Nottingham Forest held talks with Neil Warnock over becoming the club's manager in 2016, the man himself has said.
Warnock says he held talks with Forest and Blackburn Rovers six years ago after his short spell in charge of Rotherham United.
Talks between Warnock and the Reds "never materialised" and the cult hero boss instead joined Cardiff City. He ended up leading the Bluebirds to promotion in the 2017-18 season, with Philippe Montanier the man to fill the vacancy Warnock had spoken to Forest about.
READ MORE: Nottingham Forest and Tottenham may have already missed out on January transfer
READ MORE: FIFA to launch Club World Cup with 32 teams in 2025
Warnock also revealed that he had Junior Hoilett and Sol Bamba lined up to come to the City Ground with him on free transfers, but they instead followed the manager to south Wales.
"I tell the story about going to Cardiff," Warnock said on the No Tippy Tappy Football Podcast. "I had Hoilett and Bamba waiting in the wings to sign for me and I had told them that we were going to get a club in July or August.
"I spoke to Blackburn and I spoke to Forest and people like that, it never materialised and I had them ringing me saying ‘gaffer, I need to pay the bills'. I met the (Cardiff) chairman and knew I could work with him, so I told him I would have the job."
Warnock has previously revealed he was approached to take over at Forest in 2014 after Billy Davies was relieved of his duties at the City Ground. Stuart Pearce got the job instead after Gary Brazil spent time in caretaker charge.
Would you have liked to see Neil Warnock at the club instead of Philippe Montanier? Let us know in the comments.
READ NEXT:
Nottingham Forest transfer news LIVE: £7m bid rejected, Jesse Lingard future admission
Valencia vs Nottingham Forest TV channel, live stream and how to watch friendly
Nottingham Forest transfers: Jesse Lingard makes future admission as Reds bid rejected
Nottingham Forest's nice touch as Valencia friendly to be special occasion
Nottingham Forest receive response after £7m transfer bid for Rangers flop
