Out-of-favour Darren Ward today lifted the lid on his Molineux frustration and admitted: “I feel hard done by by my Wolves axe”.
The defender has been pushed out in favour of the returning Jody Craddock as boss Mick McCarthy looks to reunite his tried and trusted central defensive partnership.
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It is the second time this season Ward has made way for Craddock and he admits to being disappointed, but not surprised, at being axed when he thought he was performing well.
“To be honest I’m not surprised but I’m disappointed because I think I’ve done well,” he said.
“I think I’ve been very consistent in the circumstances playing with different defenders around me.
“For a large part of the season it was only me and Kevin Foley who were the two constants in the back four.
“It’s not easy to do that but I thought I’d done well and am very disappointed I’m not playing.”
Ward, who has just become a father, was left out at Cardiff and admits he has reservations about the way it was handled.
“I’m not one who believes you always deserve to be in the first team but when you do consistently well it’s disappointing,” he said.
“I’ve just got to stay professional, get my head down and keep working.
“It’s the way it’s happened as well which was disappointing especially as I felt I’d been doing well.
“There’s a way of pulling someone out of the team and I think it could have been done better. But that’s football.”
Ward admits his frustration is mounting but insists the situation at Molineux is not yet “irretrievable”.
He will seek talks with McCarthy next week to make his feelings clear – and he hopes there is a way back in for him at Wolves.
“This is a great club, I wouldn’t change things at all and am really enjoying it,” he said.
“I will carry on trying my hardest and would like to think I’ve got a lot to offer. I think I’ve done decent but can do a lot better and would like to do that here but it’s out of my hands.
“I do want to play here and in the Premiership. I’ve played in the Premiership and have had other chances to play in the Premiership.”
43 Comments
welcome to the Darren Ward dream land. concede 4 against stoke, 3 against watford, 3 against palace. yeah you were doing brilliantly Darren.
what an idiot, go try and find a club that will let you play in the premeirship then.
another one of mad micks top signings,
What premier clubs are in for you.
So Cov1…What an inspiring, helpful comment. I assume you support Coventry or some other loser club. I’m sure most of the Wolves fans on here don’t want you insulting our players so feel free to go forth and multiply elsewhere.
It is so gutless to insult players on sites like this.
muppet
darren ward needs to come and sit in the stands with us then he’ll know why he’s dropped leaks like a seive
useless and feels hard done by at least he gets paid we pay to watch this rubbish welcome to molineux.
It sounds like he’s been talking to Freddy Eastwood, but unfortunately I’d rather have Breen and Craddock because they looked solid at palace and as it says above our defensive record when he was playing wasn’t exactly brilliant. I don’t think you’ve got a leg to stand on here but I sure the fans who hate McCarthy will agree with Ward.
Eastwood, Potter, Ward.. there’s a little anti-Mick clan growing!
Whether he’s been hard done by or not, the way to show your frustration is not through the media. We’ve already had Potter and Eastwood moaning publically recently, and it makes me worry that A) The players dont feel they can approach Mick with their concerns and B) They feel they can moan to the media without getting punished by Mick. You wouldn’t get this at Man United, Fergie would keep everything in-house.
what a muppet…..personally i think ur a bit CarP
It’ll be interesting to see how many of you tell Darren Ward to get lost, yet when Eastwood came out with the same story of being dropped unfairly most were more than prepared to fight his corner. Pathetic!
It does worry me that players are showing their frustrations through the media, this has to stop.
What is he doing speaking to the press over this. It is such a non-artcle, simple facts the man needs to improve his game not go crying to the press. These lot have no idea of the ‘dissapointments’ of a real job. Very unprofesional of the man
I agree wolf-man. Vent their frustrations to MM, the staff, the other players, but why the media??
Its asking for trouble…too many players have done and are doing it! Sort it out.
Up the Wolves!
Thanks E&S, articles like this do not help anyone, and is only going to cause more disruptions at the club.
don’t forget to add bothroyd, stephen ward, mark little, daniel jones, stephen gleeson, lee collins and no doubt there are others simmering behind the scences. this fantastic team spirit mcarthy bangs on about seems to be comming apart at the seams.
we’re no further forward now than we were at the end of the hoddle era.
early bird anyone……
QUOTE ~~This is a great club, I wouldn’t change things at all and am really enjoying it,” he said.
WHAT YOU ON ABOUT.
go to stafford rangers boing boing going up the mowbury way
Can’t say I’m a fan of Wards in the slightest but the fact that so many players are starting to go to the press is worrying me. I get the feeling MM is losing the teams respect (even if certain players are a complete liability or bone idle at times). Either that or the players think he is unapproachable, either way it does not bode well for a successful team
Maybe MM’s worst signing? (plenty of contenders I’m afraid!) I’d be more than happy to see Ward leave this summer.
Useless manager who signed a useless defender!
He’s just miffed because he couldn’t play against his old team.
He wasn’t good enough for Palace and he ain’t good enough for us but rather than see the truth and accept he’s not as good as he thinks he is, he complains.
Not only has he been replaced by Craddock, he should take a look at how a true professional like Craddock conducts himself! Maybe then you’ll start to improve…on and off the pitch!
Micks lost the plot we needed a central defender to come in january because ward/collins are no good and craddock and breen add up to an age of something ridiculous like 80. would like to see all of them go and some new faces in (no ex sunderland or irish tho).
