Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
BAD COP, BAD COP?
Megson: Don’t call us that..most of the time I am having a giggle
GARY MEGSON insists he and Tony Pulis will avoid being ‘bad cop, bad cop’ at West Brom.
After delivering Premier League promotion twice as boss in the Noughties, fans’ favourite Megson has made a shock return as Pulis’s No 2.
While Megson holds legendary status at
The Hawthorns, the straighttalking 58-year-old has failed to earn the same popularity elsewhere.
His appointment ends a five-year absence from football following his ruthless sacking by Sheffield Wednesday – despite them being third in the table.
Like Baggies boss Pulis, he has earned a reputation for being uncompromising in his management style and even yesterday one wondered whether his hoarse voice was due to barking orders on the training ground!
But Megson said: “Neither of us are bad cops. There is a perception in football, not just with Tony and myself.
“I was managing at Wednesday and you would see descriptions of yourself and I’d think, ‘I’m not like that’. “Most of the time I’m messing about and having a giggle. “When it comes to work time and things that are important to the club then I’m serious. But you can’t go through your life being like that.”
Megson has spent much of his time travelling and playing golf after admitting he was getting “lower and lower” at “banging your head against the brick wall.” Having been hands-on as a manager, Megson admits he is still adjusting to his new “golf caddie” role.
He added: “If I’m asked then I’ll give my opinion, but Tony makes the decisions. He will pick the team, the way we play. I did this job a long time ago at Norwich and I wasn’t particularly good at it.
“John Deehan (left) would say something and I’d have a different opinion and would stick to it rather than saying, ‘Well if that’s what John wants, I might not agree with it, but let’s get behind the manager’. I need to try to adapt.
“What I’m finding difficult at the moment – and don’t get me wrong, because I really appreciate it – but at games in pre-season there have been supporters singing, ‘Give us a wave’.
“It’s really nice, but this is Tony’s team – he’s the manager and they need to get behind him.”