Bond hails professionalism of veteran Whelan
ONE of Joey Barton’s major missions last summer, beyond completely restructuring and improving the quality of the Bristol Rovers squad after relegation, was to raise the standards of professionalism at the club, particularly in the dressing room, writes James Piercy.
Barton’s revelations towards the end of the 2020/21 campaign of widespread snus use caused a stir given its unique nature, but it also spoke of a wider problem, a lackadaisical attitude, whereby certain individuals – who have since left north Bristol – were not showing an attitude befitting of a successful and professional club.
A manager can only do so much in addressing this, setting rules and behaviours, but the best device for doing so is by implanting players with a certain mentality within the dressing room to affect culture through how they operate.
Paul Coutts has been one, named captain for good reason, another has been Glenn Whelan. And while the former Stoke City midfielder has experienced modest game time – 18 starts, with his last against Newport County on March 5 – his impact has been felt at The Quarters as much as it has on the field of play.
Speaking to Irish website the42.ie, Rovers coach Kevin Bond has given an insight into the 38-year-old’s influence at the club and what he brings, enabling the likes of Connor Taylor – who previously declared him one his childhood heroes – Luca Hoole, Aaron Collins, Antony Evans and others to learn from.
“He is without doubt one of the best professionals that I’ve ever come across,” Bond said, having spent ten years working alongside Harry Redknapp at Portsmouth,
Southampton, Tottenham and QPR in the Premier League.
“He is first on the training ground and the last one to leave. He sets standards. He does everything.
“You would think he’s trying to make his way in the game because he trains like it’s his last day in football every day. There could be a bit of frustration there at the moment because he’s not starting and we have a settled side.”
With two games to play, Rovers are two points off the automatic places for promotion with games against Rochdale and Scunthorpe to come.