Stearman apologises to teammates
Richard Stearman has apologised to his Wolves team-mates after turning up late for a team meeting which cost him his place against Swansea.
Richard Stearman has apologised to his Wolves team-mates after turning up late for a team meeting which cost him his place against Swansea.
The Wolverhampton-born central defender was delayed by heavy traffic caused by an accident and snow en route from his home in Market Harborough in Leicestershire for Tuesday's clash.
Manager Mick McCarthy had named the 21-year-old in his team after suspension, but handed Neill Collins a reprieve when Stearman turned up late.
Stearman has been prevented from talking about the incident by boss Mick McCarthy, but team-mate Kevin Foley believes the former Leicester man won't be late again.
The full-back said: "We'd already had our meeting and we were all getting changed. But he came in and said sorry to all the lads and the gaffer. It can happen to anyone, but I'm sure he won't let it happen again!
"The lads are all fine. I think he'll learn from it. It can happen to the most experienced players – I remember when I was in the youth team at Luton, the first team captain was late.
"Stears' is a good character who will bounce back from that. He'll come back stronger for it."
Stearman is now sweating on his place for the clash at Cardiff, although McCarthy insists the issue is closed.
He said: "There's no issue or agenda – he was late, but it's fine. The answer is don't be late – Mickey Gray comes and stays in a hotel.
"There could be mitigating circumstances, whereby there's an accident in front of you and you're stuck for hours.
"But I need to know – I can't stand up in front of a group of people and expect everyone there, all eyes are on me and the players are thinking 'what's he going to do?'
"To be fair, Richard brought the lads some crispy, creamy doughnuts afterwards."