QPR boss Chris Ramsey has pointed the finger of blame at players earning too much and caring too little for the club.
The relegation trapdoor was finally sprung at Manchester City on Sunday, and although the coach insists the side will go down fighting starting with Newcastle tomorrow, he bridles at elements of a squad where not all shoulders are to the wheel.
Captain Joey Barton ranted at ‘bad eggs’ in the squad and others have guessed at who he means.
Ramsey, like Barton declined to name and shame, but insisted selfish slackers don’t understand the impact at the club.
He said: “Look at the game as a meal ticket and don’t understand the implications of not performing properly.
“Revenue decreasing might mean the person working in the shop has to let some of his staff go.
“One or two programme sellers have to go. It might mean the tea lady who relies on her minimum wage and getting out of the house, loses her job.
“They don’t realise that most cuts happen at middle to bottom end, and where I get disappointed and hurt is not for those losing £10 grand a week through their contracts. I get more hurt when you see players who appear to not work their guts out.”
Senior Rangers are spared Ramsey’s hairdryer.
Clint Hill, Richard Dunne, Bobby Zamora, Karl Henry and Robert Green have all stepped up, according to the man expected to be appointed full time in days.
Even Shaun Wright-Phillips, who many fans dub as a mercenary unwilling to put in a shift, comes in for a share of Ramsey’s praise.
“We might have been lambasted that we’re an old squad, but it’s those that have carried the fight.
“Shaun’s trained hard every day since I’ve been here. Whatever people thought of him before, I don’t know. But he’s in the squad because he’s shown a good attitude and I’ve wanted as many people on board.”
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