WATSON: Leaving Newcastle "Ripped My Heart Out"
By Matthew Jones
October 24 2003
Everton midfielder Steve Watson has admitted how leaving his hometown club Newcastle United, "ripped his heart out". Watson also admitted how he was always suspicious of former Newcastle manager Ruud Gullit.
Everton midfielder Steve Watson has admitted how leaving his hometown club Newcastle United, "ripped his heart out".
Speaking to the Evening Chronicle, Watson said: "It was horrible - it ripped my heart out. I didn't want to go, I'd never even thought about going. I was playing for my team, my club."
However, Watson has also admitted how he was always suspicious of former Newcastle manager Ruud Gullit.
Waston explained: "I was suspicious right from the start. When Ruud first arrived at Newcastle he went in the Press and said that everyone was for sale, every player was on trial.
"I took that personally because he hadn't talked to us first. Maybe if I'd been a bit more experienced like now I'd have thought differently, but it struck a chord and made me uneasy about the guy.
"That didn't mean I expected what I eventually got, of course.
"It all began on a Sunday when I was at Lee Clark's house - Clarkie was playing for Sunderland then.
"Paul Stretford, my agent, tracked me down to say that Everton had made a bid of four and a half million quid. I replied - so what? Paul never phoned me every time a club showed an interest so why was he bothering now?
"But this was different. Stretford went on to say that Gullit had accepted the offer.
"I was devastated, I didn't sleep that night and, 12 hours later, I was in to see Gullit. I thought - hold on, I don't need to go. It's up to me.
"Gullit was sitting with Chris McMenemy and Steve Clarke and it was like three on to one. They were all chipping in. McMenemy said I must think about my future and I thought - what the hell's it got to do with him?
"I didn't feel wanted and it was awful. If it had been 10 per cent of the fans who didn't want me I'd have stayed and proved them wrong. If it was some players or the Press - so what?
"If I'd been a single lad with two or three years left on my contract I'd have said to hell with you and ridden out the storm.
"But I was a married man with a kid and my wife was pregnant. The manager didn't want me. Professionally I had to go. I hadn't a choice."