Gordon
Strachan, Coventry City’s manager, regrets he can say nothing about his spot of
trouble at the FA this week.
His lips are sealed after he was fined £1,000 for misconduct during the match against
Chelsea in January.
He was clearly upset at being found guilty of using ‘industrial language’ and
stepping outside the technical coaching area at Stamford Bridge, but he did not complain.
When asked how he felt, the manager responded: "In this land of free speech I am
not allowed to speak. It’s like Big Brother. I am being told by all sorts of people
not to speak about it.
"I am scared to say anything because I might bring the game into disrepute.
"Everyone knows I am disappointed by the finding, but I have to say zero. I have
to get on with life and try to be a good boy."
Strachan was warned as to his future conduct and has been instructed to put in writing
his intention to stay out of trouble.
But at least he was cleared of the major instance of misconduct in the same match. He
was charged, together with goalkeeper coach Jim Blyth and striker Noel Whelan, after an 83rd
minute fracas in which several of the occupants of the dugouts squared up to each other.
Strachan and Blyth were cleared, but Whelan was fined £750 and warned as to his future
conduct. At a separate hearing Whelan was also suspended for one match and fined £2,000
for reaching eleven bookings.
Coventry City’s under-18 team which beat Newcastle United 4-0 in the first leg of
the semi-final FA Youth Cup looks set to sail through to the final. The second leg is at
Highfield Road on Tuesday April 27th, kick off 7 pm.
The final, against Everton or West Ham United, will be played over two legs. The first
leg would be at Highfield Road on May 7th and the second leg one week later.
