Teddy Sheringham ‘rocked’ by defender’s request to leave Stevenage
Jamie McCombe - Credit: Archant
Teddy Sheringham says he was disappointed with Jamie McCombe after the centre-back left Boro this week.
The defender, who joined the club in the summer, has now joined Lincoln City.
McCombe was dropped from the starting XI in the 0-0 draw with Barnet on Saturday. Prior to that game he had played in the previous seven, but after being an unused substitute at the weekend the 33-year-old, says Sheringham, asked to leave.
“This was a little bit of a shock,” Sheringham says.
“Jamie’s been playing in the team for seven games and was dropped for one game. He came in on the Monday morning and told me he wanted to leave, wasn’t happy for whatever reason.
“I was very disappointed in the manner of how it happened in as much as he was asking where he stood.
“I couldn’t understand that after being in the team for seven games and then being out of the team for one game. It rocked me as a manager.”
Most Read
- 1 Magpas Air Ambulance lands in Letchworth amid 'medical emergency'
- 2 Funeral of retired Stevenage school teacher hailed 'a legend'
- 3 Two-storey factory catches fire in Letchworth
- 4 Old Town Live organisers 'overwhelmed by response'
- 5 Stevenage PE teacher's charity run after leg amputation
- 6 9 things to do on a day trip to Hitchin, Hertfordshire
- 7 Summer Sand pit opens in Stevenage
- 8 'Expect delays' during week-long gas works at Stevenage roundabout
- 9 Assault victim left with punctured lung after Hitchin 'scuffle'
- 10 Stevenage fundraising day in memory of much-loved Peter
Sheringham added: “I suppose you shouldn’t be surprised with anything in football. It was a situation I didn’t expect from a big centre-half that you think is going to pull his weight for you.
“That’s the whole reason why we pushed the boat out to sign him in the summer. It didn’t materialise like that and he made it clear he wanted to leave.
“When a player makes it quite clear like that it’s best he leaves and that’s what happened.
“[Being dropped] is all about character and proving to people that you should be playing. There’s only one way back.
“I’m sure it’s not the first time he’s been dropped in his career. I’ve certainly been dropped at times. You think ‘I’ll show you’. That’s part of being a professional footballer. To say I was disappointed is an understatement really.”
