Griffiths right to put his fitness first: Rodgers
BRENDAN Rodgers agreed with Leigh Griffiths’ decision to withdraw from the Scotland squad to work on his fitness and stressed that he “has no business” playing unless he is fit.
The Celtic striker controversially pulled out of Alex McLeish’s squad for the double-header against Israel and Portugal.
Ahead of the Ladbrokes Premiership clash with Hibernian at Celtic Park today, Hoops boss Rodgers said: “For me it was the right decision to make, purely on the basis of, if you want to be involved in the top level of sport and play internationally and for a top club, unless you are physically fit you have no business being on the pitch to play.
“If you are going to play for your country or play for a top club like Celtic you have to be physically right going onto the field, otherwise you don’t do yourself justice or your teammates and your support.
“Our supporters live their life for this club, the very least they expect from players going onto the field is that they are fit.
“He has been ill, and we will have to see if he is available, but the message he sent was he wanted to ensure, like we have always said to the players, that you have to be physically right.”
Meanwhile, Chris Sutton wants Neil Lennon to take over from Rodgers if the Ulsterman leaves the Scottish champions.
“My own gut feeling is he wants a change but I can’t say I’ve a definitive idea of what Rodgers is thinking,” former Hoops ace Sutton said.
“Maybe Rodgers has accepted this situation and will be happy to ignore all advances and stay to the end of his contract.
“If that scenario changes, Celtic can surely look no further than Lennon. Lennon comes into his own when you look at the European competition. He’s done better than Rodgers in that sphere.
“There isn’t a Celtic fan who doesn’t know who was responsible for signing Gary Hooper, Virgil van Dijk or Victor Wanyama. He made a few bad signings too, but Lennon has a better eye.”
ALFIE Wylie could talk for Northern Ireland. Get him going about football and he provides an endless stream of knowledge, insight and memories. For the 61-year-old the beautiful game has been his life since the days when he played for Killycomaine Boys Youth Club in Portadown. Later he would feature in midfield for his home town reserve team and the second string at Glenavon but it is as a coach for which he is well known and respected in Northern Ireland and where he has made an indelible mark.
In the men’s game, as a manager Wylie brought Loughgall unprecedented success, was in charge at Glenavon and Newry and has enjoyed successful coaching roles with Coleraine and Linfield.
He has also been the Northern Ireland women’s team boss since 2004, helping put the game here on the map.
“I remember taking the girls to play in the Algarve Cup in 2004. We went back in 2005 and won our first match against Portugal which was a big moment for all of us. Ashley Hutton and Stacey Hall scored the goals. Aine McGovern from Fermanagh, who is Michael McGovern’s sister, was playing as well,” recalls Alfie, whose role with the Irish FA in developing women’s football is full-time.
“I didn’t know then that I would still be manager 14 years later. The progress the IFA have made in women’s football is fantastic. I’m proud of how far we have come and proud to be the manager of the country. It’s an amazing feeling when we step out to play.
“I’m also proud to be planting trees with the IFA now which other people will see grow. The pathway we are producing for Northern Ireland female players to go forward and make a career in the game for themselves is great.”
Living in Ballymoney with his partner Alison Nicholl, who is the Northern Ireland Under-17s female coach and soon to be the first woman from here to earn her Pro Licence in coaching, and their six-year-old son Zach, any spare time that Alfie has is spent with them.
He also has three grown-up children Audrey, Craig and Sophie and two grandchildren Alex and Ella.
“All my children have been very supportive to me throughout my career. The older ones used to come to the games and now to have Zach in our lives is just fantastic,” says Wylie, who began coaching 35 years ago.
Loughgall were in the Mid-Ulster Intermediate League when Wylie took charge in 1986. By the time he had left in 1999 the village side had won a multitude of trophies and four B Division titles in a row.
The wily Wylie used every trick in the book to bring quali-