The Evening Times has surprisingly bared it’s teeth with one columnist taking apart the conveyor belt of Jon Flanagan.
Last week after a gentle introduction the full-back signed a two year contract with Sevco with the emphasis very much on his football ability and the implications for ‘Tav’.
Given token coverage was Flanagan’s conviction in January for an assault on his girlfriend, an assault described in court as ‘a prolonged attack’.
As the idea of signing Flanagan was introduced Gary McAllister quickly downplayed the incident with predictable footballing cliches.
When the defender, who Liverpool released with a year left on his contract, jetted in to Spain as a Sevco player there was no comment from Gerrard on the signing statement on the club website.
Breaking the mould Catriona Stewart has produced a powerful opinion piece in the Evening Times demolishing the deflectors. On past form the background and motivation of the author are likely to generate more interest than the message.
The report covers.
“He wants to put the past behind him.” Or, “He wants to move on with his life.” Or “His life will never be the one he dreamed of.”
The narrative around Jon Flanagan is no different. I’ve read one sports journalist refer to the incident as “an early morning scrap”.
The court referred to the incident as “a prolonged attack”.
Another writer styled it, “issues in his personal life.”
Barry Ferguson, the football coach, has written in Mr Flanagan’s defence. He very briefly touched on the brutal assault carried out by the former Liverpool player before switching to his skills as a footballer.
“He can play right and left in defence.” Well, that’s alright then.
Gary McAllister, assistant manager of Rangers, said of the new signing: “He wants to get on with his life and his football life.
“The club is in talks and we are in the medical stages at the moment and that is going to be in-depth because Jon Flanagan has had problems in the past with parts of his body.”
Aye, his fists.
In today’s newspapers Gerrard discusses Flanagan, focusing almost entirely on his football ability.