Robson furious at righthand man's move to Saints
( 2001-07-04 13:34 ) (7 )

Newcastle manager Bobby Robson heavily criticised Southampton on Tuesday for luring away his second in command Mick Wadsworth.

The 68-year-old former England boss attacked Saints' new manager Stuart Gray, saying: "Stuart Gray is very clever. He's a young, inexperienced lad handed a big job and he's managed to manipulate Mick Wadsworth from this club."

Robson praised his outgoing righthand man, who leaves St James' Park less than two weeks before the English Premiership club plays in the Intertoto Cup.

""We've lost a very competent coach who for some reason was subjected to some criticism at the end of last season that was not justified, unfair, not correct and out of order.

"Yes, the team had a blip. We were all involved in that, but that blip was not caused through Mick Wadsworth's coaching ability," he said.

Robson rejected suggestions that Wadsworth's exit had caused problems with himself and chairman Freddy Shepherd.

"The chairman and I will not fall out about it," he said.

"The chairman and I get on very well. We have no problems.

"He supports me and I inform him of what I'm doing. I try to squeeze as much out of him as I can; he plays as much ball with me as he can, and there's no problem between the chairman and I about Mick Wadsworth leaving."