Foxes play their first match since the death of owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and Warnock admits his first thoughts were the game should not be played - but now he says it is right to go ahead
Sponsored by
NEIL WARNOCK admits he hoped Cardiff's clash with Leicester would be called off.
The Foxes play their first match since owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was killed along with four others in a helicopter crash when they face Cardiff on Saturday.
Bluebirds boss Warnock now believes it is right that the game goes aheads - but initially he thought it should be postponed amid the shock of the accident.
Warnock, 69, said: "Originally I didn't think the game would go ahead, and if I'm totally honest I was hoping it wasn't going to go ahead.
"Monday and Tuesday this week, it was too emotional.
"But I understand now where they are and I think it's a good decision to go ahead with it now because you've got to move on and you've got to get people back to normality as soon as possible.
"Their players and our players will appreciate they can give 90 minutes and get it out of their system."
The Cardiff fans have arranged for a special flag to be made which will be passed around the stadium commemorating Srivaddhanaprabh.
It is sure to be an emotionally charged atmosphere and Warnock says he expects the Leicester players to be desperate to get the shock out of their system.
He added: "Life is on such a slender edge and you sometimes take things for granted.
"I know it's just a football match and it puts things into perspective, promotion and relegation and all that.
"I think if I'd been the manager of Leicester, I'd have wanted the lads to play to get their mind on other things because it's such a turmoil.
"The whole football community have felt the shock and everything that's gone with it.
"We just made sure they were aware whatever they wanted to do, we would support 100 per cent.
"We're all behind the players, staff, management, owners - whatever they decided to do tribute-wise and everything else, we wanted to agree to that. It doesn't surprise me because that's what our club's about as well."
The death of Srivaddhanaprobha has resonated around the world, and fans of Melbourne City made their own gesture today.
Supporters held aloft a message of support to Leicester, with former Foxes defender Ritchie De Laet, on loan at the Australian club, wearing a top with his own personal message.
