United chairman Ken Bates is hoping the appointment of Neil Warnock will see the club's new boss achieve a managerial milestone.

The experienced Warnock was confirmed as the club's 28th permanent manager last weekend and he arrived as arguably the most experienced man to take the post since Howard Wilkinson was appointed in October 1988.

Warnock embarked on a league management career in 1987 after guiding Scarborough to the then Vauxhall Conference title, and he has claimed seven promotions during a career that has seen him lead three teams into the top-flight.

Warnock met with the United chairman last Friday before being unveiled as the new boss less than 24 hours, and the chairman says he was struck by the ambition of the 63-year-old.

"Neil was on his way to Wolverhampton to be interviewed when I spoke to him, and he was on the plane the next morning with Shaun, and we met in Monaco," the chairman told Yorkshire Radio.

"We had a long session and Neil wasn't particularly motivated by money. He has an ambition in that he has won promotion seven times and he wants to be one of the few managers to make it eight.

"In the way the game is going it'll be difficult for someone to do that. His ambition is to take Leeds into the Premier League."

Just three hours after confirming his appointment, United beat Doncaster Rovers 3-2 at Elland Road to usher in the start of a new era, and the chairman hailed the game as a potential turning point in the season.

"It could well be the turning point of the season," he said. "We have come from 2-0 down before, but it was the manner in which it was done. It was like entry of the Gladiator so to speak. It keeps us in touching distance of the Play-Offs with 14 games still to go.

"Neil met all the players on Saturday, but he didn't impose on Neil Redfearn who was manager on the day. He respected him...he then met everyone on Sunday.

"It's always a breath of fresh air when someone comes in. As I've said for a few weeks we're in with a reasonable chance and with the way the players are buzzing at the moment it should be an interesting 10 weeks until the end of the season."

The chairman also paid tribute to departed manager Simon Grayson, who was unveiled as the new Huddersfield Town boss earlier this week.

"We had him for three years and he did a good job," he said.

"He got us promotion, and it's always difficult when you part company with managers.

"We seem to have drifted away this season which is why there was a change, but I'd like to place on record my thanks to him and his merry men for what they did and wish them all the best in their new jobs."

Hear more from Ken Bates on Yorkshire Radio...