Neil Warnock is ready for a blood and guts battle with Cardiff City as he bids to pull-off another successful relegation survival fight.
The ex-Sheffield United and QPR chief took over at the Bluebirds yesterday just 24 hours after Paul Trollope was sacked.
Warnock comes in with City lying in 23rd spot in the Championship having won just two of their 11 games.
But Warnock, 67, said: “I’ve always liked it here.
“Everywhere I go I get stick but I’ve always had good banter with the Cardiff people.
“They’re my type of crowd – blood and guts and all that, which I like – and I know that if I can get it right for them, they’ll get behind me.
“I enjoy challenges and the challenge at the moment is to get the team higher up the league and then we’ll see how we go.”
Warnock has won seven promotions during his 15-club, 26-year managerial career.
“I’ve got seven promotions and I can’t tell I lie,” he added. “I thought I could get that eighth promotion.”
But it is ensuring City’s Championship status will be his first task just like he did at Rotherham United last season.
City chairman Mehmet Dalman moved quickly to snap-up Warnock – who left the Millers in the summer – after ending Trollope’s five-month spell.
Warnock, whose first game will be the home Severnside derby with Bristol City on October 14, added: “I’m a big believer in fate.
“I only had one phone call from Mehmet and he told me that I was the club’s number one target. I liked to feel wanted.
“I’m looking to bring confidence back to the whole club, not just the playing side. The whole club needs a lift.
“But it’s important for the lads to come on board and enjoy it. I wouldn’t be doing this job at my age if I didn’t enjoy it.”