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| OFFICIAL SITE INTERVIEW |
| John, out of all the games you played for Leeds United, which one was the most memorable for you and why? "Possibly in the play-offs against Oldham actually, when we beat Oldham 1-0 at Elland Road, then when we played here (Boundary Park) Oldham beat us 2-1, but luckily we went through on away goals so that game was probably the most exciting games I've played in and also in the semi-final against Coventry when we got beat." Throughout your career, who is the toughest opponent you've played against? "I've played against alot of tough players, so I wouldn't really like tp pick one out and obviously at International level, I've played agaisnt some world class players so I wouldn't really pick anyone out, there's that many I've played against." Where you surprised when Darren decided to join the Club and what do you think about his discipline on the pitch? "First of all, I was very pleased when he joined the club, because it was always my ambition to play firt team football with Darren, he's a quality player and should have done alot better in the game, in my eyes, with his ability, and it was a thrill for me when he signed and to play with him, but, unfortunately, this season, especially his discipline has let him down badly and it's something I think he should get sorted out, and obviously he's got to do to for himself and it will be to the benefit of the team if he does." Do you think Oldham can be a major force in Division 2 next season and gain automatic promotion with the current squad? "Yeah, deffinitely so, yeah, you've only got to look at the teams that have gone up this season, and we're equally as good as any of them and on our day we're sas good as any team in the division and with the current squad, we should deffinitely be up there next season." Any plans to get into the management side of the game, you're coaching at the moment, are you going to stick with doing the coaching? "Well I've got another year playing at the moment so I'm concentrating on that, trying to get fit for next season and play as many games as I can. I'm doing my coaching badges at the moment and it's something I'm looking to go into when I stop playing but like I say I'm just concentrating on trying to get another year out of myself." How does it feel scoring the winning goal in the Rumbelows Cup? "Yeah, very nice! It's every players dream to get to a Cup Final and score the winning goal. It was a great thrill for me and a great day for Sheffield Wednesday. It's every players dream to score the winning goal, and luckily it happened to me that day." It's been said you're the best passer of the ball outside the Premiership, what made you decide to join Oldham and the style of play that Oldham employ? "When Andy Ritchie come to sign me, first of all I came on trial and I just liked the way he wanted the team to play football and obviously, my strength is my passing and I just seemed to fit in with the players at the club and I liked the way he was trying to go, it suited my game and the team were playing some good football and it just took off from there and we played some good stuff." What did the team make of the departure of Andy Ritchie and were there any problems with Billy Urmson, what was the reaction of the players? "Erm, it's not for me to say really, alot of the players at the club were fond of Andy and Billy, we had a great team spirit and we were just disappointed, it wa a bit of a shock to the system, but unfortunately it's something that happens in the game and I think the players were disappointed but the team just carried on from there and life goes on and hopefully Andy and Billy have gone on to better things." John, can we see you back in action soon? The groin strain is it on the road to recovery or what's the situation at the moment? "I've got a little niggly groin injury but it's mainly my knee. I had a little operation at the end of the season and hopefully it's something I can get sorted out and I'll be ready for pre-season." |