Former Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Carlton Palmer has made an incisive claim over the dressing room at Hillsborough, arguing that Keiren Westwood could be having a malign effect on the dressing room atmosphere.
Palmer was brutally candid when discussing what he has heard about the Owls’ shot-stopper as he spoke to FootballFanCast:
“From what I’ve heard previously, and especially under the managers that I know that have managed there like Garry Monk, I don’t hear good things about Keiren in the dressing room, I really don’t,” Palmer revealed.
“He might be one of those that, you know, you need to move on. If you’re going to have a successful football club, you’ve got to have a good team spirit. You’ve got to have everybody singing from the same hymn sheet.”
Elaborating on his claim, the ex-Wednesday player added:
“If somebody is unhappy about a little thing, it now becomes a big thing because somebody’s unhappy about something for them and spreads it and then he talks and then that goes into the dressing room. And I believe too much of that’s happened at Sheffield Wednesday.
“And I think Keiren’s been a big part of what’s gone on there, that’s what I’ve heard. So I wouldn’t be rushing to tie him down at this moment in time.”
Out of contract in the summer, the 36-year-old Ireland international seems to be leaving a sour taste at the club.
With the club desperately fighting to retain its Championship status, it is more vital than ever that the squad remains united and cohesive.
If Westwood truly is upsetting the apple cart, it may be for the best that he is excluded from the squad altogether if he threatens the Owls’ ability to summon up a combative spirit.
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