Neil Warnock: The time I made one of my players buy dinner for a nightclub bouncer

What I Learnt This Week

Harry will have been embarrassed and disappointed when he saw the pictures of Ledley King outside that nightclub last week, and read the comments he's alleged to have said.

Although you stick up for your players you do feel disappointed when it happens as you feel personally let down. There used to be a drinking culture in the game, and we've a few who still enjoy a drink, but when you're top of the tree like King is – and with his injury problems – I don't understand why he put himself in that situation. Even if you are behaving yourself there's always people liable to have a go. As Harry said, there's such a fine line between successful careers and also-rans you can't afford to jeopardise it now with drinking. If you do, you have to take the consequences.

When I read that King's supposed to have told the bouncer he was on 80 grand a week, and suggested the bouncer was on a tenner an hour, my mind went back to when I was managing Scarborough. I remember catching one of our lads asking a bouncer how much he had in the bank, and telling him: "I'm a footballer. I get paid loads more than you." He didn't know I was round the corner. He got a shock when he saw me. I said to him: "Good thing you've got all that money because you'll need it when I fine you." Then I said to the bouncer: "Have a nice meal with the girlfriend and send us the bill, he's paying."

One pre-season I was in Cornwall with a Plymouth squad including Mick Heathcote, who was an absolute gem, one of those lads you never expect to be in trouble. But one night he'd had a few drinks and came back late to the hotel in the early hours with a couple of team-mates. What they didn't know was that I had a room close to the night porter's desk so I overheard them trying to get in, then ordering some sandwiches off him. Mick said: "I'll put it on the gaffer's bill. I know what room he's in." I'd already told the porter: "Any problems give me a call." About 20 minutes later he gave me a ring and said one or two were getting a bit noisy, what would he like me to do? I said: "Give me a minute, I'll be there." I came in behind them. They were all bravado, talking about me and all sorts, with the sandwiches just arrived. I said: "Hello, lads. I've ordered some sarnies. Are those mine?" You've never seen anyone sober up so quick. Mick said: "Yes, gaffer, I was just going to bring them to you." I told them I'd see them in the morning and took the plate. I fined him enough to pay for everybody's sandwiches for the week.

I also remember one Tuesday morning at Sheffield United my secretary handing me an email. It was from one of the directors asking could he "bring to the manager's attention why a member of my staff, at 1.27 precisely in that morning, was in a nightclub with a cigarette in one hand and a beer in the other," and what would I be doing about it. I sent a letter back. I told him: "Thank goodness it was 1.27, I'd told the players not to be out after 1.30. And I'd insist from now on he only drank halves." If I'd have been a younger manager I'd have fined the player and suspended him, but knowing he was one of our best players, and we needed him, I just showed him the email and said: "You'd better be the best player on the pitch on Saturday." Needless to say, he was.

But it's all changed now. Given the money they are paid, and what's at stake, players can't afford to get in trouble. London is a very tempting place for single lads but you have to be disciplined. Players do learn. It's nice to see the England captain's been out of the headlines of late.

2. Amy puts best foot forward after reboot

Amy's been troubled by pain in her foot after playing sport for about a year, so this week we took her to see Rod McCulloch at the London Podiatry Centre. The technology was gob-smacking. There were cameras, X-rays, feet sensors in shoes. You could analyse all her biomechanics and it turned out she has a problem in her other leg. It also showed how crucial the right footwear is for kids. In her school shoes her ankle was almost giving way. Now she has these special supports.

Rod used to treat a lot of footballers but clubs have cut down in these cost-conscious times. I think that's a bit short-sighted, given how valuable players are, and I'm going to send some of our young lads to Rod. Given the wages these days, and how injuries can affect that, I'm surprised the players, or their agents, don't get themselves checked out anyway.

Meanwhile William's away on an Outward Bound course. He's staying overnight but they're in proper accommodation, not camping. Kids are soft these days. They should call it Inward Bound.

3. Newcastle need title race to go to the wire

I think Newcastle need to win today, or hope Arsenal do, because they will not want to be leaving it to the last day with Manchester United going to Hull three days before the Champions League final, having sewn the title up. If the team Sir Alex Ferguson put out against West Ham a couple of years ago, when the Hammers won at Old Trafford to send my Sheffield United down, is any guide, he'll rest half the team and replace them with kids. It's well within Hull to get a result then. I bet Alan Shearer, and Sunderland's Ricky Sbragia, were gutted when Michael Carrick scored that winner against Wigan. Gareth Southgate couldn't have been too pleased either, though it's hard to see Boro staying up now. They've been very unlucky this season, some of the decisions they had earlier on I don't know how Gareth kept his temper.

4. Managing the best way for Coppell to cope

When we played Reading in March I said to Mick Jones that I thought Steve Coppell would leave whether they went up or not. I know how he feels; it does get to the point where you wonder if you have been at a club too long, whether they are no longer listening to your voice. I knew how he felt on Tuesday too, when the camera focused on him after Burnley went two-up. It's a lonely feeling.

While I think Steve's made the right decision no way will Reading be his last job. I see the FA are thinking about using him to bring youngsters through, but once you've been a manager it's very difficult to get the adrenalin going the same way dealing with youngsters, even with England squads. There's nothing quite like that final whistle going and knowing you have got a great result. You feel like you are walking on air. The flip side is when you've lost, the feeling is one of desolation.

5. Post-season training in full swing for me

Medical update: I'm doing daily exercises and hydrotheraphy as I continue my recuperation from last week's hip resurfacing. I have to go through the pain barrier, some days I don't feel I can bend my leg, but I have to do it. Although the hip hurt for ages I'm glad I left it until now. There's no way I'd have found time for this during the season.