Rodwell was just not there for us -Symons
Former Sunderland assistant manager Kit Symons has revealed the truth behind Jack Rodwell’s exile - and how he and Chris Coleman viewed the controversial character.
Symons, who joined Coleman at the Stadium of Light during the club’s ill-fated 2017/18 campaign, was speakingabouthisspellonWearside during an appearance on the ‘Dodgy Knee Excuse’ podcast.
And the 48-year-old has revealed how he and Coleman planned to start Rodwell in theirfirstgameinchargeofthe BlackCats-onlytoseethemidfielder withdraw from a light training session.
“That first day I went up there, for the Millwall game, Jonny [Williams] got injured, Duncan[Watmore]gotinjured and there were a few other knocks,” explained Symons.
“The next day we went into training and Jack was there and me and Chris were watchinghim.He’sagoodsize,agood physique, he moves well and me and Chris knew all the stories, but thought ‘he’s starting on Tuesday’ when we had Aston Villa at Villa Park.
“It was a light Sunday session and with about five minutes to go he walks off the trainingpitchholdinghishamstring. Nobody has got to more than a jog during the training session, and we never saw him again after that.
“He played two games for thereserves.Hewasjustoutinjuredforagesandhewasnever available to play.
“There’salwaystwosidesto every story. He’ll have his side to it. But we came in, we didn’t careaboutwhathadgoneonin thepast,wejustwantedpeople to help the club and keep us in the Championship.
“We needed people who wanted to help us, and Jack didn’t do that.”