Bolton Wanderers Football Club News

• Nickname:Wanderers
• Founded:1874
• Manager:Owen Coyle

• Ground:Reebok Stadium
• Capacity:28,000

O'Brien takes swipe at Harry

14 Dec 2007 - 07:36:10

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Bolton Wanderers defender Andy O'Brien has hit out at Harry Redknapp after claiming his former manager 'treated him like a mug'.

O'Brien, 28, left Portsmouth for the Reebok Stadium in the summer after being frozen out at the south coast club.

The former Bradford City and Newcastle United defender claims Redknapp is responsible for him losing his place in the Republic of Ireland squad after he made just three appearances last season.

"I think I've got Harry Redknapp to thank a lot for my performances since I came to this club," said O'Brien.

"I say that a little sarcastically because he treated me like a mug for 18 months and it certainly taught me not to take things for granted; that when you get another opportunity you've got to make the most of it.

"You get frustrated and your confidence dips when you're in that situation, but if you look at my stats in terms of the amount of games I've played and at the level I've played them, I think it shows I can do a job.

"I'm 28 now so I'm not past my best. I'm feeling confident again because the manager's supported me and that's 50 per cent of the battle really."

Meanwhile, O'Brien has praised new Bolton boss Gary Megson for his patience with the struggling squad he inherited from former manager Sammy Lee.

"He's given everybody a chance and the players are responding by giving him and the club the right results at the moment," he continued.

"That's what we've brought him in to do and that's what he's achieving so far."