Neil Warnock drops claim on Leeds United boss Daniel Farke & Burnley's Scott Parker after winning EFL award | OneFootball

The EFL legend has commended the job that the two automatic promotion-winners have done this season.

Neil Warnock has applauded Daniel Farke and Scott Parker for the work they've done in getting Leeds United and Burnley automatically promoted, respectively, this season.

The top two spots in the 2024/25 edition of the English second tier have been wrapped up since the evening of Easter Monday, when Burnley's 2-1 victory over promotion rivals Sheffield United made it impossible for Chris Wilder's side to catch either the Clarets or Leeds.

The two teams will be familiar faces in the Premier League. Burnley were only in the top flight last season, and, while Leeds have spent a slightly longer time away from the first tier, the Whites' spell outside of the division has lasted just one season longer.

Who will go up as champions remains to be seen. Leeds have one extra game to play than Burnley, who beat Queens Park Rangers 5-0 on Saturday to go top of the league, but the Whites will jump back ahead of them with a win tonight (28th April) over Bristol City.

Neil Warnock praises Daniel Farke and Scott Parker for winning promotion

At the end-of-season EFL awards on Sunday, Parker received the Championship's manager of the season award. Warnock also walked away from the evening with a trophy. The 76-year-old was presented with the EFL's Contribution to League Football Award.

In his acceptance speech, he took the opportunity to praise the two promotion-winning managers for what they have done this season, as well as highlight the brilliance of the football league.

"We do not realise how lucky we are with the EFL. The EFL are the greatest leagues in the whole world. And the Championship is just an absolute...I haven't spoken to Scott tonight, everybody says 'it's straightforward, you've got a good team.' It's not straightforward.

"Scott's done a brilliant job, Daniel Farke has done a brilliant job, because it is a fantastic league to get out of."

Despite the amazing efforts that Warnock believes Farke and his English counterpart have put in, the German is reportedly not 100 per cent safe in his job as Leeds are eyeing up potential replacement options, as per The Guardian.

The Championship hasn't lost its charm, even with the more predictable outcomes

Burnley and Leeds going up this season hasn't come as a shock to anyone. The revolving door of Premier League relegation has made it harder, over the past two seasons, for sides to break the mould of the top three or four.

Even still, the English second tier provides some of the most dramatic football on the planet, year in, year out. Take the current relegation battle.

In theory, six teams are at threat of being relegated on the final day of the season. Up at the other end of the table, five clubs are fighting for the final two play-off spots.

The fact that Luton Town, who were the best of the sides that came down from the Premier League this season, are one of the teams that could go down to League One is exactly what makes the Championship so brilliant.

Other than the last two title races, it's so hard to predict where teams will finish by the time the 46th match of the campaign concludes.