Cardiff City: Ex-owner Sam Hammam praises Vincent Tan for ‘learning lessons’

Warnock was appointed manager in October 2016 and earlier this year signed a new deal to remain with the club until 2020.

Should Cardiff City win on Sunday, it will be a record eighth promotion for Warnock during his managerial career.

Hammam said the 69-year-old was one of the “key catalysts” to the club’s success this season, describing him as an “outstanding manager”.

“He is my kind of man, I really like his style,” Hammam said.

“With relatively less money he has put us in a position where we may hopefully get automatic promotion.

“He’s got what it takes on all fronts. He knows which players to buy, which players to keep, which players to let go and how to motivate the team.

“He also knows how to pick the team and has proved time and time again that he can make the changes on the pitch during the game… most of the times he got it right.”

Hammam added that he believes Warnock will look for value signings even if the Bluebirds are promoted, with estimates that reaching the Premier League net a club in excess of £100m.

He said Cardiff did not have the money for “fancy managers from abroad” or to pay the “massive wages” of big-name footballers who play “pretty football”.

Instead Hammam believes they should rely on young players who are reserves with teams such as Manchester City or “very able” players from the lower divisions.

“I can name you 20 players off-hand,” he said, “but I’m not qualified to do that.”

Instead Hammam said they must rely on the scouting system and Warnock’s ability to identify these players.

“He (Warnock) isn’t the type that wants those fancy players who can flick the ball from behind their back and then balance it on their you know what.

“He wants somebody who is tough, who can get stuck in, but also who has the quality and the heart.”