Danger! Danger, Will Robinson, danger! When a coach starts slamming his bedroom door and stamping his feet in a big sulk, it’s a clear sign he either wants something, or he’s just had enough of everything and wants out. And when it’s double-tough Leigh Matthews you know he really means it – whatever it is.
“I will be coach while the club wants me and while I want to be here,” says the paunchy supremo (Danger! Danger!). He has called the season a failure, but wants to be judged on his “winning percentage” – reassuring words for those fans who turn up wanting a bit of entertaining footy.
More worrying still, among Matthews’ near dummy spit are things like, “Most people think the coach has more control on a game of football than he actually does.” If the Bucket was a thinking bucket (not often, to be fair), one might get the impression he’s lost the change room. It happens to the best coaches, who suddenly find they’ve left everything between those four walls, and have nothing left to give – and players sense it.
On the other hand, maybe he’s just looking for a little love, for the Lions board to come rushing over, saying, “There, there” and “It’ll be all right.” Even the toughest men need that occasionally.