City are waiting for the dust to settle on Sheffield United's relegation to find out where they stand on Stuart McCall.

The Blades' shock demise from the Premiership has thrown another question mark over the chase for a new manager.

Neil Warnock, like McCall, is out of contract at the end of June and it was assumed he would like to stay on for at least one more year in the top flight.

But according to McCall, that may all change now with the club back in the Championship following Sunday's loss to Wigan.

"From a personal point of view, I thought that if we did get relegated then it would be Neil's last season at Sheffield because of what he has achieved," said McCall. "It wouldn't surprise me if that was the gaffer's last game in charge."

Sources at Bramall Lane have indicated that McCall, City's top target for their own job, would be the obvious candidate to succeed Warnock if the chance came.

City chairman Julian Rhodes wants to be in position to appoint within the next fortnight - and will be watching developments in South Yorkshire avidly.

Mike Harrison, who edits the City Gent fanzine, admitted it was also a tense time for supporters waiting for news.

"It's a strange one because nobody knows what's going to happen," he said. "It's down to what Stuart wants to do.

"If Warnock decides to retire to his tractor in Cornwall, then Stuart may get his ambition to be a manager there next season but not in the full glare of the Premiership. That may be quite attractive for him.

"Obviously we all want him to take the job here, and Julian and everyone at City would love that, but City fans have got to wholly respect whatever decision Stuart makes one way or the other."

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