Brown - Tigers are united

Boss insists spirit remains despite Bullard and Barmby bust-up

By Danny Wright   Last updated: 12th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Brown - Tigers are united

Brown: Apologised for bust-up

I'd like to like apologise to the Women's Institute - I didn't realise there was a rally going on. The incident was unsavoury and unfortunate.

Phil Brown.
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Hull City boss Phil Brown insists his squad is united behind their goal of staying in the Premier League despite a bust-up between Nick Barmby and Jimmy Bullard.

Barmby and Bullard were involved in a confrontation during a warm-down training session near the Humber Bridge in the wake of the Tigers' 5-1 hammering at Everton.

The incident was witnessed by shocked members of the Women's Institute, with the club having elected to spend time away from their usual training ground.

But Brown has moved to draw a line under the issue by insisting the dispute showed the pair cared about the club's fight to beat the drop.

And the City chief insisted that similar clashes were frequent on the training ground, although he said he had dealt with the players internally.

Unsavoury and unfortunate

Brown told Sky Sports: "(It's) unfortunate for one reason and one reason only. Normally you get everyday training ground spats where you get two boys who want to settle their differences on the training ground and they slug it out.

"Unfortunately it happened off the training ground. It happened near the Humber Bridge, which was the warm down venue for Monday and I'd like to apologise to the Women's Institute - I didn't realise there was a rally going on there.

"The incident was unsavoury and unfortunate. It happens on the training ground on a regular basis under the control of the football club.

"I'm not condoning that kind of behaviour but it's an emotive game. It's a passionate game and emotions do run high and certainly when the pressure's cranked up - which it is - we're coming to the business end of the season.

"It's a sign that they care. They're big players where we are concerned and I'm looking forward to the response of the group and the response of the two players in question."

Hull are currently languishing second from bottom in the table and face a difficult test against Arsenal at the KC Stadium on Saturday.

The hammering at Everton was their third successive defeat and it leaves the club with plenty of work to do in order to secure another season in the top flight.

A tough run-in awaits Brown's side in the season's final 10 matches, and the distraction of a bust-up between two key figures in the Tigers squad threatens to hamper his preparations for the visit of the title-chasing Gunners.

The 50-year-old said the fracas was history, though, insisting that both Barmby and Bullard had settled their differences.

No fractures

He went on: "It seems to have got out this time but the players have settled their differences and it was back to normal on Tuesday.

"They shook hands and they're getting on with the job in hand which is obviously the challenge of 10 games in the Premier League.

"We'll get on with it, we'll deal with it. Because it was outside the confines of the training camp we weren't expecting it to be swept under the carpet.

"We're big enough boys, we start with our behaviour and they've shook hands and we'll get on with it."

The Hull chief insisted the disagreement hadn't affected team spirit within the East Yorkshire camp, and promised the club's supporters his players would come out fighting on the pitch.

"There are no fractures within the camp," added Brown. "This squad is united, this squad is together - they have shown that on the training ground since Monday and they will show that on the field of play against Arsenal."

Comments (14)

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Phil Whitlam (Hull City fan) says...

Arsenal fans, I went to the game on Saturday. All you did was cheat, dive and that was it. You only sing when your winning and thats it. what a disgrace.

Posted 23:18 14th March 2010

Jayesh Sinha (Arsenal fan) says...

Hahahahahaha, its almost as if the Hull Players don't get enough from kicking the opponents on the field but they also do it among themselves on a regular basis, but under the control of the club. Hahahahahaha, its is hilarious. Guys I think judging from the Hull players' desire to punch people, I think they r in the wrong business.

Posted 21:04 13th March 2010

Shaun Byrne says...

If that is true... oh, please let it be so. This guy has lost it (in fact he lost it last season when he made an absolute prat of himself by bellowing into a mike as if we had just lifted the Premiership title instead of being rescued from relegation by another club). He seems to reside in another world, and only occasionally visits Earth to make yet another ridiculous statment that makes him look an idiot and makes Hull City the laughing stock of the premiership once again. Please go Brown, even if we do go down to the Championship, better to do so with a new man in charge. Brown, you are our equivalent of the FSW at 'Pool - thankfully it shouldn't cost as much to get rid of you for good.

Posted 16:35 13th March 2010

David Whitton says...

Have faith in the tigers we cant get any worse!!! but knowin us we prob will haha

Posted 11:58 13th March 2010

Barrie Brattan (Hull City fan) says...

Looks like it was handbags at the Humber Bridge, they must have borrowed them from the Womens Institute. As for the manager, keep him, he is open and upfront. Looks like he has found us a gem in Rob Cairney, now go out and search the playing fields of Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire for a centre forward with the fight and desire of Chris Chilton. Maybe time for another trip to Sproatley. Regards Barrie Brattan of Chris Chilton.

Posted 08:59 13th March 2010

James Barkham (Hull City fan) says...

Why would they sack him with only 10 games to go? And who would take his job anyway?

Posted 06:13 13th March 2010

Gabriel Foster prior (Fulham fan) says...

Hull City - what a joke (under Phil Brown at least). And Jimmy "it wasn't the money, i think Hull are a bigger club, with a bigger future" Bullard - getting into scraps with Nicky Barmby the week Fulham are off to Italy to play Juventus. ha ha ha, ha, ha. ha!

Posted 00:45 13th March 2010

Robert Neill (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

From which reliable source has Phil Brown been sacked?

Posted 22:08 12th March 2010

Paul Thomas (Arsenal fan) says...

Brown has lost control of his squad at precisely the wrong time in the season. Hull should have their heads down and be fighting for their place in the top flight. Unfortunately for Hull, the drubbing against Everton is going to pale in comparison to the spanking they'll receive from Arsenal, and Phil Brown, who for a while looked like he was going to be able to cut the mustard, will find his days are numbered.

Posted 21:59 12th March 2010

Days Of speed (Hull City fan) says...

Don't talk like a top hat Paul.

Posted 16:52 12th March 2010

Matthew Milnes (Hull City fan) says...

I have to agree with Paul Innes on this occasion. Brown needs to go there is no consistency with Hull City . We cant go on winning the odd game and drawing here and there. A sharp change can make a sharp difference. We have some quality players but unfortunetely Brown doesnt bring out the best in them 4-4-2 for the rest of the season is needed to even stand a chance.

Posted 16:39 12th March 2010

Eddie Niblett (Hull City fan) says...

Obviously not a Hull City fan Paul or you wouldn't put rubbish like that on the web...just what the club need at a time like this. the fact you can't even spell reliable makes me suspect your source, is he an Everton fan! Come on Hull, the true fans are behind you, lets see you repay the fans with a display worthy of the Tigers against Arsenal.

Posted 16:05 12th March 2010

Alan Ladd (Arsenal fan) says...

The incident was unsavoury and unfortunate. It happens on the training ground on a regular basis under the control of the football club. SO THE PLAYERS PUNCH EACH OTHER TO DEATH ON REGULAR BASIS, BUT UNDER THE CONTROL OF TE CLUB?! Is there any limit to how Phil Brown can make himself even smaller in the eye of the public?

Posted 15:53 12th March 2010

Paul Innes (Hull City fan) says...

Well they never came out fighting against Everton did they !!! We are going down !!! I have just heard in last 30 minutes that Phil Brown has been sacked from a realiable source !!!

Posted 15:19 12th March 2010
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