Dean Windass reveals why he wanted to punch Neil Warnock at Sheffield United - but now has nothing but respect for ex-boss

Windass was on loan at Bramall Lane during their famous 2002/03 season, when the Blades reached the semi-finals of both domestic cup competitions and the play-off final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

The striker, however, was left out of the showpiece final against Wolves by Warnock, who broke with tradition and named a substitute goalkeeper in the bench. Windass was the one who made way for Gary Kelly among the United substitutes, and revealed the story of his omission on Alan Biggs' Sheffield Live TV show.

"It was a massive disappointment in my life," Windass admitted, "and I didn't like the way he went about it.

"He told me I wasn't playing in the game because he was going for pace. Anyone was quicker than me, I played a different way, but I told him he was having a laugh. I was gutted.

"Then in the next breath, he told me I wasn't on the bench either. My head went a little bit.

"He never had a goalkeeper on the bench and couldn't afford not to have one, in a big game like that, if Paddy got injured. And I was the one who got sacrificed.

"I wanted to hit him. When I walked out, he went to shake my hand and I didn't. Then he asked me to tell the press, if they asked, that I had a groin strain. Honestly, I wanted to punch him. I was in floods of tears."

Windass revealed that the terms of his contract should have made his move to Bramall Lane a permanent one, but he felt he could no longer trust Warnock and did not want to play under him.

Instead, he joined Bradford City from Middlesbrough and before the first game of the season, at home to Norwich City, Windass received a call on his mobile.

"It was from a private number and I don't normally answer them," he added. "But I did, and it was Neil Warnock. He said: 'I'm just wishing you all the best for the season. You want to be a coach some day and as a coach you've got to make decisions.

"'I made a bad one. you improved this club when you were here and I made a bad decision, and can't go back'.

"I respect him for that. When I was an ambassador at Hull and United came, I'd go into the changing room with him and Kevin Blackwell and have a coffee.

"That's all gone now. What a career he had, by the way. It hurt at the time but you move on, and I massively respect Neil Warnock."

Windass later helped Hull into the Premier League, scoring the winner in the 2008 play-off final against Bristol City.

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