Ricky in a rage over Brown’s ‘disrespect’
Jan 16 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal
RICKY Sbragia has launched an attack on relegation rivals Hull City and Tottenham Hotspur for trying to unsettle his players by leaking details of bids for Dean Whitehead and Kenwyne Jones – accusing Tigers boss Phil Brown of “disrespect” for talking up his interest in the Sunderland skipper.
Sbragia, who has repeated his claim that Jones is not for sale “at any price”, is frustrated at what he perceives as desperate tactics used by relegation-threatened teams to try and reinforce their squads during the January transfer window.
He has been angered by Spurs’ attempts to unsettle players during January by leaking their interest to the media – claiming that their way of conducting business is “completely wrong”.
The Sunderland boss has vowed to continue his recruitment drive in “private”, but his weariness at managers who are not as discreet as him was obvious as he voiced his disappointment at Hull boss Brown for discussing his interest in Whitehead.
Sbragia insisted that no offer has been tabled for Whitehead, and said that Brown had also gone back on an agreement not to make Paul McShane’s recall public until he had a chance to talk to the Ireland defender.
“I was disappointed that was leaked out because there was an agreement in place,” he said.
“I spoke to Phil on Wednesday and asked him if he wanted me to talk to him before the game and he said ‘no, I’d prefer to concentrate on the game’.
“The next thing he is spieling it out in the Press which I thought was disrespectful. And he didn’t mention anything to me about Whitehead.
“I’m interested in a million players but I haven’t mentioned it to a club, so it’s disrespectful to mention it to the Press.
“I know what they are like and I know I would not do that. I don’t think it’s right, you talk about respect for people and I thought I gave Phil respect by saying I wouldn’t take to him after the game.
“When I did speak to Paul after the game, he indicated that Phil had leaked it out and I thought that was disrespectful. It’s up to them, that’s there situation. I have enough on my plate.”
Spurs interest in Jones became public at the start of the week and Sunderland have already turned down one offer from North London.
But it was the way in which the news was leaked out as soon as they had registered an interest which dismayed Sbragia.
“There has been an enquiry but it seems as if Spurs are after every player in the league. They’re talking £25m and £30m and it’s all a bit far fetched,” he said.
“We show interest in players but what I don’t do is put it in the papers. Tottenham seem to be in for everybody and they make sure it goes in the papers. That’s completely wrong.
“We can all be desperate but we have to keep our house in order. I will not sell players to teams around us. If it was AC Milan or Real Madrid I have a problem and I would have to think about that.
“Spurs do what Spurs do, that’s what they do, it’s not the way to do business. It should be in private and I would never leak anything out. It’s not right. They unsettled Stewart (Downing) but he wasn’t unsettled on Saturday. He was excellent. If Stewart Downing is worth £17m then give him that, not offer £1m or £2m. Kenwyne is not going. I hope Kenwyne follows Stewart’s lead and plays well for the rest of the season.”
Meanwhile, Liam Miller has left Sunderland for QPR in a permanent deal until the end of the season. Rangers may return to Sunderland with a bid for Daryl Murphy before the January transfer window shuts.
:: SUNDERLAND Under-18s will play Arsenal at home in the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup.
The game will be played at the Stadium of Light on Friday, January 30, kick-off 7pm, with tickets priced £3 adults and £1 concessions.
