FORMER England international Stephen Warnock has praised ex-Forest Green boss David Hockaday for his help at Leeds United.

The defender said he had left Leeds to sign for Derby County with “no grudges against anyone” and thanked the former Elland Road boss for ensuring his involvement in United’s season, at a time when Warnock claimed owner Massimo Cellino was “happy to let me move on.”

Warnock told the Yorkshire Post: “This season David Hockaday stood my ground and wanted me to be involved. I think the chairman was quite happy to let me move on at the time but David fought my corner and gave me a chance. Hopefully I proved him right.”