Somebody else who played a major part in the Northern Ireland crusade to qualify for Euro 2008 was Chris Baird.
Off course the crusade inevitably failed but what a spectacular failure it turned out to be.
Since arriving at Craven Cottage, Baird hasn`t exactly won over the Fulham faithful.
Indeed, when it was suggested he was heading for a cut-price return to Southampton, several of the comments left made even me wince.
But it would seem that Baird knows nothing about a move away from Craven Cottage and will, like the others, be reporting for pre-season training at Motspur Park this Tuesday.
Here`s what Baird had to say about the suggestion of a move away from Fulham,
“It`s news to me. I signed a four year contract and I’ve still three to go.’
Thankfully, Baird has admitted that life needs to improve for him at Fulham if his Fulham career is to really take off, when he remarked,
‘Sometimes I was on the bench and sometimes I wasn’t in the squad at all.
‘It’s what can happen under a new manager. They all have their own methods and ideas.
‘But I’m not aware of any speculation about the manager wanting me out.”
‘I’ve just returned from holiday so if there has been talk I have not heard it.”
‘No doubt I’ll hear soon enough what the manager’s thoughts are. “
‘As far as I am concerned I’m still very much a Fulham player.”
‘I really need and want to be playing. I don’t want to be on the fringes.’
Has Baird got a Fulham future? It`s your shout!
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