Newcastle United Boss Takes Moral High Ground By Standing On Gary Speed’s Coffin: Joey Barton Tweets
HOW much worse can the PR get at Newcastle United? Derek Llambias has a go at making the club look bad.
Joey Barton has made a dickish comment about his former club:
“Myself, Kevin Nolan, Alan Smith, Steve Harper and Andy Carroll – probably the bigger-name players at the time – advised the playing staff not to sign the bonus sheet and that filtered back to boardroom level. It’s no coincidence that I got sold – well, given away – Andy Carroll was sold, Kevin Nolan was sold, Steve Harper – a fantastic servant for the football club – has been forced to go on loan and maybe his position has become untenable.”
That would be Andy Carroll, a players sold for a well over the odds £35m, ageing Nolan and a reserve ‘keeper? Barton then goes on twitter to say of Newcastle’s managing director Derek Llambias:
“If he’s worried now, him and his fat mate should be ******** it, if I decide to write a book. There’ll be no holding back on those 2 muppets.”
Barton seems to have overlooked the fact that since he and his rebels left Newcastle have performed rather well – better than last season, in fact.
Barton adds:
“They thought we were Sports Direct and we should do what the subordinates at Sports Direct do.”
Because footballers are special and not like other workers, Joey?
So. Given all Barton’s wrongheadedness, surely Llambias should just ignore the QPR player, and let Joey beat himself up. Well, no. This is Newcastle. Llambias takes the moral high ground by standing on Gary Speed’s coffin. Says he:
“In a week when one of Newcastle United’s most beloved footballers passed away, it is disappointing that once again Joey Barton makes the headlines.”
What? Are the two things linked?
“It is also unfortunate that Joey chose to draw such a disparaging comparison between himself and the employees of Sports Direct, who through hard work and dedication are the recipients of one of the most generous bonus schemes in UK retailing. It may not be a lot of money to Joey, but over 2,000 Sports Direct employees earning £20,000 will receive shares worth over £44,000 over the next two years.”
Go on:
“However, in this week of all weeks, we really do not wish to engage in a public war of words with Joey Barton. Our legal advisors are dealing with the matter now and we would encourage Joey to concentrate on his football at Queens Park Rangers. Our thoughts and attentions this week remain firmly with the family and friends of Gary Speed.”
Tasteful stuff, eh, readers.
Posted: 1st, December 2011 | In: Sports Comments (3) | TrackBack | Permalink
