Press release / Source: Glanford Park / Date: Mon 29th April
"Lee Hodges, by far and away our best player, was released today after Kaiser Laws (he who should be worshipped and adored), wisely decided to play him on the right wing (his third choice position) and kept him on the bench for practically every away game of the season while maintaining faith in the prodigal son, Steve Torpey game in, game out. We wish Lee all the best in his future career and hope that Mr Sven-Goran Eriksson will learn from Our Glorious Leader's example, and solve England's problems this World Cup by playing Michael Owen at left back and Gareth Southgate up front. Message ends.”
Press release / Source: Glanford Park / Date: Tue 30th April
“Scunthorpe United Football Club are pleased to announce the extension of Gareth Sheldon's contract. Gareth, who will be combining his duties at the club with his heavy junk food schedule, is an intregal part of the set-up and is best known for his world famous headless chicken impression. We also hope to tie up the signature of Pop Idol's Rik Waller within the next 24 hours to partner Sheldon in midfield. Message ends.”
So, in the words of a club source, Sheldon has ‘become lazy with regards to training', and this ‘commitment' to the club has been honoured with a new contract, whilst no attempt was made to keep Lee Hodges. The excuse being that he has had a bad season…OF COURSE HE HAS, HE HAS BEEN PLAYED WELL OUT OF POSITION. Is it only me that sees this as a possible reason? I know not to do that in Championship Manager, yet they let Mr Laws loose with a real team.
Lee has been an absolute star for us, he is committed to the cause, you can see by the way he plays, celebrates goals and takes defeats. We were lucky to keep him last year and stupid to lose him this time. OK, he put on weight and he looked pissed off towards the end, but anyone with a manager who respects his or her talents and contribution so little would let themselves go. The fact remains that Hodges out of shape is better than most players in this division fully fit. As is the way with this season, we have criminally wasted our potential.
Even if the reason to get rid of him is based around the cost of his wages, then I can think of many more deserving characters to be dumped from the Scunthorpe United Big Brother house, a certain carrot-crunching ‘striker' springs to mind. The RSPCA take donkeys in all the time. They'll even pick them up for free.
Of course, the reason Super Lee wasn't offered a contract could be because there is no way in Hell he would want to continue playing under these conditions. And who could blame him? Rant ends.
Up The Iron
PS. Good luck to Peter Morrison in whatever he goes on to do. It is tragic when a career is cut short by injury, especially when the player is so immensely talented.
His column can be read exclusivesly on Iron-Bru.net every Thursday