STEPHEN Warnock revealed he almost joined Coventry City on a permanent basis following a successful loan spell with the Sky Blues at the start of his career.
Warnock won the club’s player of the year award during a season-long loan with Coventry in the 2003/04 campaign.
The future England international scored three goals in 44 appearances for Coventry who then played in the Championship.
He would later go on to play for Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers and Aston Villa in the Premier League and also earned two caps for England.
However, Warnock admits he had agreed to join the Sky Blues from parent club Liverpool only for the Reds to offer the full-back a new deal.
Speaking on behalf of Championship betting site BetWright, Warnock said: “It was huge. Gary McAllister rang me and said ‘come down here, I’ll think it’ll be the right move for you’.
“I had a spell where I got dropped for about three or four games because my levels dropped. I was absolutely devastated.
“I thought, if I’m getting dropped at this level, I’m never going to be able to go back to Liverpool and play at Premier League level.
“It made me really dig deep and work out where I needed to be and how I needed to get there.
“It got to a stage where I absolutely loved my football at Coventry and we sat down and had a discussion about if I wasn’t offered a contract, would I be willing to sign at Coventry.
“I’d agreed a contract and agreed to stay if Liverpool didn’t off the contract and with two games to go they called up and said they want me back.
“It gave me huge belief going back to Liverpool so the grounding at Coventry was everything I needed and it was a brilliant loan move for me and the perfect club.”
Warnock has held a soft spot for the Sky Blues ever since and felt his time at Coventry helped him perform in front of big crowds on his return to Liverpool.
Warnock added: “I’d grown up watching Coventry in the Premier League. I always had a soft spot for Coventry playing at Highfield Road.
“It was a real family club and you realise the size of the club. That was something I needed, that big club mentality and that pressure every week to try and perform.
“It was one of those situations where you’re in and around ex Premier League players, you need to know the standards and what’s expected.
“We had a lot of young hungry players and the club were trying to rebuild. You realise how big football clubs are and the pressures that come with it.”
The defender also received a call-up to England’s 2010 World Cup squad but did not feature at the tournament in South Africa.
And Warnock insists Coventry must address the spine of their team in the transfer window and urged Frank Lampard to show pragmatism with his tactics.
Warnock said: “The supporters have got to be realistic that it’s going to be difficult and there’s going to be tough times and that’s where the fans are more important than ever.
“Leeds and Sunderland, who both survived [this season], bought in athletic, robust players who are capable of playing most weeks.
“You’ve got to take the level up again. I think five or six new signings is a good number but all five or six have to be really good quality and starters.
“I’d be signing a spine. The spine of the team is the most important thing. You’ve got to go out and make a statement with a few signings. That might draw other players in.
“And tactically, you’ve got to show respect to Premier League teams but don’t fear them and adapt as well.
“You can’t outplay the best teams in the Premier League, the gap is too big. You’ve got to find a different way of hurting these teams.”
