Neil Warnock: What I've Learnt This Week

I'm delighted an Englishman has been chosen. All the young coaches now know everyone, from top to bottom, has a chance. I'm sure the League Managers' Association is delighted.

The one question is that though Steve has been the No 2, it is different being No 1. But he has experience and he has good players. I don't think I've ever come up against him professionally but he has long been known for being innovative. In the end, though, results will determine whether he is a success or not.

One thing I don't envy him is the intrusion he is likely to get. I'm sure his girlfriend at school when he was 11 will be delighted he has got the job.

2. Bent is straight choice to replace Rooney

All the talk this week has been about Wayne Rooney. It's sad but I can't see him being anywhere near the World Cup. But I'm also concerned about Michael Owen. The way he was talking leads me to think he may be a major doubt.

If they are both out it will be interesting to see if Sven goes with an extra midfielder, like Michael Carrick, and pushes Frank Lampard or Steven Gerrard forward, behind a lone striker. People are talking about Peter Crouch but I think Darren Bent has done a good job at Charlton. He's good in the air for his size and with that turn of pace, I would go with him.

3. Dooley's dedication is an example to us all

Last weekend one of Sheffield's most-loved sporting personalities, Derek Dooley MBE, retired from the chairmanship of our football club. I can't think of anyone loved by both clubs in one city the way he is for the tremendous service he has given to Wednesday and United. You couldn't wish to meet a nicer couple than he and his wife, Sylvia, and I hope next season he'll be able to see some of the games in the big stadiums, because that is what we set out to achieve six-and-a-half years ago.

He had a good send-off but I knew it was a mistake when they asked him to sing "New York, New York". He didn't need much encouragement. Over the past few years I've heard this song on quite a few occasions, most of them away from home. Goodness knows what his dancing would be with two legs.

As many of you will know he lost one at 22, when he was injured playing for Wednesday at Preston. He was a tremendous goalscorer and I often wonder how much compensation he would he have got today. Yet he's still living in the same house and is the same person he's been throughout his life in Sheffield.

4. County are too big to leave the league

Today is such an important day for my old club Notts County, who I managed the last time they were in the top flight. I remember saying to the chairman when I left that he had made a mistake and the club would only go downhill. I didn't know how far until I looked at last week's tables and found that they could actually be relegated to the Conference today. So I'll be crossing my fingers that they overcome another of my old clubs, Bury, in their most important game for many years. I do have a soft spot for Notts County, and I have some marvellous memories of my time there. We had two play-off finals in consecutive years and I'll never forget the journeys home, with all the black-and-white scarves hanging out of the windows of the cars and coaches. I think we took 30,000 to Wembley once. It is the oldest league club in the world and yet that was first time the fans had been there.

5. All the real hard work starts here

On Wednesday we had our do on the Town Hall balcony and the open-top bus ride. There were about 15,000 who came out to see us. It was absolutely fantastic. I couldn't help thinking back to where we were when I arrived six-and-a-half years ago, when the Premiership seemed a million miles away and I'm sure Kevin McCabe, the plc chairman and a Blade like me, felt the same. He has stuck with me through some difficult periods and now we have a club which has so much going for it. It just proves that, given time, most managers can succeed. Unfortunately time is a rare commodity.

Celebrations aside, we have all been very busy, looking at players. It's a nightmare to get all the assessments in. When you go abroad to look at someone you have no real idea how they would do here, because the game is so different overseas. I think my missus, Sharon, could play full-back in some of the French games I've seen.

Still, it's so much better getting automatic promotion than having to go into the play-offs. I don't think anybody realises the damage failing in the play-offs does until you come back for pre-season training. So I wish every manager involved all the best.

6 Kamara is losing his looks

On Monday I went to do a Sky TV show with Chris Kamara. As we came out of the studio the security guy said to Chris: "Did you get your package from reception?" Chris looked blank, so he added: "You are Rodney Marsh, aren't you?" I said to Chris: "That's in my column."