LOG OF THE MERSON INTERVIEW ON WM

Last updated : 03 January 2006 By Andy Van Hagen
Merson started the interview talking of his frustration and stating his determination THAT HE WILL not to walk away. He thinks that with him not being on a contract gives the players the belief that he will soon be out the exit door, therefore meaning that they will then be given another chance to impress under a new manager.

He then said that new players WILL be coming in. One who he hopes will arrive this week might be able to be included against Barnsley at the weekend. For new players to come in then 3 or 4 will have to leave. He knows who they are.

Players look at him in the team now and think that he has been that lazy all his career and look at the success he has achieved and think they dont have to put the effort in. Mick Kearns has suggested he takes in old videos and plays them to the players.

Gerrard, Fox, Roper and Pead were all praised for their efforts. Pead has his off games but will then play superb for 4 or 5 but his effort and commitment cant be faulted. Westwood has not been the success he hoped he would be but his form and value to the team will improve.

Then again he came back to too many think the fans will get him the sack. But those 20 fans behind the goal will not get him the sack. He is not going anywhere.


Other players are letting him down. The fans wont beat him and he will not let them players beat him. Players need to realise that they can drop out the league. He used Purple Tweenie  as a example he rejected the deal offered to him by us in the summer believing he could get a better contract elsewhwere. Well he is now at Stevenage in the Nationwide conference and is sitting on the bench.

He said players at Walsall are not on a big wage but its a good living, one thats better than the fans sitting behind the goal.

One player did not know what our next home game was. He said he knew we had Barnsley in the cup at the weekend but could not say we had Colchester next up at Bescot!!


Merson told of his desire to have players in the club who had kids, he only has single players. He needs players with bills and outgoings. The only outgoings his players have is funding the BMWs they have ordered. He needs players with kids where players need to play for their wages.

The interview was very passionate and showed his desire to succeed. It sounded like he was holding back the tears.

This is the summary of the interview. I have not aded anything and have written it in a inpartial state but the speed of the interview means it is not word for word. I think the full interview might be on the radio WM website for 1 week in the listen again section, as is the case with most BBC radio stations.