Soccer: War of words erupts at Riverside

NWCFL First Division: OFF-FIELD threatens to relegate on-field action to the backburner, as personalities battle away behind the scenes at troubled Ramsbottom United.

During Tuesday night's 6-2 defeat away at Trafford, Rams' manager Vince Overson substituted winger Danny Hayes, who didn't react well to being brought off.

It sparked a pitch-side tirade, which in turn led to a full blown 'frank exchange of views' in the dressing room after the game.

The result was that Overson has released Hayes, who reacted by posting a message on the club's unofficial website forum.

In it he said: "I will be the first to admit that I shouldn't have thrown a chair over the hoardings, and that I regret doing it.

"But to get the verbal abuse in the dugout and changing room after the game off Vincent was disgusting and degrading.

"I accept things are said and I can take a rollicking, but not in the manner it was done.

"To be honest I could and maybe should have left Rammy earlier, but I stayed because I felt at home and also because Vincent told me Colne had put a 7 day notice on me, but that he wanted me to stay at the club.

"After Vincent had told me I had a heart the size of a pea I had to laugh, and this is what probably put the last nail in the coffin."

When asked his thoughts on Hayes' behaviour on the night, Overson told the Bury Times : "When he came off he picked up a chair and threw it into the advertising boards, which was a disgrace. If he showed that kind of commitment on the pitch we might be doing something.

"He has been a disruptive influence at the club and the players are happy for him to go, because they are brassed off with him.

"He sulks, and there's no room for sulkers.

"He has ability, there is no question about that, but if he thinks he can perform one game and then not bother giving any commitment for the next three of four, and then sulk when he gets dragged off or he's not included in the team, he's got another think coming.

"Tuesday night was the final straw, I've never known someone sulk through a game as much as he did.

"He got pulled off, and rightly so, because he strolled through the game, didn't show any commitment and let his team-mates and the club down, never mind me."

As for the player's decision to bare his soul on the web, Overson said: "That just sums up the man he isn't, he won't be missed by me or the players

"Despite his comments we are all together and the players backed me in my decision to release him, he's just trying to stir things up."

And he was concerned that the fans get a true picture of what is going on behind the scenes.

"The one thing I need to get over to people is that there are no big bust ups in the changing room," he said.

"We discuss things, the players have their opportunity to make their feelings known.

"They all have the chance to voice their opinions, whether it's after a game, during a game, or after training, it's the only way.

"If you think you know everything you're a fool.

"I've got all my coaching badges but managing is new to me, so I need their input as much as they need my guidance, they openly give their opinions and they are certainly not intimidated."

He also expressed his concern at the power of the web.

"When people post things on websites, they have the power to destroy reputations and you can't do anything about it," he said.

As for the game itself, Trafford took the lead on 17 minutes through Weir, with Rammy's Micky Saunders equalising five minutes later.

But goals from Earnes on 26 minutes and a penalty from former Rams player Fitton made it 3-1 to Trafford, with an Iain Dyson penalty making it 3-2 going into the break.

Trafford then ran amok in the second half and further goals from Weir and Fitton, along with a Dickinson strike in the final minute made it 6-2 to Trafford and a bad night for Rammy.

"They are a young side and we sat back and let them come at us,' said Overson.

"We gave them a bit too much respect, which didn't do us any favours as they are a lively team.

"We pulled it back to 3-2 before half time, and the lads seemed confident they could turn it around, but we carried three or four people in that game and you can't afford to do that.

Looking forward to tomorrow's League Cup semi-final first leg game against Newcastle Town at the Riverside, he said: "When we played them down there in the league we ran them ragged in the first half.

"Yes, they picked holes in our defence in the second half, but we did well and played a bit of football.

"Then when we played them up here a couple of weeks ago, our workrate, commitment and desire was spot on. It's just a matter of replicating that tomorrow.

"We have tremendous ability but we are a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde team.

"On our day we are quite capable of beating any team in the league.

"But I've said it before and I'll say it again, there are two sides to the game, the ugly side and the pretty side.

"We are undeniably very good at the pretty side, it's the ugly side we need to work on."

Other than Hayes and Lee Buggie and Liam Boden, who are both cup-tied, Overson should have a full squad to choose from.

"We are confident," he said.

"We know we can beat them and the lads are looking forward to it."

A Ramsbottom XI progressed to the next round of the Bolton Hospitals Cup, after beating Bolton County 9-0 at the Riverside on Wednesday night.

There were hat-tricks for Dave Gardiner and Russ Brierley, with Scott Welch bagging a brace and Andy Grimshaw a single.

Rammy face either Stoneclough or Aspull in the next round.

RAMSBOTTOM: Marsh, Hardman, Fitton, Yates, Parry, Thomas, Grimshaw, McLoughlin, Gardiner, Brierley, Welch. Subs: Norman, Hayman, Hodgson.

PETER COLLINS

O Danny boy! Danny Hayes has been released by Rammy manager Vince Overson (inset)