Young stars lack hunger, says Clark
SANDY CLARK insists the perceived lack of drive among young footballers is a problem which goes beyond sport.
The experienced Dunfermline assistant manager, who also lectures at New College Lanarkshire, believes a poor work ethic among some younger people is an issue which all sections of society must tackle.
SFA performance director Malky Mackay revealed in a forthright interview last week that he didn’t believe footballers in their twenties were dedicated enough.
One-time Hibs and Dundee United midfielder John Rankin followed that up by claiming that youngsters were more interested in visiting Nando’s restaurants and going to the cinema than putting in crucial extra work on the training pitch.
But former Rangers and Hearts striker Clark insists football is not alone in facing such problems.
He said: “I think what we’re talking about is a society problem with young people – it’s not just football.
“It’s right across life. I lecture at college and I deal with young people.
“I watch things that go on and I hear stuff in the news.
“Young people are just different now compared to my day.
“They get too much too easy, they don’t want to work hard to get the benefit of that and you can tag it into football easily.
“They get things too easy and they don’t have the same hunger and desire.
“But the flip side of that is, if you work really hard and you’re good, and there is a lot of young players in that category, then you will get the rewards for it.
“What Malky’s saying is absolutely right but it’s not just young footballers that will be like that, it’s right across the board.
“I can guarantee that our young players are not away at 2.30pm, and at no club I’ve worked at has that ever been the case.
“That’s down to John Potter, that’s not down to me or the manager Allan Johnston – that’s the way that John runs it and he does it well.”