LIVERPOOL ‘BULLIES’
Agent blast at club over wantaway 18-year-old
LIVERPOOL are caught in a ‘bullying’ storm after being accused of holding an academy star against his will and damaging his mental health.
The agent for Bobby Duncan claims the 18-year-old, a cousin of club legend Steven Gerrard, is suffering from stress after being told he cannot leave on loan.
A statement from his representative Saif Rubie, first reported by
MailOnline yesterday, accuses Liverpool of ‘mentally bullying’ the teenager and ‘ destroying’ his life. Fiorentina and FC Nordsjaelland have made season-long loan offers. Liverpool deny the accusations.
LIVERPOOL have been accused of holding academy prospect Bobby Duncan against his will and damaging the teenager’s mental health.
In an explosive statement from the 18-year-old’s agent, which was first reported by MailOnline yesterday, it is claimed Duncan has not left his house for four days because of the stress of not being allowed to leave Anfield on loan.
The statement also accuses Liverpool of ‘mentally bullying’ Duncan, who is Anfield legend Steven Gerrard’s cousin, and is particularly critical of sporting director Michael Edwards.
Duncan, according to the statement, will refuse to return to club duty. Liverpool strenuously denied the accusations, branding the allegations as ‘unfounded’ in a strongly worded statement of their own.
Fiorentina and FC Nordsjaelland have made season-long loan offers for Duncan, with a view to signing the youngster on a permanent deal next summer. But Liverpool have rejected all offers.
Duncan wants to leave Anfield and favours a move to Fiorentina, who made a fresh offer yesterday of a season-long loan with an obligation to buy for a fixed price if he makes five or more first- team appearances.
When Liverpool dismissed that offer, the player’s representative, Saif Rubie, posted his grievances.
Rubie said: ‘ The real reason Bobby missed the Under-23 game (against Southampton) on Monday is because he has suffered some deep mental-health issues with all the stress the club has put him under.
‘Stress of being told he can leave but then going out of their way to force him to stay against his will.
‘Not only is he on a very small salary but he also has one season left on his contract after this one and Liverpool have flatly said he will not get a new one.
‘Bobby has not left his room for four days because of this and will never go back to Liverpool again and my only concern now is his mental health and wellbeing.
‘The Liverpool hierarchy have shown zero consideration to that and have even gone as far as saying in writing that they will punish him and make him stay at the club until January and beyond to teach him a lesson. This is not really dignified behaviour from a club with the rich history of Liverpool.
‘It’s a sad state of affairs that a club such as a Liverpool can be allowed to get away with mentally bullying and destroying the life of a young man such as Bobby.
‘In this situation all that matters is the player’s health and in this case Michael Edwards has totally ignored that because of his own stubbornness and I really pray that his experience doesn’t happen to any young players again.’
In response, a club spokesperson said: ‘Liverpool Football Club is aware of and disappointed by the unattributed comments and unfounded allegations that have been made in the media regarding one of our players.
‘As the interests of the player in question are not best served by either inaccurate speculation, inflammatory statements or public discourse, we will be making no further comment.
‘We will, however, continue our efforts to work privately with the player to find resolution in the best interests of all involved.’
Duncan initially retweeted the statement but has since removed it. He has also, however, removed the picture of himself in a Liverpool shirt from his Twitter bio.
Duncan, who scored for the senior side in pre-season, remains highly thought of at the club’s academy and training ground.