I ALWAYS look forward to Stan Ternent and Neil Warnock locking horns.

I know they have their differences - but they remain two of the games characters in an era where they are in a pretty short demand.

In my day, the old managers were larger than life characters - the likes of outspoken Brian Clough and flamboyant Malcolm Allison.

These days, all you get from managers is the same old trips about difficult opponents and games of two halves.

That's why the game needs people like Stan and Neil because you never know what explosive comment you are going to get next.

I laughed out loud a few years ago when Stan likened Warnock to Osama Bin Laden following the infamous West Brom game that ended up being abandoned with Sheffield down to six men.

I've only met Neil once myself, when the old Bury chairman, Terry Robinson, brought him to Turf Moor about four seasons ago.

I was asked to give him a bit of a ground tour and he seemed a decent enough chap - mind you I kept him away from the tunnel area!!

People are always asking me about the differences between the game of yesteryear and present day, and that lack of characters is the one thing that always springs readily to mind.

The prickly relationship between the Clarets and Blades bosses adds colour to the game in general - and for that every football fan should be truly grateful.