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Leeds United fans know the story of Robert Snodgrass’ exit from the club well. Snodgrass joined Norwich City in July 2012 after four excellent seasons with Leeds United. One of his managers during his Elland Road stay was now Cardiff City boss Neil Warnock.
Whenever the Bluebirds boss gets a chance, he likes to bring up the sale of Snodgrass. Just last week, he shared the story again,
“A week before [the season started], Norwich came in for Snodgrass and Ken Bates said to me: ‘you’ve got to sell him for £1 million as we need the money’.
“In the end they got £3 million, and he said: ‘you can have half of whatever we get’. Then, unfortunately, two days later Ken told me the bank had stopped him from spending any money.
“Snodgrass… I could have cried. He was the one chance we had. He came to see me and I said: ‘I don’t want you to go’.
“He said: ‘just for the family gaffer, I’ve got to go!’
“And he was right and I had to let him go. That just about finished me off up there… I had no chance!”
Well, this summer, he surely has the chance to team up with Snodgrass yet again. Warnock has done a marvellous job at Cardiff this season. He has taken the relegation candidates to the Premier League with a disciplined season based around hard-working players playing for each other and a shared cause.
Next season, they might need a little more spark to stay in the Premier League.
It now looks as though Snodgrass will be available. He spent the season on loan at Cardiff’s promotion rivals Aston Villa, who lost in the play-off final this weekend.
It leaves West Ham’s Snodgrass in limbo. Villa now need to cut their wage bill to comply with FFP regulations so taking on Snodgrass permanently is an unlikely feat.
suggested that West Ham want £12 million for the Scotland international. Despite the promotion, that fee might be a bit rich for Cardiff’s taste.
But if it came down to another loan deal then Snodgrass could be a great recruit. With his dead-ball delivery, Warnock’s powerful side could be a real danger in the Premier League. The Cardiff manager would certainly love the chance to work with the Scot again, who performed so well under his management in West Yorkshire.
This summer might present the Cardiff boss with his last chance to work with the one that got away before he ends his brilliant management career. It is an opportunity he will surely not miss.