I’M NO BOOZER
Bad boy Gibson’s claim to Grayson in drink showdown
DARRON GIBSON has assured Sunderland that he doesn’t have a drink problem following his foul-mouthed abuse of team-mates.
The midfielder appeared drunk when he was he was filmed blasting the attitude of players including Lamine Kone, Jeremain Lens and Wahbi Khazri.
Now Gibson, 29, faces a massive fine after he was quizzed about his drinking habits in a club inquest.
Boss Simon Grayson said: “We had a long, hard chat and it was a question I asked him.
“I said if you need help with anything then the football club and other people will do what is required to help people along this way.
“Footballers can get into trouble with alcohol, gambling or other addictions, but he’s assured me there are no problems with that and it won’t happen again.
“It is not a situation you encourage for any player to be drinking before a game. That is down to their responsibility. I can’t be with them 24/7.
“Ultimately it’s going to cost him a lot of money and his reputation is in tatters to a certain degree.”
The Black Cats gaffer (right), who refused to reveal if they considered sacking Gibson, added: “For an experienced player, making a mistake like that is disappointing. The comments weren’t ideal given we are starting a new season. But nothing surprises you in football. “I had a situation at Preston last year where two players in my team were sent off for fighting with each other. We have dealt with this in the manner we thought was right. Now we move on with the game against Derby.”
Gibson will be in the squad for tomorrow night’s Championship opener against Derby County – along with players who are keen to quit the Stadium of Light.
Grayson admitted: “We’re probably not in a position where we can move people out of the squad, because we don’t have the strength in depth.
“Darron’s apologised and sometimes you have to put a seal on things and move on.”
Gibson said sorry on Monday morning to the players he claimed did not want to play for Sunderland, and Grayson said: “No one has kicked anyone and there haven’t been any other repercussions.”
The uproar surrounding Gibson’s comments has disrupted the build-up to Grayson’s first league game in charge of Sunderland.
But even Grayson agreed that Gibson had a point when he said some players wanted to leave.
Grayson said: “I’m sure there are players who don’t want to be at this football club. That has been clear from day one.
“I’ve openly said to them, if players don’t want to be here then I will happily let them go and drive them to wherever they want to go.
“I want players committed to this club and wanting to fight and scrap for every point.
“I don’t need anybody who would give half measures.”