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Mcfaul My Albion Nightmare (from The Argus)</title>
McFaul: My Albion nightmare
By Andy Naylor
Comment
Shane McFaul has blasted the "terrible man-management skills" of former Albion boss Dean Wilkins.
The young Irish midfielder is glad to be back home in Dublin after a nightmare five months with the Seagulls in which he was tossed aside as if nobody cared.
McFaul, 22 last week, has spoken out about the way he was treated after being released at the end of the season and rejoining University College Dublin.
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The former Notts County prospect arrived back in England full of hope when Albion snapped him up on a free transfer from UCD for the rest of the season during the January window, despite competition from Leicester.
McFaul, recommended by chief scout Barry Lloyd and signed after an eyecatching trial, wanted to emulate the success of his friend and former Irish schoolboy and youth international team-mate Paul McShane, who was named player of the season by Albion fans two years ago.
Instead McFaul was left bewildered and frustrated.
The Republic of Ireland under-21 international made just one first team appearance, as a substitute in the dying stages at home to Crewe on February 2, and was an unused sub on four other occasions.
He said: "I didn't get the chance I thought I deserved. I thought after doing well in a few reserve games I would get a chance, longer than a minute and a half.
"It got to a stage where I knew no matter how well I did I wasn't going to be playing and I was going to be in the stands, then doing running afterwards.
"I think the manager had terrible man-management skills. That really hacked me off and I know I am not the only player who felt like that. A lot of players were hacked off.
"On a Friday we would be split up and sometimes I had to train with the youth team. When you do get involved with the team you are supposed to feel great and happy. How did that help?
"I was tossed aside as if nobody cared. The manager didn't talk to me. I went to see him once or twice and he told me to keep doing what I was doing and I would get a chance.
He then did an article in the paper saying the same thing but it didn't happen.
"All the lads were great to me, especially people like Doug Loft and Jonny Dixon, but he (Wilkins) didn't talk to any of the players who weren't playing. You have to keep a squad together, you cannot just throw people aside.
"Gary Hart came in and really helped them for a few games at right-back but then got tossed aside. There was no loyalty from the manager."
McFaul's mood was not helped by having to move house twice soon after joining Albion. He said: "I moved at first into the house where George O'Callaghan had been and I was told another player was going to move in with me.
"Steve Thomson was signed and he was brilliant with me. He moved into the house with his family, which was fair enough.
"I then got moved into a house with a relation of the physio (Matt Miller) and a Slovakian girl. My girlfriend was over at the time and I was in one room, with all my clothes in bags.
"The house itself was fine and the people were fine but we had no room for anything. I just wanted my own freedom.
"I then moved into Matt's place. He swapped with me and everything was fine after that but it was as if I had been tossed to one side.
"I know other lads were being put up in a hotel while they looked for a new place but I was put into the cheapest place. From day one I knew I wasn't going to be involved. What was the point in bringing me over?"
The final insult for McFaul was not being told until well after the end of the season that he was being released. I know Paul Reid spoke out," he said. "It was an absolute disgrace the way they handled telling us about who was getting contracts.
"They knew who they were keeping and who they weren't. At least if they had told us before we could get in contact with clubs, get them to come and watch us in the reserves."
McFaul cannot resume his career with UCD until July, due to regulations relating to his move to England, but he is determined not to let his experiences with Albion affect him.
"I don't doubt my ability," he said. "It didn't work out, simple as. I know for a fact that I am going to succeed so I'm not really worried about him (Wilkins).
"I am not going to dwell on it. I am happy to be home and I am looking forward in July to playing for Ireland. I am going to try and get into the under-21 squad again and there is an Irish under-23s squad.
"I know I will get back to England one day and next time when I come over I'll make sure I am not going to be messed around and do get a chance. Hopefully I'll be playing for a manager who has a bit of decency and will tell you what is going on, rather than leave you in the dark.
"I know that Micky Adams is a good manager and I am sure Brighton will do well next season. Dean Wilkins is a very good coach but in my opinion he has no man management skills and I know I am not the only player who thinks that.
"I know there are players still there who think that. Now they have a new manager and I am sure they will be looking forward as well."
