Source: Daily_Mail
Paul Peschisolido, 'Mr Karren Brady': Sexism? I had 20,000 fans calling me a sex toy!
Karren Brady's blood was boiling about Linogate when the rarely simmering Mr Karren Brady sat down to discuss Burton Albion's first FA Cup fourth-round tie this weekend. But first a word about sexism in football. 'Sexism?' demanded Paul Peschisolido, to give him his proper name. 'Are you kiddin' me? I was married to the managing director of the football club I was at!'[LNB] 'I used to get absolutely hammered every time I walked into the changing room,' he told Sportsmail. 'Pictures on the wall, all manner of stuff that can't be repeated. The football changing room is a very sexist place. You bet. Every club I went to was the same.' [LNB]And there were nine of them in England alone. Birmingham City (twice), Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, Fulham, Queens Park Rangers, Sheffield United (twice), Norwich City, Derby County and Luton Town - plus Toronto Blizzard and Kansas City Comets, not to mention the great Juventus, where Peschisolido spent one year as a homesick academy recruit. [LNB] On the receiving end: Karren Brady's husband Paul Peschisolido, the Burton boss, was taunted as a player[LNB]Then there was the chanting from the opposition terraces. 'I used to get absolutely abused,' said the Canadian. 'Twenty thousand Wolves fans singing Peschodildo. That was always a nice one. It was all water off a duck's back. I took it as a compliment. If I was no threat, they would not be trying to put me off my game. [LNB]'There were plenty others. "You're s*** and your wife's a whore".' [LNB]Peschisolido was unfazed by the abuse from the terraces, but what about his other half, 'first lady of football' and the Neanderthal comments aimed at her by Richard Keys? [LNB]'To criticise my missus - he's having a laugh,' said the 39-year-old. 'Karren has the top business people in the country, some of the most wealthy men, desperate for her to join their board. His grovelling made it worse. He started having a go at her, saying, "I've done her a favour". I was thinking, "You're making this worse for yourself, you idiot". [LNB] All star Mr & Mrs: Pescisolido with his wife and West Ham vice-chairman, Karren Brady[LNB]'Their comments are disappointing. Sian Massey has probably tried to work twice as hard as any male to even get accepted, so she is obviously very good.[LNB] 'Karren can look after herself. Karren's Karren. She is an incredible business lady - probably one of the best you will ever come across. [LNB]'Karren is not a feminist. She is very traditional, very much old school. I love my wife. I am proud of everything she does and I hope she goes on to become Prime Minister because the country could do with someone like her.' [LNB]Brady would not need to be elected as an MP - never mind PM - to establish a higher profile than a husband who is making the transition from journeyman footballer to aspiring football manager. Her public recognition as West Ham vice-chairman and media darling is already in a different league. [LNB]Although Peschisolido would love to take League Two Burton - and his own managerial career - into higher echelons, it would never be a case of trying to keep up with the missus. [LNB]'I am not spurred on by wanting to be bigger than my wife,' he said. 'I love football and I love the job I am doing. There has never been a competition between the two of us. I do it for my own sake and if someone wants to call me Mr Karren Brady, fine. It fazes me not one bit.'[LNB] The urbane Peschisolido has in two years gone from unlikely managerial recruit to one of those young obsessives who spends every waking hour on the job. When not watching as many as three matches a day, always on the search for talent, he can be found immersed in a book on psychology or nutrition. [LNB]QPR boss Neil Warnock, one of 20 managers for whom Peschisolido played, described Burton as a perfect place for a managerial apprenticeship. That was principally because in chairman Ben Robinson the club was headed by someone with great business acumen, patience and to interfering in football matters. [LNB]Nigel Clough spent 10 years in charge of them before taking over at Derby, and he was, as Peschisolido acknowledges: 'A daunting act to follow.[LNB] 'I did hear bits and pieces about how Nigel would never do it this way, etc. But it didn't bother me.[LNB] Up for the cup: Peschisolido's Burton side travel to Burnley on Saturday [LNB] 'I never thought about the Clough factor. I just saw the job as a great opportunity to manage a team run well and on the way up. You have to believe in your own ability and in what you are doing.' [LNB]As one of the young breed of so-called 'laptop managers', who believe football to be a science, Peschisolido was distraught to have his computer stolen at the end of last year. It disappeared along with his smart Mercedes car, which he had left with its engine running in the driveway of the family home while he had popped back inside to check on their dog. [LNB]'They could keep the car,' he said. 'I wanted the laptop back. I never got either. The laptop contained everything. I had not backed up anything. All the work that went into it. I had to start again from scratch. I was devastated.' [LNB] Here comes the science: Burton's manager is from the modern school of bosses fond of laptop analysis[LNB]The replacement contains a detailed dossier on Championship side Burnley, who entertain Burton at Turf Moor on Saturday. Peschisolido will be without striker Shaun Harrad, who transferred to Northampton after scoring the two goals that defeated Middlesbrough in the previous round.[LNB] 'We have not played much football inthe past month,' pointed out the Burton boss, who knows that is a factor in his side's lowly 20th place in League Two. [LNB]'I hope my lads go and enjoy themselves. It's a chance for them to show what they can do. I just hopethey show up.' Peschisolido usually did, albeit latterly as a 'super sub'.[LNB] And it was as a substitute that he might have helped Sheffield United to the FA Cup final in 2003, but for an astonishing one-handed save by Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman in thesemi-final at Old Trafford.[LNB] The comparison with Gordon Banks's wonder save for England in 1970 has often been made, although no one ever bracketed Peschisolido with Pele.[LNB] Stand by your man! Richard Keys' wife slams Sky over handling of sexism rowKeys commits career suicide as he loses the blame game... and his jobWashed up! Brady fires parting shot at Keys as Sky man quits over sexismComment: King Richard, did you expect us to bow after saying 'sorry'?[LNB] Explore more:People: Karren Brady, Nigel Clough, Neil Warnock, David Seaman, Sian Massey, Richard Keys Places: United Kingdom
