Leeds United’s loss has been Cardiff City’s gain.
While Leeds United can point to Wolves’ big spending and acquisition of top level players as clear reason for their success this season, Cardiff City’s achievements are comparatively more puzzling.
Cardiff are second behind Wolves and in a great position to secure automatic promotion.
The Bluebirds have done this without a big chequebook or a so-called super agent sending players in their direction.
Instead where this gets frustrating for also-rans Leeds, down in 14th place, as Cardiff are doing so with their former manager and captain.
Neil Warnock managed Leeds between 2012 and 2013, while Sol Bamba captained Leeds between 2015 and 2016.
Bamba was controversially released by Garry Monk at the start of last season, a decision which with hindsight looks terrible.
The Ivory Coast international says that Warnock tried to sign him previously, and after his release from Leeds, got in contact and urged him to wait, promising he would bring him on board once he found a club to manage.
Warnock was out of work after choosing not to continue a successful stint at Rotherham, and took over at Cardiff in October 2016. He signed Sol Bamba just six days later.
Bamba told Wales Online: “I missed playing under Neil a few times earlier in my career when I was at Leicester and when I came back from Palermo and moved to Leeds. He wanted to sign me both times but the circumstances weren’t quite perfect.
“When I left Leeds he said ‘just wait, I’m going to get a club’.
“I knew I would wait because I trust him. The missus wasn’t too happy as the wages weren’t coming in, but we were regularly in contact so I wasn’t worried. I waited and I’m now enjoying my best season. I absolutely love the man, I cannot speak highly enough of him.”
Bamba added that alongside Sven Goran Eriksson at Leicester, Warnock is the best manager he ever worked with.
His former Leeds’ bosses Neil Redfearn, Uwe Rosler, Steve Evans and Garry Monk did not make the cut.
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