Andrew Lord and Neil Warnock are men of a similar mentality.
They may be completely different in character plus approach and come from either side of the Atlantic Ocean, but they are men who know how to get the best out of their players.
Lord’s Cardiff Devils have won a trophy treble this season – taking their tally to an astonishing eight championships in four seasons – and Warnock is intent on leading his Bluebirds into the promised land of Premier League football.
If they make it – and City are having a right good go at it – the two teams should share an open top bus ride around Cardiff.
Comparing the two men is tough. They are so different – and yet, in many ways, so alike.
Canadian Lord is a meticulous coach capable of commanding his team with an iron fist. He is strict, looks at every detail and spends hours preparing training sessions and studying match videos.
There is certainly an emotional side to Lord. I’m sure I saw him wiping tears from an eye after Devils won the play-offs.
Yorkshireman Warnock is a little more laid back. He has the experience of 40 years in coaching and management – 10 times more than Lord.
Both demand total commitment and a professional attitude from players.
Warnock has earned promotion seven times during his career – and no manager has managed eight. How he would love to achieve that record eighth this season.
A key factor is that both Lord and Warnock command total respect from their players. They care about their clubs and the squads.
It’s remarkable that two two men of their calibre have come to South Wales at the same time.
Lord’s season is now done and he is already planning for 2018-19 season, including a European Champions League campaign.
Warnock’s warriors still have six matches to go, including Tuesday’s Championship match at Aston Villa, and they are intent on earning one of the two automatic promotion places.
A few years ago I organised a get-together between Devils coach Gerad Adams and Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay, who led his Bluebirds into the top flight.
A meeting between Lord and Warnock would surely be even more intriguing. They are winners. Both want the best for their clubs and know how to achieve it.
They are men of rare quality, achieving success against the odds. Devils hadn’t won the British ice hockey title for two decades, yet they have won back-to-back championships under Lord.
It was almost 20 years since they were last play-off champions, but they put that right with a 3-1 win against Sheffield Steelers in this seasons final.
Warnock took over a City team who were in disarray and in danger of being relegated. He has transformed the club and, no matter how things turn out this season, I am convinced he will lead the Bluebirds back to the Premier Division at some stage.
Lord, 33, has four years experience of coaching. Warnock, aged 69, has been in the management ranks for four decades and still has the enthusiasm and passion of a youngster.
The key is that both have that winning mentality. Second place is nothing. They are champions and I think the guys should get together when Cardiff City’s season ends.
It would be a meeting of minds.
This evening City are at Villa Park and Warnock has talked about the unity of his squad.
The Bluebirds suffered a first defeat in 14 Championship matches against leaders Wolves, going down 1-0 after failed to score from two late penalties.
“We’re into the final run-in now and we don’t have time to dwell on anything,” said Warnock.
“The fans are vital now, too. I thought it was great the other night [against Wolves]. I know we lost, but I though the atmosphere and the game itself was fabulous. It had everything really.
“This a really good group. You can’t fault them in anything like that.
“They still surprise me. Where we are at the moment with six games to go, it’s an amazing feat really and I’m delighted for them – and they’re ready to go again! Once again, we’re going to be underdogs at Villa Park.”
“We have just got to go there and enjoy it. That stands for all the games coming up.
“Villa Park is one of my favourite grounds. When I was a kid, I was a Sheffield United fan, but I used to love Aston Villa’s shirt colours, too. Villa is a special place.
“It will be a really good atmosphere, they’re good fans and it will be a full house.
“It will be difficult but I think it’s one we can go and enjoy. We’ll have a good following and our lot always make themselves heard. Let’s give it a go.”
Cardiff City, possible: Etheridge, Peltier, Morrison, Bamba, Bennett, Paterson, Gunnarsson, Bryson, Wildschut, Zohore, Hoilett.
Aston Villa, possible: Johnstone, El Mohamady, Chester, Terry, Taylor, Bjarnason, Snodgrass, Hourihane, Grealish, Adomah, Hogan.
Championship fixtures, Tuesday: Aston Villa v Cardiff City (live on SDky television), Bristol City v Birmingham City, Burton Albion v Hull City, Fulham v Reading, Ipswich Town v Barnsley, Nottingham Forest v Brentford, Preston North End v Leeds United, Queens Park Rangers v Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield United v Middlesbrough, Sunderland v Norwich City, Bolton Wanderers v Millwall.
Wednesday: Wolves v Derby County.
CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE
| | HOME | | AWAY | |||||||||||||
| P | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | Wolves | 41 | 14 | 4 | 2 | 43 | 18 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 31 | 18 | +38 | 89 |
| 2 | Cardiff | 40 | 15 | 3 | 3 | 38 | 15 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 24 | 19 | +28 | 80 |
| 3 | Fulham | 41 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 36 | 15 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 35 | 26 | +30 | 78 |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 41 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 39 | 18 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 26 | 22 | +25 | 73 |
| 5 | Derby | 40 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 33 | 18 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 27 | 20 | +22 | 68 |
| 6 | Middlesbro | 41 | 12 | 3 | 6 | 29 | 16 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 29 | 23 | +19 | 66 |
| 7 | Millwall | 41 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 32 | 18 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 20 | 21 | +13 | 65 |
| 8 | Bristol C | 41 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 31 | 19 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 25 | 28 | +9 | 62 |
| 9 | Sheff Utd | 41 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 30 | 17 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 25 | 31 | +7 | 62 |
| 10 | Brentford | 41 | 8 | 10 | 3 | 34 | 22 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 23 | 25 | +10 | 61 |
| 11 | Preston | 41 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 22 | 20 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 27 | 23 | +6 | 60 |
| 12 | Norwich | 41 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 23 | 22 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 22 | 29 | -6 | 55 |
| 13 | Leeds | 41 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 28 | 26 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 25 | 31 | -4 | 54 |
| 14 | Ipswich | 41 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 26 | 21 | 7 | 3 | 11 | 23 | 31 | -3 | 53 |
| 15 | QPR | 41 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 30 | 26 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 19 | 35 | -12 | 50 |
| 16 | Sheff Wed | 41 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 29 | 30 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 19 | 25 | -7 | 47 |
| 17 | Nottm Forest | 40 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 20 | 25 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 23 | 33 | -15 | 46 |
| 18 | Hull | 41 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 41 | 29 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 18 | 32 | -2 | 44 |
| 19 | Reading | 41 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 23 | 29 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 23 | 31 | -14 | 42 |
| 20 | Birmingham | 41 | 8 | 3 | 10 | 16 | 22 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 15 | 36 | -27 | 40 |
| 21 | Bolton | 41 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 22 | 25 | 1 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 37 | -28 | 39 |
| 22 | Barnsley | 40 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 21 | 30 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 21 | 30 | -18 | 37 |
| 23 | Sunderland | 41 | 2 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 36 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 26 | 37 | -29 | 32 |
| 24 | Burton | 41 | 2 | 5 | 13 | 14 | 37 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 35 | -42 | 32 |