The Paul Warne column: Pep, Woody ruining my greatest managerial moment and lying to my kids' school

This column appeared in last Friday's Advertiser

It was at the North West Writers Awards in Manchester the other Sunday. I went over there with my assistant, Richie Barker.

Every manager in the region who achieved something last season got an award and we all had to do a little speech. I sat next to Blackburn Rovers boss Tony Mowbray, one away from Pep.

I apologised that I was the least famous manager there. Pep hadn't arrived when I did my speech so I joked that people might be turning up and thinking: 'That Pep, he looks a little bit different to what I thought.'

Other managers who got something included Pep, obviously, Tony, Paul Cook at Wigan Athletic and the bosses who won promotions with Tranmere Rovers, Macclesfield and Accrington Stanley.

Tony was sitting between me and Pep and said it was a great honour to be sat next to the word's best coach, which I thought was a nice touch from him. I didn't think he knew me that well. It was a lovely thing to say.

I brought a trophy back, which was nice. I'm not saying I wasn't pleased for myself because I'm not that selfless, but it was nice to accept it on behalf of the club.

That's what it's about really. It's just like I'm the headmaster of a really good school and I've got really good teachers and unbelievable students. If I had bad teachers and bad students I wouldn't be a good headteacher. It's more an award for the club in recognition for what they've done than it is an award for me.

They put on videos of all the promotions and, to be fair, ours looked better than anybody else's because ours came at Wembley in the play-off final.

Then they showed the bit when Woody's (Richard Wood) running down the line after the second goal with his hand in the air.

I explained in my speech that I was waiting for him to 'high five' me – the biggest moment of my managerial career. I raised my hand and he kindly ran straight past. That was a nice gesture from my skipper.

It was a good night. I really enjoyed it.

Richie loves Pep; literally loves him. Me and Richie weren't on the same table. When Pep walked by Richie's table to get his award and make his speech it was like Richie was watching Kylie Minogue walk past. Richie was that giddy!

I didn't really get the chance to chat to Pep. I just asked him for a photo and told him I was a big fan of his team and all that.

To be fair, he looked exhausted because he'd just come from a game and he was on about prepping for Manchester City's next Champions League match.

I spoke a lot to Tony, which was a bit ironic seeing as we were playing his side the following Saturday. I don't think he got my humour at first but it wasn't long before we were fine.

To be honest, I genuinely don't think Pep knew who I was when he arrived. But then the video of our season came up on the screen so after that he must have realised who the dashing bloke in the black suit was.

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THE international break has come round quickly. There have been only five matches between this one and the one last month.

I haven't got anything planned. I don't feel I need this one as much as usual.

I'm going to go and watch a player we like the look of on Saturday. That will be good when someone sees me and puts it on Twitter. I might send a lookalike to Maltby or Worksop or something to throw people off the scent.

Current Wife has been sort of hinting at going away. I'm not so sure. We might just go to the Norfolk coast, go home to see my dad as well.

I love going to the coast. The problem is the kids and schooling these days. You can't nick them out, can you?

It's not half-term. There are only so many times they can have a sniffle in one year.

Everyone at their school knows what I do. I can't ring up and say: 'My kids are both ill.' The reply would be: 'Oh really, Mr Warne? That's interesting. Ill in the international break again.'

I'm snookered really. We'll be doing very little. I might just take my missus to York or something.

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I'VE been asked why I brought off Zak Vyner and moved Semi Ajayi to right-back in the second half of the 1-1 draw at Blackburn Rovers.

Semi started as a sitting midfielder because we were up against Bradley Dack who is one of the best players in the league.

He finished the game at right-back because I felt Blackburn were getting at us down that side.

Zak didn't come off injured. He twisted his ankle a bit in the first half. That might have affected his mobility a little bit, but he wasn't injured.

I just felt we were struggling down his side in the second half. We take midfielders and strikers off all the time. Defenders should be no different. If you feel there is a weakness you have to address it. They were getting past him a little bit too much.

They were getting at us down the other side as well. That's why I brought Joe Newell off. He wasn't having a bad game but we needed pace so I put Jon Taylor on.

I thought Ben Wiles when he came on was excellent. All my subs went on and had an impact.

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THE players are getting a few days off during the break.

I don't want to spoil them. I don't want them to go soft on me. They're getting Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. I think that's plenty.

The last international break, because of injuries, we needed it. I don't think we need this one. I'd have liked to keep playing games. We're unbeaten in five matches and the lads are in a good place.

I just hope the ones who go away on international duty come back fit and healthy. November, December and January are notoriously difficult.