Maidstone United manager George Elokobi believes Torquay United football advisor Neil Warnock would have loved to sign him during his playing days

George Elokobi believes he’d have been right up Neil Warnock’s street in his playing days.

The pair are set to meet tonight when Maidstone boss Elokobi takes his side to Torquay, where Warnock holds the role of football advisor under the Gulls’ new owners.

Warnock, 75, won a record eight promotions during a management career spanning more than 1,600 games, including leading Notts County, Sheffield United, QPR and Cardiff City to the top flight.

He also managed the likes of Plymouth, Huddersfield and Crystal Palace before retiring after a short spell at Scottish club Aberdeen last season.

Elokobi, who reached the Premier League with Wolves and also played for Colchester, Nottingham Forest and Bristol City, never played under Warnock.

But the former defender is convinced he’s the sort of character the veteran manager would have welcomed in his ranks.

Warnock loved players who gave everything for the cause and Elokobi certainly fell into that bracket as a wholehearted left-back.

“I’ve always respected Neil Warnock,” said Elokobi.

“He’s a sterling name in football, a great manager who’s won lots of things and you always have to respect that.

“When you’re coming up against a Neil Warnock side, you know what you’re going to be getting.

“He’s a fantastic man that’s gone about his business and won many promotions and saved a lot of clubs from relegation.

“It’s important you respect individuals like that because there aren’t a lot of them left in football.

“It’ll be nice to see him and shake his hand.

“I’ve played against his teams a lot in my time and it was always a difficult encounter but one that I thoroughly enjoyed because I loved those challenges.

“I don’t know him well but I’m sure at some stage in his management career