The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Moore says Boro’ coach is a ‘puppet’
Peterborough Lions chairman Andy Moore has launched a blistering retaliatory strike at Peterborough RUFC and their coach Shane Manning.
Moore was furious to read Manning’s claim in last week’s PT that he was running a ‘vanity project’ at Bretton Park.
He responded by calling Manning a ‘puppet’ implying others at Borough were pulling his strings.
Moore also referred to unsavoury incidents at a match between the city rivals last season which ended with apologies made by Borough officials after accusations of racist language.
Moore said: “When I read Manning’s comments I was very disappointed, but wondered how a man I have never spoken to, and who has only been at Borough for two seasons, could have such ignorant, ill-informed views. Then I realised he’s just a puppet.
"When you look at the bigger picture, and the fixture last season which resulted in a written apology to us regarding racial abuse, and violent crowd behaviour, Manning isn’t the problem or the author of his own words.
"You don’t have to look far to find which of the sad, bitter and twisted of his employers are responsible and, while they are allowed to continue to undermine any
possibility of harmonious relations, the club will never achieve the accolade or success most of its volunteers deserve.
"There has always been questionable banter between our clubs and I miss my old sparring partners, but it was never racial, personal or vindictive.
“Manning should do the job he’s paid to do and leave the politics alone.
"And to the members of PRUFC who support the comments, I say, people in
glass houses shouldn’t throw stones!”
Manning is aware of Moore’s response, but now prefers to concentrate on his side’s results.
A last-gasp win at Kettering last weekend preserved Borough’s unbeaten record at Regional 2 East Midlands level in 2023.
A much-changed Borough trailed 15-5 early in the second-half, but a Josh Myles try gave them hope before Sam Crooks barged over for a game-tying score from the
last play of the game.
Jack Balaam, with his first kick of the game, then calmly slotted the match-winning conversion to keep Borough in fifth place.
Scrum-half James Fear had scored Borough’s firsthalf try after Kettering had eased into an early 8-0 lead.
There was an impressive senior Borough debut for 18 year-old Will Manning who is no relation to his coach.
Manning said: “Yet again with a much-changed side, we dug deep and ground out a win. It wasn't pretty, but I was pleased with the effort and Will Manning had a great game.”
Matthew Worrell-Clare, Charles Pendlebury, George Roberts and Nathan Wilson scored tries as bottom club Lions went down 49-31 at Towcestrians.
Fifth-placed Borough host fourth-placed Northampton Old Scouts on Saturday when Lions are are home to Newbold (2pm starts).
"It’s a really difficult game for us,” Manning added.