Parry: Fergie’s lack of respect led to exit
New Clyde signing Neil Parry has accused his former manager Barry Ferguson of showing him a lack of respect after his shock exit from Alloa.
The 35-year-old goalkeeper spent six years at the Indodrill and was a huge fan favourite at the Wasps, but he fell out of favour at the Clackmannanshire club following Ferguson’s arrival in May.
He slipped to third choice in the pecking order and was released from his contract on Friday to join their League One rivals.
His exit has left a sour taste with exClyde gaffer Ferguson saying publicly last month that Parry still had a future at Alloa, only for him to tell the former Airdrie and Albion Rovers shot-stopper a different story shortly after.
And Parry said: “I was a bit disappointed with it all because I’d had six great years at Alloa and loved it. “But this season I was number three. “I can handle somebody not rating me, but the way the manager went about it wasn’t great.
“You just expect a bit of honesty from him and respect and I didn’t get that, so it wasn’t going to work out.
“He put me at number three and that’s fair enough, he’s the manager, I respect that decision.
“But you also expect him to be honest with you when you speak to him, but that wasn’t happening and I was left with no choice to go.”The way he’s gone about it is what disappoints me.
“But that’s his style, he’ll live or die by the decisions he makes, and that’s up to him.
“Saying a few weeks before [he had a future at the club] and then changing after isn’t being honest and up front, but I don’t want to dwell on it too much because there’s so many great people at Alloa, so I won’t let the experience of the last manager affect that.
“I’m 35 now, I want to play football and I know I can still play at a high level.
“That’s what’s so frustrating as well. I felt really fit and sharp, but I wasn’t getting an opportunity.”
During his spell with the Wasps, Parry enjoyed promotion to the Championship in 2018 and played in some big cup ties.
And he added: “Working under Jack
Ross and Jim Goodwin was a highlight because they are two unbelievable managers and man managers.
“But the group of core boys that were there for a long time and playing with them was great.
“We had a lot of success. Getting to the Championship and being up against it against full-time teams was just brilliant.
“There’s great people involved at Alloa. It really is a special part-time club.
“I’ll miss it but I’ll look forward to going back there and visiting all the people I’ve made friends with there along the way.”
Unfortunately for Parry, there was to be further frustration after sealing his switch to the Bully Wee on a two-year deal. He had hoped to make his debut in Saturday’s clash with Cove Rangers, which Clyde won 2-1, but he tested positive for Covid on the day of the game.
He added: “It kind of sums up my season so far.”I was due to make my debut on Saturday, but my lateral flow test in the morning came
Alloa boss Barry Ferguson
Parry loved most of his time at Alloa, but a clash with Ferguson has seen him move to Clyde up positive and then the PCR did as well.
“We don’t have a game this weekend at least, so I’ll be able to get back to training on Tuesday for the Peterhead game next Saturday.
“I’m a little bit run down, but nobody else in the family has it so I’m staying out the way upstairs.
“It’s just like a bad cold for me, thankfully.”
Parry is looking forward to getting back on the pitch having played just once this season - in a 1-0 League Cup defeat to Cowdenbeath in July - and he is delighted to link up with old boss Danny Lennon at Broadwood.
”As much as it was difficult to leave Alloa, when Clyde contacted me it was ideal,” Parry enthused.
“I’ve obviously worked with Danny before when he was at Airdrie and it’s a big club, so it suited me down to the ground to come and join them.
“I was really pleased to get it sorted and done so quickly It was great to speak to Danny. He made me feel appreciated and he knows the qualities that I can bring.
“I just want to get back to playing football again.
“Clyde have a great support, they’ve got a great stadium and it’s ideal for me travel-wise living in East Kilbride.
”I can’t wait to get started.”