SIBON SPEAKS OUT
The 26-year-old joined the South Yorkshire side in 1999 in a £2 million deal from Ajax, but has failed to settle and is now bearing the brunt of the anger from a number of Owls fans.
He has now spoken of his disappointment at this, and also of the way that he was told that he was dropped for the game with Portsmouth, finding out from the goalkeeping coach rather than manager Paul Jewell.
"When we lost for the seventh time in a row, before the match had finished, I was substituted and on the way to the dressing room, I pulled off my shirt," he said, referring to the defeat to West Brom. "The crowd interpreted this as 'I don't want to play for the club anymore', but that wasn't my plan.
"A day after the match, I came to the training ground and I was told that I must train with the reserves and from Martin Hodge I hear that I don't play the next match, the manager doesn't dare to say it to me himself.
"Two weeks ago I had a meeting with him and we asked him why he always talking me down. 'No, no, no Gerald, absolutely not,' he said 'I'm well spoken about you. Lets work together with respect.' And now you get this! He was telling lies.
"The manager then asked me a month ago in the home match against Preston North-End (a 3-1 defeat) to play defensive midfielder. It was better for the team, he said. I must pick up everyone who goes through to midfield.
"With our team that was the whole opponent, our defensive duo don't go with me. So I must play against 4 men of Preston! But I played how the manager asked, so I don't let him down."
Sibon was also asked by Voetbal International Magazine about him being asked to take a cut in salary.
"I don't know if they can do that," he said. "I earn much, but when the club can pay that, I expect more vision from them.
"Last season, (Wim) Jonk, (Gilles) de Bilde and I had a meeting with the manager to ask him to go another way, to change his formation. There was no clear structure in the team and the manager said that he would do something about it, but the next match it was the same story.
"Every time I lose a header, the crowd are whistling. Is that normal? I'm not a target man, but when I got long balls what must I do with it? I don't know what the people here want. In the beginning I don't like it, now I forget about it.
"I understand that the club want me to leave and I can leave them for free, but I'am one of the few foreigners here that should play a role.
"After this season I've a contract for another 2 years. I say football isn't only money, but after my contract with Wednesday I've will have done good business.
"I want to stay here, the life is good, I've bought a new house and I want to let everyone see that some people make the wrong choices.
"This season I have failed to score in the first ten matches, and that's the first time in my career I have done this. I don't like to be the black sheep of team."
