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Dougie Freedman has moved to diffuse any lingering ill-feeling between Wanderers fans and star players Jay Spearing and Jermaine Beckford.
Speaking on the eve of this afternoon’s home clash with Sheffield Wednesday, the Whites boss said he had dealt with both players over flashpoints that saw them hit the headlines over the international break.
Beckford courted controversy for saluting fans of his former club Leeds United during the 1-0 defeat at Elland Road a fortnight ago.
Spearing, meanwhile, prompted a wave of complaints after being pictured partying in Ibiza just 24 hours after the result, which left Wanderers in the bottom three of the Championship table.
Freedman insists that his captain did not break any club rules, nor did his performance in training suffer as a result of his mini sunshine break.
The midfielder has been cleared to face Wednesday this afternoon and Freedman is hoping that the international break has allowed fans to calm.
“I gave the lads some time off and some decide to spend their days in Ibiza. Some don’t, some do,” he said.
“I can’t sit over them. He (Spearing) broke no rules. I gave him the time off. I have had a word with Jay and I was surprised he spent it that way. But at the end of the day I have huge respect for him and if that’s the way he chose to spend his time, that’s it.
“If you refuse to have pictures taken you get accused of being arrogant and flash. But I had a word with him and the manner was closed very quickly.
“I understand the fans frustration because of the timing and where we are. I can understand their reasons to be frustrated but Jay hasn’t broken any rules.”
Beckford’s situation has arguably caused more of a storm – and Freedman revealed the striker had been apologetic when quizzed on the matter soon after the Leeds game.
The manager rejected rumours that the 30-year-old was close to quitting Wanderers for Fulham on transfer deadline day, however, and believes he is committed to the cause.
“The situation with Jermaine was heat-of-the-moment, spontaneous. I had a word with him and he regrets what he did,” he said.
“He’s fully committed to the football club. Only a few days earlier he got us through to a wonderful cup tie at Chelsea, so you have to keep a bit of balance here.
“I saw Harry Redknapp wave to the Tottenham fans on Sunday, so it’s a difficult one to call. I can certainly remember going back to a few previous clubs where you acknowledge certain groups of fans.
“I understand why it has blown up a little bit. But he is absolutely committed to doing well for this football club.”
Freedman also revealed that he had shelved plans to link-up with Scotland Under-19s after receiving an invite to assist them in last week’s game against the Czech Republic.
Fans had voiced their frustration that the manager was considering answering an international call with the club currently struggling in the bottom three.
But while Freedman thought better of it last week, he said the offer would be one he may take up in the future.
“I was asked but in the end I couldn’t commit to it,” he said.
“I thought it would be an opportunity to gain some experience of the younger players there, maybe ones I’d like to sign, but in the end I didn’t go.
“I didn’t think our window was very active but on the eleventh hour there was a lot of stuff with Jermaine and then trying to get a player in.
“I called them up on the Monday and said I couldn’t commit fully, as I would like to have done.
“It’s something I’ll look at again and I encourage all my staff when we have a few days off to go and look at how other clubs do things. The more you can bring back into the club, the better.”
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Speaking on the eve of this afternoon’s home clash with Sheffield Wednesday, the Whites boss said he had dealt with both players over flashpoints that saw them hit the headlines over the international break.
Beckford courted controversy for saluting fans of his former club Leeds United during the 1-0 defeat at Elland Road a fortnight ago.
Spearing, meanwhile, prompted a wave of complaints after being pictured partying in Ibiza just 24 hours after the result, which left Wanderers in the bottom three of the Championship table.
Freedman insists that his captain did not break any club rules, nor did his performance in training suffer as a result of his mini sunshine break.
The midfielder has been cleared to face Wednesday this afternoon and Freedman is hoping that the international break has allowed fans to calm.
“I gave the lads some time off and some decide to spend their days in Ibiza. Some don’t, some do,” he said.
“I can’t sit over them. He (Spearing) broke no rules. I gave him the time off. I have had a word with Jay and I was surprised he spent it that way. But at the end of the day I have huge respect for him and if that’s the way he chose to spend his time, that’s it.
“If you refuse to have pictures taken you get accused of being arrogant and flash. But I had a word with him and the manner was closed very quickly.
“I understand the fans frustration because of the timing and where we are. I can understand their reasons to be frustrated but Jay hasn’t broken any rules.”
Beckford’s situation has arguably caused more of a storm – and Freedman revealed the striker had been apologetic when quizzed on the matter soon after the Leeds game.
The manager rejected rumours that the 30-year-old was close to quitting Wanderers for Fulham on transfer deadline day, however, and believes he is committed to the cause.
“The situation with Jermaine was heat-of-the-moment, spontaneous. I had a word with him and he regrets what he did,” he said.
“He’s fully committed to the football club. Only a few days earlier he got us through to a wonderful cup tie at Chelsea, so you have to keep a bit of balance here.
“I saw Harry Redknapp wave to the Tottenham fans on Sunday, so it’s a difficult one to call. I can certainly remember going back to a few previous clubs where you acknowledge certain groups of fans.
“I understand why it has blown up a little bit. But he is absolutely committed to doing well for this football club.”
Freedman also revealed that he had shelved plans to link-up with Scotland Under-19s after receiving an invite to assist them in last week’s game against the Czech Republic.
Fans had voiced their frustration that the manager was considering answering an international call with the club currently struggling in the bottom three.
But while Freedman thought better of it last week, he said the offer would be one he may take up in the future.
“I was asked but in the end I couldn’t commit to it,” he said.
“I thought it would be an opportunity to gain some experience of the younger players there, maybe ones I’d like to sign, but in the end I didn’t go.
“I didn’t think our window was very active but on the eleventh hour there was a lot of stuff with Jermaine and then trying to get a player in.
“I called them up on the Monday and said I couldn’t commit fully, as I would like to have done.
“It’s something I’ll look at again and I encourage all my staff when we have a few days off to go and look at how other clubs do things. The more you can bring back into the club, the better.”
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