Newcastle United star winger Matt Ritchie has delivered a player’s insight into the bonus row controversy which they found themselves involved in at the start of the season.
The Magpies squad were said to have refused to conduct their media duties as a result of the club failing to agree terms on a bonus deal, a situation which was eventually resolved behind-the-scenes on Tyneside.
However, Ritchie has insisted that the media were making a mountain out of a molehill and that the scenario was by no means as dramatic as suggested in the press.
Speaking to Jim White on his talkSPORT programme (Friday 17 August, 10:00 – 13:00), the Scottish attacker said: “Within the camp nothing was blown out of proportion like it was out in the ‘papers. The press can make a story out of it – that’s their job – but our job is to make sure we’re ready for the start of the season.
“As players we want to be ready for the start of the season. The fans are going to have their opinion and their say but every single thing is positive at the football club.”
Opinion
It is always interesting to get a player perspective on things and once again it appears as though things were nowhere near as serious as they were being suggested. Of course, a bonus dispute and the refusal to do their media duties is still quite a step to take in order to force something through, but the players seem to think things were pretty calm in comparison to how the press have reported it. Perhaps the media ramped things up a bit as it was them who were getting hurt by the decision, and the bad press might have twisted Mike Ashley’s arm so to give the players what they want and get those reporting on the club back on side. Whatever the case, things are back to normal and it will be refreshing to hear that things are so positive for the club right now after what must have been a difficult transfer window.