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Graham Poll criticises Neil Warnock

Former Premier League referee Graham Poll says that Neil Warnock will not be missed by match officials following his departure from Leeds United.

Former Premier League referee Graham Poll has admitted that he will be glad to see the back of Neil Warnock when he retires.

Warnock parted company with Leeds United this week with reports claiming that the former Sheffield United boss will retire from the game.

Poll, who was a FIFA enlisted referee for 11 years, has said that Warnock will not be missed by the match officials.

"Referees up and down the country will be breathing a sigh of relief at the prospect of Neil Warnock delivering on his threat to retire from management," Poll wrote in his column in the Daily Mail.

"Warnock has been the bane of referees' lives; almost imploding on the touchline when a throw-in went against his team and never failing to blame the official whenever his team lost.

"He used to try to justify these attacks by claiming he was a qualified referee. Well, taking the exam is one thing but unless you are officiating matches regularly, you are not a referee."

Poll also questioned Warnock's credentials as a top-level manager, claiming that he has not proved himself in the Premier League.

"Of course, Warnock and I have history," he wrote. "He was the manager at Old Trafford when his Sheffield United side lost 1-0 to Arsenal in an FA Cup semi-final in April 2003.

"According to Warnock, that defeat was my fault, of course. I was also the referee who dismissed Warnock at Bramall Lane in 2006 when the Blades were playing Leeds United.

"Warnock should have been celebrating his team winning promotion, which would allow him his first opportunity to try his methods at the top level; where, of course, he has never succeeded."

Poll refereed in the Premier League from 1993 until 2007.

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