Legwinski turns on Coleman
12 Apr 2007 - 17:16:50
Sylvain Legwinski has slammed Chris Coleman and claims Fulham should have sacked the under-fire manager long before they opted to replace him this week.
Legwinski played under Coleman for two-and-a-half seasons before leaving Craven Cottage for Ipswich Town last summer.
The veteran French midfielder captained the Cottagers for a time under Coleman's tenure but has backed the club's decision to replace the former Wales international with Northern Ireland manager Lawrie Sanchez on a caretaker basis.
"Sacking Coleman was the best thing that could have happened to Fulham," Legwinski told the London Evening Standard.
"The only question is about the timing because it should have happened much earlier. It should have been done two years ago. I hope it is not too late."
Rookie manager Coleman replaced the sacked Jean Tigana during the 2002/03 campaign and Legwinski claims the move was a backwards one by the club's board.
"The club have gone backwards under him. This season was the first where it could be truly called his team as there was no one left from the Jean Tigana era," he continued.
"They are doing badly and it is sad to see where they are now, but in truth Fulham were lucky not to be in the relegation zone for the last two years and that is because of Coleman.
"It took him two years to realise how physical preparation in pre-season is vital in the Premiership.
"The work was different when Tigana was in charge. It was more intense, but under Coleman the training sessions were shorter, he did not work us as hard and we were given more days off.
"But no-one senior in the club was keeping an eye on him or seemed to know what it takes to run a football team."