Big Ron Atkinson Questions Players

Ron Atkinson, in charge between 1991-94, whose chants of support included ‘Big Fat Ron’s, Claret and Blue army’. Don’t get so many chants for O’Leary do we?!?

He said:

‘It’s a weird and wonderful thing to be going into the season with that political background. But what David O’Leary has to be sure of is that he is whiter than white and has had no part of it because, if he has, then it puts him on the back foot.’ Adding ‘It’s a farce.’

‘I can’t honestly believe senior players would be so petty to talk about a cup of coffee and £300 for watering pitches. There might be bigger issues at stake, but normally players are only interested in their own personal point of view and what their deal is with the club.’

He also thinks the media frenzy over the ‘players statement’ might just fire the players on to better things: ‘It could be a kick up the backside, and the players need that because they have been pretty abject over the last couple of years.’

‘They have to start looking at themselves because there are some decent players there. They haven’t performed to anything like the level they should have done. It’s not the players’ concern. They should be getting on with preparing for pre-season and give a better account of themselves next season.’