sheltering from showers under umbrellas on a pier.

Sharing the video on his own X page, Warnock wrote: "I know what you’re thinking, I can’t keep away from football , and you would be right!

"Delighted to be asked to help out at Torquay by the new owners, hopefully we can get a wonderful club back into the Football League where it belongs. Will be a tough but enjoyable journey. Are you with me?"

Football fans were quick to heap praise on Warnock for helping out the struggling club, sending messages of thanks and good luck. One wrote: "I think I speak for the majority of people Neil that just enjoy you being involved in football, full stop."

Another added: "I’ve tried soooo hard to hate this guy, and he’s given me soooo many reasons to do just that, but I just can’t anymore. I genuinely give up. I think I actually like him now."

Warnock is well known to QPR supporters, having spent two separate stints at Loftus Road. His first came between 2010 and 2012, before returning as caretaker in 2015. The manager helped take QPR into the Premier League on his first spell, having taken over a relegation-threatened side the previous season.

Warnock also spent two stints with Crystal Palace in London and other clubs he managed included Leeds United, Cardiff City and Sheffield United.

Torquay's new co-chairman Michael Westcott told BBC Sport: "Neil's knowledge of football is second to none. He knows our club very well, he knows our region very well. He and I have spent an awful lot of time together over the last six weeks or so and I think that relationship will continue." 

Wescott is joined by fellow Torquay businessmen Mark Bowes-Cavanagh, Tom Allen, Rob Hawes and Simon Robinson to make up the Bryn Consortium.