>>At the very least this is a re-writing of history.<<
Not at all.
>>Batty's troubles started way back with the arrival of Venables.
The press reported Venables as saying that Batty would not play
in his team. A fact later confirmed by Ridsdale who said he supported
Venables decision.
At the time a story circulating was that Venables had slagged Batty off
for an England performance. (remember Venables and Hill on TV?)
Batty took exception to this and "something" occurred that "upset"
Venables who carried on with a vendetta.<<
Quite possibly. But Venables was not involved at the time I'm talking about.
Venables left Batty out but Reid brought him back into the team. It was
Eddie Gray who then decided not to pick Batty, and told him to stay at home.
This
was early 2004, in the season we were relegated from the Prem.
I don't know why this happened - Eddie said it was for "footballing
reasons". The only "footballing reason" not to pick Batty at that time was
fitness;
Batty claimed he was match fit.
So was the "footballing reasons" line a cover-up for a personal falling out?
A deinal was issued by Batty. However there were also media reports that
Batty was furious with EG and intened to "drain" Leeds for the £500k he was
owed.
Immediately a number of non-prem clubs inquired about Batty. These included
(definitely) Huddersfield and Notts Forest. Reports said seven clubs wanted
him. Batty refused to contemplate a move and said he would see out his
contract at Leeds - even though the manager (rightly or wrongly) had told him
he
would not be picked again.
Remember this is the time when the financial meltdown is really starting -
Birch is running the club and has negotiated the "standstill" agreement.
The fact remains that Batty could have helped the financial situation at
that time but chose instead to dig in his heels at Leeds. He had every right
to
do so under his contract terms, but surely if he'd been truly "through and
through" he would have put that to one side and gone off to Forest on loan,
saving us some money (say 25% of £500k = £125k). Side before self? Hmm...
Unless he was really not fit, and couldn't have done a job in the
Championship - something he denied at the time.
It was a sad end to a great career, and one that left a sour taste.
>>I had hoped Batty's book would give us the "inside" but I suspect
that the publishers lawyers may have blacked it out.<<
Doubt it. Batty's book was published in 2001 - the fallout with Venables was
in 2002 and with Gray in 2004.
Mark
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6 in a bloody row!
