Thetownend.com

Ward and Harley not part of Cooper's plans
           
           


  DARREN Ward and Ryan Harley’s careers at Swindon Town careers could be coming to an end after manager Mark Cooper admitted he has no imminent plans to involve the pair in his first-team squad.

           

http://www.thisisswindontownfc.co.uk/news/headlines/11336714.Ward_and_Harley_not_part_of_Cooper_s_plans/?ref=rss
           
           
           

Best news since Dave Mackay  got the sack.

Mackay wasn't sacked he left because he could see things weren't quite what he'd been told. This is an Adver story, reality might be somewhat different

Both crap and probably on high wages.  Bye bye

Can't argue with that.

I feel for Darren.  He redeemed himself after a difficult start with us and had a great spell...before it went downhill.  He's just past it now, and he'll know that better than anyone.  He did a job for us, and I'm grateful for that - but it is time to move on now.

Agree with that. Didn't we offer him a coaching role as part of his contract negotiations?

So Jed said, so that was probably bollocks

I liked Wardy, so bear him no ill, but Harley's like Prutton, with less running, no tackles and a greater skill at avoiding getting involved, a supremely shit passenger. God knows how he played as much as he did.

Fair enough I we can convince anyone else to take them but seems stupid not to use them if they're going to be here another a year in any case, especially with a tiny squad

Ward in my opinion was a very poor captain, can not remember ever seeing him passionate or give any inspiration to the younger players.
How the hell it took Cooper so long to see he was too slow is beyond belief.

Would imagine Ward was good to have about the club with so many younger players.

Good pro

Ward's decline was significant while Harley never got going and hasn't really since he left Exeter.

Hopefully they'll find new clubs as soon as possible.

Wards an interesting one - put in one of the worst debuts I can remember away to the Scum. every part of his body, when he could get into the action, was a 50 pence piece. He then won the fans around with some really good displays and I think most fans were happy when he renewed his contract last season. Then its almost like the off switch was pressed because what I saw last season was somebody who was not only fucking useless but also a fucking useless captain - there was no encouragement for the other players, not even Hall. When things go to shit you should be able to rally around your captain - no chance last season.
I'm not sure what went wrong with Ward but I can't believe its just an age thing. You might slow down but you shouldn't lose your voice and ability to captain.
Its a shame but the totally erratic Branco is a better bet than Ward - or even move Nate Dog in on the right side a central 3.
As for Harley. I give as much of a fuck about him as he does for STFC. As someone else said a passenger and that is being extremely polite.   

Ward to Cheltenham apparently.

I'd assume it has something to do with the change in training/coaches/management...

Coaching doesn't affect your ability to run.

Most notable incident of him not being able to run has to be Wolves at home - let Dicko have the through ball then got absolutely roasted by him.

...and he didn't play again.


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Well if it's the fitness coach...

Paolo di canio can halt the inevitability of age. Heard it here first.

Don't buy the claims that ward was a bad captain - he seemed to encourage rather than outright bollock people, which apparently doesn't please some of our fans. No doubting his legs have gone though, which is a pity

In fairness I've seen a fair few comments over the course of the season  questioning whether we were as fit last season as we were under pdc.

Don't think this has a lot to do with Ward though. It was the right decision to sign him at the time mind..

Ward was a good servant to the club, he did his job well, but now he's too old. He''s done really well to keep himself in good condition this long but there comes a point where that's that and he's reached it. I have nothing but admiration for Captain Caveman, but it's time to move on, particularly as CB was easily our weakest position at the start of last season.

I'll reserve my vitriol for the prima donna players: the Rangers and Leon Knights of this world. Ward is at the other end of the scale. We eeked the last out of a model pro and the fact his legs have gone does not mean he deserves criticism.

This

x2.  He also does a lot behind the scenes at the club and is a really nice guy.  I feel a bit sorry for him if a previous agreement around coaching is no longer on the table.

I have the utmost respect for Ward having also had a long conversation with him he is a model pro, more than anything it is the way we now play needing defenders that can bring the ball out of defence, Ward is your type of defender that will clear the danger not look at who he can play a short pass to.

Good luck to him I hope he gets a club for next season to get regular football.

Great sentiment old chap , but I cannot remember Ward ever encouraging softly softly.
He was chosen as captain because he was the senior member of the squad.

Posting something as a statement of fact doesn't mean it's true. (Although it probably is).