McFaul: My Albion nightmare
By Andy Naylor
Comment
Shane McFaul has blasted the "terrible man-management skills" of former Albion boss Dean Wilkins.
The young Irish midfielder is glad to be back home in Dublin after a nightmare five months with the Seagulls in which he was tossed aside as if nobody cared.
McFaul, 22 last week, has spoken out about the way he was treated after being released at the end of the season and rejoining University College Dublin.
advertisement
The former Notts County prospect arrived back in England full of hope when Albion snapped him up on a free transfer from UCD for the rest of the season during the January window, despite competition from Leicester.
McFaul, recommended by chief scout Barry Lloyd and signed after an eyecatching trial, wanted to emulate the success of his friend and former Irish schoolboy and youth international team-mate Paul McShane, who was named player of the season by Albion fans two years ago.
Instead McFaul was left bewildered and frustrated.
The Republic of Ireland under-21 international made just one first team appearance, as a substitute in the dying stages at home to Crewe on February 2, and was an unused sub on four other occasions.
He said: "I didn't get the chance I thought I deserved. I thought after doing well in a few reserve games I would get a chance, longer than a minute and a half.
"It got to a stage where I knew no matter how well I did I wasn't going to be playing and I was going to be in the stands, then doing running afterwards.
"I think the manager had terrible man-management skills. That really hacked me off and I know I am not the only player who felt like that. A lot of players were hacked off.
"On a Friday we would be split up and sometimes I had to train with the youth team. When you do get involved with the team you are supposed to feel great and happy. How did that help?
"I was tossed aside as if nobody cared. The manager didn't talk to me. I went to see him once or twice and he told me to keep doing what I was doing and I would get a chance.
He then did an article in the paper saying the same thing but it didn't happen.
"All the lads were great to me, especially people like Doug Loft and Jonny Dixon, but he (Wilkins) didn't talk to any of the players who weren't playing. You have to keep a squad together, you cannot just throw people aside.
"Gary Hart came in and really helped them for a few games at right-back but then got tossed aside. There was no loyalty from the manager."
McFaul's mood was not helped by having to move house twice soon after joining Albion. He said: "I moved at first into the house where George O'Callaghan had been and I was told another player was going to move in with me.
"Steve Thomson was signed and he was brilliant with me. He moved into the house with his family, which was fair enough.
"I then got moved into a house with a relation of the physio (Matt Miller) and a Slovakian girl. My girlfriend was over at the time and I was in one room, with all my clothes in bags.
"The house itself was fine and the people were fine but we had no room for anything. I just wanted my own freedom.
"I then moved into Matt's place. He swapped with me and everything was fine after that but it was as if I had been tossed to one side.
"I know other lads were being put up in a hotel while they looked for a new place but I was put into the cheapest place. From day one I knew I wasn't going to be involved. What was the point in bringing me over?"
The final insult for McFaul was not being told until well after the end of the season that he was being released. I know Paul Reid spoke out," he said. "It was an absolute disgrace the way they handled telling us about who was getting contracts.
"They knew who they were keeping and who they weren't. At least if they had told us before we could get in contact with clubs, get them to come and watch us in the reserves."
McFaul cannot resume his career with UCD until July, due to regulations relating to his move to England, but he is determined not to let his experiences with Albion affect him.
"I don't doubt my ability," he said. "It didn't work out, simple as. I know for a fact that I am going to succeed so I'm not really worried about him (Wilkins).
"I am not going to dwell on it. I am happy to be home and I am looking forward in July to playing for Ireland. I am going to try and get into the under-21 squad again and there is an Irish under-23s squad.
"I know I will get back to England one day and next time when I come over I'll make sure I am not going to be messed around and do get a chance. Hopefully I'll be playing for a manager who has a bit of decency and will tell you what is going on, rather than leave you in the dark.
"I know that Micky Adams is a good manager and I am sure Brighton will do well next season. Dean Wilkins is a very good coach but in my opinion he has no man management skills and I know I am not the only player who thinks that.
"I know there are players still there who think that. Now they have a new manager and I am sure they will be looking forward as well."
