Emiliano Sala: Neil Warnock reveals he’s considered his future as Cardiff manager after ‘traumatic week’

Warnock has received support from the League Managers’ Association after considering whether to carry on with management of not, while a number of Cardiff players have seen psychologists

Neil Warnock has revealed that he has considered his future as Cardiff City manager after the “traumatic week” since new signing Emiliano Sala went missing while travelling to the Welsh capital from France.

The 28-year-old Argentina footballer was on board a flight that disappeared last Monday night, with search efforts being brought to an end on Thursday after “no trace” of either the plane or its two occupants were found.

Sala’s family have launched their own private search efforts in the hope of finding him and pilot David Ibbotson alive, with no explanation yet given for their sudden disappearance.

Cardiff will pay tribute to Sala on Tuesday during their Premier League clash against Arsenal, with players set to wear a yellow daffodil on their shirts in recognition of his disappearance, and Warnock spoke to the media on Monday for the first time since the incident took place to reveal just how much of an effect it has had on him.

"You think 24 hours a day about whether to carry on," said Warnock.

"It's impossible to sleep. I've been in football management for 40 years and it's been by far the most difficult week in my career, by an absolute mile.

"It's been a traumatic week and even now I can't get my head around the situation.

"It's probably hit me harder than anyone else as I've met the lad and talked to him for the last six to eight weeks."

Warnock has already been contacted by the League Managers’ Association who have offered to provide him support through the difficult period, while several players have spoken to psychologists after seeking help.

"You have to in this instance,” added Warnock, who welcomed the support being shown to the club. “Who motivates the motivator?

"I am OK when I'm in the public eye or with the players, it's when I'm at I'm on my own or at home that you think about it.

"It's probably the lads you don't expect that needed more help. But I don't think it does any harm to talk to anyone else. It's been noticeable that three of four lads have been really poor."

Tributes have been left for Sala in both Nantes and Cardiff (AFP/Getty) (AFP/Getty Images)

With more than £290,000 raised for Sala’s family via a GoFundMe donation page, Sala’s family have privately resumed the search for the former Nantes FC player, with help from American-born marine scientist and oceanographer David Mearns.

"I quite understand (sister) Romina's stance," Warnock said. "If it was my kid, I'd want everybody looking at it forever. It's such a strange situation, everybody is hoping like the family.

"Football is important, relegation and things are important, but in the context of life, it just opens everybody's eyes, whether you are involved with Cardiff or any of the families."

Warnock wore a yellow daffodil on his shirt during the press conference (PA)

Warnock also revealed that he has travelled back and forth across the Channel in similar aircrafts to the Piper PA-46 Malibu that went missing, and added that he believes Mr Ibbotson was also his pilot on occasion.

"I'd been on a couple of planes like that, but I think the ones I'd be on might have had two engines," he added. "But I'd been over the top to Nantes a couple of times and I do think I had that pilot, who I thought was a fabulous pilot."

On preparations for Tuesday's game at Arsenal, Warnock added: "We have done the best we can in the circumstances. I don't feel personally that I'm right at the moment.

"We definitely could not have played on Saturday."