“But I also wanted a bit of meat to the bone, which is Alan, with his experience of the Premier League for so many years. So if the **** hits the fan – excuse my language – he can see where the dangers are coming from, how you can deal with it. That ‘story’ (about Curbishley taking over) is suddenly in the paper, suddenly living it’s own life. Alan and I discussed it. Alan wasn’t happy about it. I said: ‘Don’t worry about it. I don’t make anything of it’.’’