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September 4,
2002 (Wednesday)
Ridsdale:
Let players get on with job
LEEDS UNITED chairman
Peter Ridsdale hopes the nation will not look
back at the past in anger as Lee Bowyer and Jonathan Woodgate set
about resurrecting their international careers today.
As the duo join up with the rest of the England squad, Ridsdale hopes
critics will allow them to concentrate on what they have been picked
to do ¡V play football.
After two years in the international stalls they will suddenly be
thrust centre stage and the Leeds supremo hopes their ability with
the ball will now be the major consideration among supporters, not
their off-field indiscretions of the past.
"I hope people don't continue to look back,' said Ridsdale. "These
players have been selected to play for their country on ability and
on merit. The past is behind us and we must now look forward.
"This is now all about football. The FA's period of exclusion has
passed and they have been selected to play for England. They are
being recognised for their performances on the football field.
"The only sadness is that while we have been waiting a long time for
Lee and Jonathan to be picked, people don't seem to be talking about
Alan Smith and Paul Robinson, as well as Danny Mills."
United have not had five players in the England squad since the 1970s
heyday of Don Revie and the fact that the school of 2002 is now
producing such quality home-grown talent is a source of great pride
for Ridsdale.
"When we set out to transform the squad four years ago we centred our
search on British-style players ¡V English certainly, but also Irish,
Scottish and northern European like Norway and France," he said.
"That has paid off and Monday was a special day for Leeds."
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