Source: FOOTYMAD
Whelan: King key to City success
King gets backing of former City bad boy One of Coventry City's former players and bad boy, Noel Whelan has backed Marlon King to be a success at Coventry and believes the big striker will be a key player in a successful season for the Sky Blues. Whelan thinks the acquisition of King will give Coventry the edge and make them competitive enough to have a successful season. He dismissed King's nefarious past and concentrated on the footballer. “Everyone’s had demons in their lives,” said Whelan, “the choices we make aren’t always the best, but he’s paid his price, been tried and convicted and now served his time." “He’ll be great for Coventry as he has great power on the ball and experience. It was a wise move by Boothroyd bringing him in.” Noel Whelan has has his own, well documented, troubled past and had a spell in the Tony Adams Sporting Chance Clinic after leaving Coventry, said, “I got into a routine of going down the pub after the games and when I was bored. I needed to step back a bit and learn to sit at home and enjoy my own company. I needed a check on my life.” Looking back on his own troubled time, he paid tribute to the then Coventry City manager Gordon Strachan, who acted as a father figure and helped him through his problems and he believes that Aidy Boothroyd will do a similar job with Marlon King. Whelan explained, “I sold my house in Warwickshire as it was in too quiet an area, and moved in with Gordon. I ended up staying with him for two or three months. I had to tell him where I was going all the time and had to be in at a certain time." Whelan nearly had his career ended during an alcohol filled night, when he kicked in a plate glass window and severed some ankle ligaments. "I was in before his kids! But it was good and worked well. The fact we knew each other from Leeds United helped. He was a steadying influence in my life and got the best out of me. I actually think I played my best football for Coventry while living with him.” It is because of this help he received from Strachan he thinks that Boothroyd will be able to help King overcome his demons and revive his footballing career. // '); // ]]> Whelan advised, “King just needs to stay away from nights out. I’m sure he’ll thrive at Coventry and get the goals in. People in life have problems and make bad decisions at bad times. He’s got a second chance now, a lifeline to resurrect his career.”
