It’s been just over a week now since Martin O’Neill was sacked as manager of Nottingham Forest.
Reports at the time suggested that the reason for the Irishman’s departure was because of growing dissent within the dressing room, particularly over his training methods, however, one player has come forward to try and quash some of those stories.
Thirty-five-year-old defender Michael Dawson, has spoken about what happened during pre-season and done his best to try and put the record straight.
He said: “I have not worked like that for years – but all of the lads worked their socks off.
“And that is one thing I would like to put out there. I read things about how there was unrest – and that was not reflected in what we saw in training. I can honestly say, 100 percent, with my hand on my heart, that there was nobody here who let the manager down when it came to work rate or effort.
“The work we put in was at a different level.”
It seems as though the truth behind what really happened at Nottingham Forest on that hectic Friday afternoon probably won’t be fully told for some time, but in the meanwhile, we can only deal with what we’ve got. And it appears as though these Nottingham Forest supporters aren’t entirely convinced by what they read…
It’s very carefully worded, isn’t it?
— Nottz TV (@NottzTV) July 8, 2019
No revolt? What! Who would have thought it? #nffc https://t.co/6KiZZL3lEO
— Forest FanBase (@ForestFanBase) July 8, 2019
Becoming apparent to me player’s revolt been used as an excuse by club. Martin O’Neil’s silence another clue too as probably been given gagging clause in exchange for pay-off. Club being run very suspiciously
— Peter (@MrTrickyTree) July 8, 2019
Reading between the lines here Dawson is basically saying the players tried there best in training but didn’t agree with the methods and were honest about that
— David (@dave5bassett) July 8, 2019
Seems somebody at the club wasn’t impressed with the wollaton park pre season training.
— Mark King (@Mark_King_Wolf) July 8, 2019
‘Professional Footballers worked hard pre-season’. I thought that was the point! There’s been a repeated theme of new #NFFC managers saying squad aren’t fit enough. Unless that’s a stock phrase all new managers use. Regardless, one thing you need to be in the Championship is fit!
— Danny Rhodes (@danrhodesuk) July 8, 2019
They didn’t form a group and charge in to the chairman’s office…. The chairman etc asked the question about performances and style and some players answered honestly and they reacted.
— Andrew Chard (@Chardgrills) July 8, 2019
The more likely truth is probably more worrying though, in that Mendez has too much sway over our owner and got MON out and his own man and subsequently own players in. (imo of course) #nffc
— Andy Walker (@ANDYW4LKER) July 8, 2019
