After the private coach retaliated against Preston North End’s manager this week, Paul Heckingbottom maintains that he has “no issue” with Tom King.
Heckingbottom expressed his annoyance with striker Daniel Jebbison’s ankle injury during the Lilywhites’ draw with Queens Park Rangers last weekend. The blow was delivered to the loan player from AFC Bournemouth during his training at King’s KPI (King Performance Ideology) facility.
“I spoke to Tom, rung him straight away,” said Heckingbottom. “No issue with him, but it’s the industry they work in. You can’t have all the plaudits and none of the consequence. I, we, Jebbo, the fans of Preston North End are suffering because some random guy’s injured one of our players. If he’s on our payroll, he gets the consequence of us. I had it once a few years ago at Barnsley, same thing.
“We had it with Freddie (Woodman) last year, big thing for us. We never won a league game without Freddie then after – our number one. An accident, I get it. But if that happens again, what have we done about it to stop it? We’re our own biggest enemy, aren’t we? I said before, it’s happening over and over. Everyone’s working and Jebbo’s always looking to get the advantage, work hard and being diligent.
“He’s not just sitting at home on an evening and playing the Xbox or whatever. It’s the right thing, but there’s a way to go about it, which is totally in the club’s control. We knew it was happening. I think the change of session, that’s the difference – it was a day off. And that’s my thing. If anyone wants to work like that, it needs to be under the control, every detail, of our people.”
Heckingbottom was adamant, when speaking at Loftus Road, that PNE players would not be working with private coaches anymore. On Thursday afternoon he was asked if that has indeed been enforced.
“You get external help all the time, but it’s managed by us,” said Heckingbottom. “And it has to be exactly what we deliver, not other people. Here’s my point, I’ve got no problem with Jebbo getting extra help. The problem is, what happens? You can’t just do what you want, players be injured and then not expect there to be a comeback. There’s always a comeback on me, on us… I’m the one losing my job.
“I got the club to speak to the PFA; spoke to Peter. There’s real ambiguity in the contracts about what’s allowed and what’s not. I’m in charge of all the training, so I’m taking charge of it. The club could take charge of it – put a clause in the contract. The PFA, everyone hides behind different things and that’s the issue, so you’ve got to take charge of the situation.
“So, we’ll be in control of what happens. If you’re going to work with someone or there’s something authorised for us to go and work with them, whatever it is, but stick to that, you’re not doing anything else. And I know why… they get a good salary out of it, the externals, and they want to do it. There’s zero comeback on them; zero comeback. That’s my issue I don’t like with it. There can’t be any gripe when you get some comeback.
If you wish to work in the game, then go ahead and do so. They either can’t work in the game, can’t find a job, or aren’t good enough, or they want to pursue the money and get paid more, which is what I receive as a consultant or private. No issue, but you must answer to my club, my players, my employees, and my supporters if your actions have an impact on them.
