Football manager gives wonderfully honest statement about his players

Keith Curle does not have time for molly-coddling the modern day footballer. In fact, the Carlisle United manager sounds very fed up.

The former Man City and Wolves defender, well known for his no nonsense style, has given a refreshingly honest assessment of his relationship with midfielder Alex Marrow.

The statement on the Carlisle website was so good, here it is in full:

Alex Marrow is back with us after his sick note period expired. The situation with him is that Alex wants to leave the football club. I also want Alex to leave the football club.

We’re going through a process of finding the best way for him to leave the club which is financially beneficial to both parties. Fortunately for Alex, while he is here, and doesn’t want to be here, he still gets paid. Unfortunately for me while Alex is here, and doesn’t want to be here, I’ve still got to pay him.

I’ve asked Alex to leave and not take the money he’s owed. That has been my negotiating strategy. We’ve obviously hit a stumbling block on that.

In the short term the beauty of what we’ve got with working for a very honourable football club is that we will continue to pay Alex for his services, even though he doesn’t want to be here.

• Keith Curle

He also had some fairly honest comments about midfielder Danny Kearns, although slightly less scathing.

The situation with him wasn’t one where I asked him to go away for his break. To be completely honest, Danny wasn’t happy, but I wasn’t either. When you have two unhappy people you usually find there needs to be a separation.

We were basically unhappy about the same things. He wasn’t happy that he wasn’t playing football. I wasn’t happy that he wasn’t playing football. I know the reasons why he wasn’t playing.

He’s not in my thoughts for the weekend because he isn’t fit.

• Keith Curle

More of this sort of thing!

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HT Sean Taylor