In the aftershock of the disappearance of newly Cadiff City player, EmilianoSala, the club’s technical manager, Neil Warnock has said he considered retiring even as the club offered counsellling to staff and players.

Sala, Cardiff’s €17m signing from Nantes, got missing last Monday when the Piper PA-46 Malibu plane he was travelling in disappeared over the English Channel.

Stronger efforts resumed after private funds were raised to continue search, following rescuers three-days of suspending search for the forward and pilot David Ibbotson.

Warnock, while speaking at a news conference Tuesday said he had considered whether to continue in football.

“You think 24 hours a day about whether to carry on,” he said. “It’s impossible to sleep. I’ve been in football management for 40 years, and it’s been the most difficult week in my career by an absolute mile.

“It’s been a traumatic week, and even now I can’t get my head around the situation. It’s probably hit me harder than anyone else, as I’ve met the lad and talked to him for the last six to eight weeks.”

Cardiff players and staff have been offered counselling, and Warnock said, “I am okay when I’m in the public eye or with the players – it’s when I’m on my own or at home that you think about it.

“It’s probably the lads you don’t expect that needed more help, but I don’t think it does any harm to talk to anyone else.”

Cardiff captain Sol Bamba and his Arsenal counterpart laid flowers on the pitch ahead of Tuesday’s game at the Emirates.

“Football is important, relegation and things are important, but in the context of life it just opens everybody’s eyes, whether you are involved with Cardiff or any of the families,” Warnock said.