WOLVES MANAGER MICK McCarthy has condemned players for using Twitter, as he is worried about information regarding starting line-ups being leaked to the press.
Speaking to reporters, he recalled how last season Steve Sidwell was in negotiations to join the club, only for Greg Halford to tweet: “With Steve Sidwell in the stands, read what you like into that.”
McCarthy explained:
“I think what really should highlight that (I won’t discuss transfer targets with the media) is we had Steve Sidwell at the Chelsea game. Some twit tweeted it and it became common knowledge.”
McCarthy predicted more trouble ahead for the growing number of footballers who have taken to Twitter to express their views, expressing his concern that disgruntled players would use it as a method of retribution against their employers.
However, the ex-Ireland boss has gone to great lengths in his attempts to prevent any such incidents occurring, even hiring a media law firm to warn his players of the dangers caused by spreading indiscreet information on the site.
He added:
“Having pictures of yourself misbehaving as a 16-year-old is OK until you become a famous footballer and that picture is still there and is there forever.”
McCarthy’s comments come in conjunction with the latest in a long line of Twitter-related misdemeanours to be committed by a player, as Jose Enrique was fined £100,000 by Newcastle for criticising the club’s transfer dealings.
In addition, McCarthy revealed he was not on Twitter himself, despite what the Daily Mirror thinks, though he does have an impersonator on the site.
“Someone said to me: ‘I’m a contact of yours on Twitter.’ I said: ‘You aren’t, mate, because I’m not on Twitter.’ He said: ‘Are you not, I’ve been talking to you for the past two years!’ I said: ‘Well, you are cock like the bloke who is doing it.’
McCarthy recently celebrated five years in charge at Wolves and his time there has coincided with one of the club’s best periods in their recent history.