He’s utter crap, hope he’s angry enough to put in a transfer request
ur a joke darren, im laffin my head off as im typin this cus i just can’t believe that you think
you’ve been good?!?!?!?!
go somewhere else please!! im begging!! plz!!
Is it me or is said that MM is one of the best man managers in the game - Not on recent press releases. Please get a grip Mick you are losing respect within the camp as well as on the terraces mate!
why is he telling the media before telling mick? PR at wolves are shocking IMO
What a stupid so and so
Darren or is it Dazza?
You tend to let the ball bounce in the most awkward situations which erm… tends to result in a goal for the opposition… First rule of defending… Don’ let the ball bounce…
cov1 - Thats tomorrow nights dream
E11wolf - This forum is for anyone and everyone, I for one agree with Cov1 so there
Wulf - Wrong, I hate McCarthy but I don’t agree with Ward at all
Wolvensam - Whats pathetic about that, at least Eastwood was scoring and doing what he was brought here for when he was dropped. D Ward is the worst CB I can remember us ever having
Colley Gate Wolf - Spot on, why are Wolves unable to manage the players and what they say to the media. Or is this irresponsible journalism?
mark - Also spot on
And to some degree TWB - I dare say tho he is likely to say this about any Wolves player
Transfer him to Blackpool! Not to play football but to work on the beach! What a donkey and Mick’s worst signing to date!
mick has been proven right by recent results, end of.
Wardy, eastwood….roll your sleeves up….shut up…and train and perform so he has to pick you.
Unfortunately wardy theres two centre back places and youre third choice at the mo….do something about it !!
The club need to keep a tight reign on players making comments in the media as regularly as Wolves do - even the manager should be restricted to the amount of comments he makes - one spokesperson for the club is more than enough- the players, coaching staff and manager should just get on with playing games
As for D Ward - no better than Craddock and not a “prime” purchase at centre half
UP THE WOLVES!
SHOULD HAVE GONE TO SPEC SAVERS MATE!!!
YOU`VE BEEN ONE OF THE WORST DEFENDERS WE`VE BOUGHT SINCE JOHN DEWOLF!!! GET some pride and wake up mate!!!
What is he on about?? Darren Ward isn’t even an “has been” he’s a “never was” !!!! You can stuff him in the reserves with Freddy Deadwood, Stephen Ward,Karl Henry, Oli-vagina, Bothroyd,Elliot etc there all league one standard. Only Hennessey,Foley, Jarvis and Kightly capable of hacking top flight, the rest….. forget it, sad to say but we got no chance yet, maybe next season if we stick by MM.
To much of a liability to have in your team,need to video your games darren and see what you are doing wrong.
I AGREE WITH DARREN WARDS STATEMENT THAT HE AND FOLEY HAVE BEEN THE ONLY TWO CONSISTANT DEFENDERS FOR WOLVES…
FOLEY WAS SOLID BUT HAS HAD A DIP IN FORM..
D.WARD YOU HAVE BEEN CONSISTANT I AGREE….CONSISTANTLY AVERAGE!!!
CRADDOCK AND BREEN MAY BE GETTING ON A BIT IN THE AGE STAKES BUT WOLVES LOOK MORE ASSURED AT THE BACK WHEN THEY PLAY
SO WARD… WHY DON’T YOU PUT THE EFFORT IN ON THE TRAINING GROUND AND ON THE PITCH THAT YOU PUT IN TO BLASTING THE MANAGERS DECISIONS AND MOANING TO THE PRESS… IF YOU DID YOU WOULD BE WORLD CLASS!!!!
ERMMM THEN AGAIN IVE SEEN YOU PLAY ALL SEASON SO NO…I TAKE THAT SILLY COMMENT BACK
‘I’ve just got to stay professional, keep my head down and keep working hard’
What’s professional about running to the press and shouting your mouth off every time something doesn’t go your own way?
its like a donkey claiming he was giving his punters the grand national experience on blackpool sands.
is this bloke having a laugh? Darren ward was meant to be the centre back we sorely missed last season, someone who could get close enough to tie joelon lescotts boots up! And what has mick the muppett bought us someone who makes gary breen look quick, makes neil collins look skillfull,and he has the right to moan about it? sorry darren, you have been shocking all season,And is yet another below average footballer that mick Im right Mccarthy! has signed for wolves!
One of MM poorer signings. Not sure why he thought Darren Ward was the answer. Not worth 750k of anyones money. 50 pence head and feet from what i’ve seen so far this season. Wouldn’t lose any sleep if he was let go.
I don’t think he has been our worst player but after him and Edwards let that first goal in at Watford there had to be a change it was appauling.
Unlucky Wardy cos if you’d kept your trap shut you might have replaced Craddock for Southampton but not now you whinger. Get your head down and work hard.
I’m sure that the club have some policy and siciplinary action when ‘players’ do this!?
you should never of been brought in the first place you muppet.brought by a muppet and plays like a muppet.and you were the one that was going to replace our real captain jody craddock.well listen up wardy you aint fit to shine his shoes so leave our club and find someone else that wants to pay your wages cos us fans dont want you and take mick the muppet with you and those ex sunderland players with you
Who is “the players” venting their frustration? It’s only Eastwood and D. Ward - Potter wanted to stay and figh and has been revarded with a place in the team and doing OK i guess. Every team has bigheaded players who think they are better then others. They should think they are, it’s their job to have faith in their own abilities. BUT they must respect the managers “final word”! Please win tonight!