Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur transfer target Djed Spence has launched a brutal dig at former boss Neil Warnock after Nottingham Forest earned promotion to the Premier League at the weekend.
Steve Cooper’s men ended their 23-year exile from the top flight at Wembley Stadium on Sunday by edging past Huddersfield Town in the Championship play-off final. Key to their promotion charge this term has been the on-loan Spence.
The England Under-21 international has made 50 appearances in all competitions for the Reds this season and has been praised for his attacking play, having netted three goals and provided five assists throughout the campaign. His rise has certainly been meteoric - and somewhat surprising considering that parent club Middlesbrough were happy to loan him out at the start of the season.
Now Spence has fired a shot at the man who facilitated that move; former Middlesbrough boss Neil Warnock. Following the full-time whistle at Wembley, Spence took to Twitter to post a picture of him sitting in the dressing room next to the play-off trophy, holding a cigar and with his winners’ medal draped over his neck.
He accompanied the post with the caption: “Oh, Where’s my manners! Welcome to Twitter @warnockofficial” accompanied by a kiss emoji.
The post follows Warnock’s decision to join Twitter and comes four months after the manager bluntly explained why he allowed Spence to join Forest in the first place. Speaking back in January, the now 73-year-old said: "I let him [Spence] go. He needed to sort himself out, really.
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"I basically said to him that you can go to the top or you can go non-league. I think Steve Cooper is the manager for him, to be honest. He has let him go forward more often, which suits his game."
Whilst Forest have earned promotion to the Premier League, it remains to be seen where Spence’s future lies. A return to parent club Middlesbrough appears unlikely, whilst Forest are understandably keen to retain his services heading into next season.
The right-back has been linked with moves elsewhere, though. North London duo Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have been credited with an interest, with both keen to bolster their options down the right flank.
In the meantime, Warnock has replied to the defender's Twitter tease with his own tweet. Replying to Spence's comment, he wrote: "Well done Djed, I did say you were premier league or non league, glad you listened and took my advice on board now go and enjoy your success Those cigars won’t do you any good though son."
