Sez Les

SO, he's back then. And don't tell me you haven't heard. He'll make sure you have.

Neil Warnock is back in business - and not a minute too soon (well, that's what he said).

It has been very much a revolving door that Palace chairman Simon Jordan has been operating down at Selhurst Park these past few years.

In fact, Warnock becomes the eighth Palace manager in the past seven years.

He will also be the fourth Palace manager in the last 10 years to have previously managed in Sheffield.

The other three were Trevor Francis, Steve Bruce and Dave Bassett.

Warnock has always claimed he is good friends with Jordan.

As for Jordan, he arrived at Bramall Lane on the season's final day, almost 18 months ago, when United were celebrating promotion to the Premiership.

United faced Palace on that sunny Sunday and Jordan brought up a crate of champagne and handed it to Warnock and chairman Kevin McCabe.

To anyone who listened that day, Jordan made clear his particularly high regard for Warnock the manager.

So, it seemed they might link up eventually - and as the ground beneath Peter Taylor's feet went from boggy to quicksand on Monday, Warnock watchers awaited the news.

Warnock watchers may also have noted recently his own column's lack of comment on the Palace situation. A sure sign something might be brewing.

Seems, though, he has been visiting London a bit. Taking the missus to the theatre, of course. Shouldn't we have sussed something?

Anyway, he's back - and noting that just a point and a place separates his new club and his old one after 10 games.

Who will do better for the rest of the season?

Certainly you can expect a few "emergency loan" signings to be winging into that particularly-congested part of South London pretty soon.

Just wondering about the reception when he gets back to Bramall Lane on December 29.

Be sure, he'll have plenty to say before and aft.

Welcome back.

Talking of managerial characters, Aidy Boothroyd is certainly one.

He was asked after the recent game against Wednesday why, when the Owls got round in a circle before kick-off, his players stood in a line, arms linking each other.

"They were having a huddle and we were having a cuddle," he said.

Fans often have the name of their favourite player on the back of their replica shirt but I wonder if Rotherham United striker Chris O'Grady has chuckled over one particular Millers follower.

He's a huge-sized Millers fan (who certainly has devoured his share of pies) and he wears a figure-hugging shirt stretching tightly around his ample frame.

The name emblazoned on the back is ... O'GREEDY.