“He's had a lot of faith in me and he's turned my career around,” said Etheridge, who was signed by Warnock from Walsall, again for a round figure – nothing.

“He's a fantastic man-manager, he knows exactly what to do. He’s been in the game long enough to know what players need - whether it's a kick up the backside or an arm around them.

“As players we want him to stay, but that's something he'll reflect on this summer.”