February 04, 2006

Hawks and Warriors row over Eric Milligan

Posted by Editor on February 4, 2006 10:41 AM | 2 comments | Print | E-mail author

Eric Milligan is on the bench for Hawks today
Hawks have accused Glasgow Warriors chief Hugh Campbell of trying to interfere with their selection policy.

The Daily Record reports that the title-chasing outfit reacted with fury after skipper Eric Milligan was pulled out of today's potential home league decider with Biggar -then reinstated after the intervention of SRU chief executive Gordon McKie.

Versatile front-row forward Milligan began his contract as a pro with the Warriors this week and had been released back to Hawks in the hope of helping them claim their third BT Premiership crown on the trot.

However, Hawks coach Davie Wilson reluctantly left the player out of his plans, claiming he had been ordered to use him as a specialist hooker and not in his usual prop role.

Club director John Roxburgh said: "Naturally we were delighted when Eric was given the go-ahead to play for us this weekend when the right sequence of results will enable us to retain the championship.

"But it was completely out of order for Hugh to stipulate what position he will play. He was being unnecessarily overbearing and showed little or no consideration for the player.

"I understand Warriors are looking to use Eric as a hooker. That's fine but our argument is that their next Celtic League match is not until February 18 and there is plenty of time for him to get up to speed in training.

"Our game preparations did not feature Eric as a hooker and we were not prepared to disrupt our plans, so we had little or no option but to leave him out."

The wrangle was referred to McKie, who ruled that Milligan should be involved in the Hawks match after all.

And because the order came so late the player will only be on the bench - and available to come on in any of the front-row slots.

Comments
Posted by Weegie on February 5, 2006 01:58 PM | Reply to this comment

Heard on the touchline this week-end - "Don't worry, relationships between Hawks and Warriors will soon improve, because Lineen is about to replace Campbell as head coach at Glasgow!"

Posted by McDruid on February 12, 2006 01:34 PM | Reply to this comment

This week Hugh Campbell again refused to release Eric Milligan to Hawks, for a potential title-winning match at Rubislaw against Aberdeen. Eric, to his credit, drove up to Aberdeen, changed into his track-suit and undertook water-carrying duties. That is the kind of loyalty to his team-mates that Campbell must wish he could introduce among his pro players.

Meanwhile, Campbell released Prescott and Corsar to play for Aberdeen. Not surprisingly, the Hawks pack, with no Milligan, no Begley and no Maxton, struggled at the set piece. But the youngsters replacing them did well. In a 17-17 draw Hawks scored three tries to Aberdeen's two and were not far away from the fourth try, which would have secured the bonus point win and the Premier One championship.

So thanks a bundle, Hugh Campbell, for your support of the Glasgow team that supplies your rotten organisation with more recruits and more replacement players than all the other clubs in Scotland combined. Perhaps the next time you can't get into Firhill or Hughenden you should f*ck off up to Rubislaw, courtesy of Damien Reidy and his Aussie enclave at Aberdeen Grammar, and not come looking for accommodation at Old Anniesland.

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