Bluebirds captain Sean Morrison reckons Neil Warnock could stay in football management for another two decades.

’Mozza’ insists manager Warnock,  now aged 70, retains a burning desire for success with Cardiff City and a love for the game.

“You only need to have 20 seconds with the gaffer to realise how much he wants to put a ninth promotion on. His CV,” says Morrison. 

“He’ll keep being a manager until he’s 90-years-old! 

“The gaffer would find it so difficult to walk away from the game because he loves it so much. With this team he’s found a club and group of boys he truly loves. 

“It would mean the world to him and us to bounce straight back and regain Premier League status. It’s going to be tough, but we’re going to go and do our best.”

Centre-back Morrison, who signed for City from Reading five years ago, was speaking during the launch of a new book ‘Only Time Will Tell: A Father’s Journey’ in Cardiff City’s Superstore. 

The book has been written by club doctor Len Nokes and is the emotional and brutally honest story of his daughter Claire, who passed away during October 2017.

Warnock, Morrison and Sol Bamba were all available for media interviews, while the rest of Cardiff’s players mingled and chatted with guests at a well-attended launch.

Morrison says the Bluebirds’ squad are firmly focused on firing up a promotion push in the coming season, saying: “We are over that initial period of disappointment. 

“We wanted to survive in the Premier League so much and we truly believed we could, right until the end. 

“It didn’t happen for us and we were disappointed to miss out by such a small margin. We gave it our best go and never gave up. 

“Every game was a fight and we fought tooth and nail for every point. 

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“Right now, though, we are not down and we are not flat. 

“The gaffer has brought in some new signings and I’m sure he’ll want to do some more business, but I think we’re in good stead.

“We still have a good squad. The Championship is a hard league and there are some tough teams, but we’ll give it our best.

“There is a need to bulk up the squad. Championship football is tough, you’re playing every Saturday and Tuesday and you need to rotate. I’m sure the gaffer will want to make more signings, but the base of the squad is fantastic and we’re looking forward to it.

“It was tough last season. The best defenders in the world are in the Premier League and we found it tough to score goals. 

“Championship football is very different and we have players who have been there and done it. The gaffer will want to make a few more signings and a striker might be on the list. We have goals in the team, but we might want a bit more help.

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“Last year was a blip, but we want to show the Championship what we’re made of. We don’t want to finish mid-table.”

Morrison insists Cardiff City are stronger for their Premier League experience, saying: “100 per cent. Once you’ve had a taste of the Premier League you want to get back there and you never want to leave as it’s the best league in the world. 

“None of us want to stay in the Championship for too long and if we can get back there as quickly as possible it would be fantastic for the whole city, the club and everybody involved.”

‘Only Time Will Tell: A Father’s Journey’, is available now for £7.95  (plus postage  and  packaging) via www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/OnlyTime2019. The book will also be available from selected British Heart Foundation stores around Wales and are also available for collection from the Cardiff City Superstore.

All proceeds from the publication are being split equally between British Heart Foundation and the Rookwood Hospital-based Prop Appeal.

City have their first pre-season fixture against Welsh League Taffs Well on Friday and all senior players will be at the ground, although not all will be playing.

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Cardiff pre-season fixtures matches during July

Friday 5 – Taffs Well v Cardiff City (Rhiw Ddar ground, 7pm)

Saturday 13 – San Antonio v Cardiff City at Toyota Field Stadium, San Antonio

Thursday 18 – New Mexico United v Cardiff City at UNM Soccer Stadium, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque

Saturday 20 – Cardiff City v Real Valladolid at Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton

Saturday 27 – Cardiff City v OGC Nice (Cardiff City Stadium, 3pm)