‘WE TURNED YOU DOWN’
Former Sunderland chairman’s sensation al claims ashestepsinto fans’ feud withSteven Taylor
Sunderland-hating former Newcastle defender Steven Taylor once tried to sign for the Black Cats Sir Bob Murray has told the Echo – but the club apparently “turned him down”.
Taylor hit the headlines last week when he once again criticised Sunderland and Wearsiders, calling the city a “horrible place” and admitting that he thrives on the hatred of SAFC fans.
However, in an exclusive interview with the Echo, an angry Sir Bob has called on Taylor, who now plays for Ipswich Town under former Cats boss Mick McCarthy, to stop his “immature and ignorant” jibes.
He told the Echo that the Geordie player once tried to engineer a move to the Stadium of Light.
After choosing not to comment on Taylor’s outbursts towards the club, Sir Bob said: “Over the years I have been annoyed by Steven Taylor, but I’ve always kept my mouth shut.
“Sunderland is a special club, with special people, in a special city.
“This young man has said various things in recent times and I’ve done my best to resist saying anything back, but I can’t anymore.”
Describing the meeting he recalls he had with Taylor, Sir Bob added: “He came to the boardroom at the Stadium of Light with Mick McCarthy, when Mick was manager here. He was under contract with Newcastle, but we were told he wanted a move.
“He had been in touch with Mick and although it was very unusual that I would meet with a player, in this instance Mick asked me if I would meet him.
“I came to the boardroom and sat with him and had a cup of tea.
“It’s the only time I had met with a player in those circumstances.
“But we turned him down.
“At the time, we felt that he was no better than what we already had and so we let him go.”
Taylor’s camp denies the meeting with McCarthy took place.
However, it accepts that Taylor was involved with discussions at the Stadium when he was 16, when Peter Reid was manager and Taylor had yet to secure a long-term contract at Newcastle.
Taylor went on to play for the Magpies until 2015, when he moved to American Major League Soccer side Portland Timbers.
He now plays for Ipswich Town in the Championship.