WHEN it comes down to men behaving badly, professional football never seems to be short of a few candidates for the casting couch, writes PETER WHITE.

Nicolas Anelka has filled the national tabloids with his extraordinary behaviour this summer and Stan Collymore must be accountable for more managerial grey hairs at the City Ground, Anfield and Villa Park than the simple process of ageing.

Benito Carbone, Paul Gascoigne, Paolo Di Canio, Pierre Van Hooijdonk . . . apart from their footballing talents, all seem to possess a natural ability to give a game a bad name.

But, as the PFA will readily point out, for every rebel there are umpteen good guys prepared to accept the responsibilities that go with their highly-paid profession.

Players any headmaster would welcome into his school to coach the kids and provide a shining example of what 'model' should mean when it's linked with 'role'.

Enter Simon Grayson.

Faced with the frustrating exclusion zone he found himself in at Villa Park last season - after playing a part in 33 of Villa's 38 Premiership games the previous year - Grayson could have been forgiven for kicking up a fuss. But there were no tantrums, no knocking on the manager's door demanding a one-way ticket out, no bleating to the national newspapers about his position.

Grayson got his head down and continued working as hard as he could in the hope his chance might come again - until he had to accept the inevitable and make his exit.

Even then, it was a dignified departure and the ease with which his move to Ewood went through seemed to typify a player whose reputation as that 'model pro' preceded him.

"I was desperate to play at Aston Villa last season but I never complained, I do like to see myself as a good professional," he said.

"One who maybe has a lower profile than some but who can do a lot to impress the manager and the fans by working for the team.

"I think that's very important.

"If you look at all the successful teams like Manchester United, you can see their teamwork and how hard they all work.

"And, if you don't work hard, the talent of the players will never come through."

It is easy to see why, when he needed an established, experienced leader who would be able to help his younger players, Brian Kidd opted for someone like Grayson.

The player himself clearly found a kindred spirit in his new manager.

"After speaking to Brian Kidd I was really excited about the prospect of joining Blackburn," he said.

"You can't doubt his experience or what he achieved at Manchester United.

"And this will be his first full season at Blackburn.

"He will be looking to stamp his authority on things and make it his team. "I am really looking forward to it and the rest of the players have made me feel very welcome."

It would be difficult to imagine anything else, given the spirit which Kidd has concentrated on instilling into his squad this summer, not to mention the amenable and approachable manner of the manager's first close-season signing.

Moving to Rovers also provided a useful bonus for the player.

"I come from Ripon and my wife is from Leeds, so we'll probably find somewhere to live in the Skipton area which is about halfway between there and Blackburn.

"It will be good to be coming back to Yorkshire and, in that sense, it's an even better move for me."

There had been some speculation that Grayson might return to Leicester, his previous club where the 29-year-old utility man was twice named player of the year.

But, despite Rovers' relegation, he is more than happy to be here.

"Hopefully we will be back in the Premiership this time next year," he said.

"Sometimes you have to take one step back to take two forward and that is what I feel I have done."

Grayson can play full back, midfield and centre back, with full back probably his favoured role, but he gives the impression of being the kind of man who would sacrifice personal motives for the sake of the team.

That is the kind of character Kidd has been striving to add to the dressing room but, a word of warning.

Just occasionally, even a model pro can go off the rails . . . Following his signing this week, Sky TV showed frequent replays of a spectacular goal scored by Grayson for Villa - and an even more spectacular celebration as he whipped off his shirt and ran around like a headless chicken before being submerged by joyful team-mates.

"Yes, I remember it," he laughed a little sheepishly.

"It was a local derby against West Brom in the FA Cup and I scored in the opening minutes.

"I don't score many goals but I wish I had never done that with my shirt now, I got a real hammering from the rest of the lads at Villa for days afterwards.

"It was just a spur of the moment thing.

"But, with the stick I got, I won't be doing anything like that again."

So, Kidd can put his shirt on Grayson to fit safely into his plans, and the new boy promises he won't be taking it off - no matter what! SIMON GRAYSON:

Model professional By PETER WHITE TEAM PLAYER: Grayson

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