Walker: 'Spurs deceit hurt me'

Adrian Curtis13 April 2012

Ian Walker has lifted the lid on his nightmare final year at Tottenham and claims they deceived him into signing a five-year deal when they were planning to sign his replacement.

Back in January 2000, things could not have been better for Walker. He was an England international, the undisputed No 1 for Spurs and his form was first class. Tottenham had just got him to sign a new contract.

So where did it all go wrong? In an exclusive interview with Standard Sport, the 29-year-old, who joined Leicester City for £2.5 million this week, said: "It was a nightmare really.

"When George Graham bought Neil Sullivan from Wimbledon last summer he said it would provide competition for places. But the most annoying thing of all was the fact they had got me to sign a new contract the previous Christmas.

"At the time I was playing well and they told me I was the No 1 keeper and would continue to be so unless I was injured or playing badly over a long period.

"Having been told that I signed a five-year contract, but then they bought Neil a couple of months later.

"People said I had the hump because I was not playing but, while that was true in some respects, I was more angry because people didn't know what the club had said to me and that I had signed the new contract on the strength of that.

"I just don't think they were very honest with me at the time they wanted me to sign.

"They probably knew by then they were going to sign Sully on a free transfer and might even have been talking to him at the time. Loyalty meant absolutely nothing to them. People are always moaning about players not being loyal - look at what's been said about Sol Campbell.

Why should he have signed again? The club should have been honest with me at the time but they weren't.

"I was messed about over that and again after I replaced Neil for a couple of games. I thought I had done well but George brought Neil back straight away and that was another kick in the teeth.

"I could handle not playing at the start of last season because that was George's decision and fair enough. But when I got my opportunity and I was still bombed out, that was the defining moment.

"I have mixed feelings about George, though, because when he first came to the club I wasn't playing and he put me back in the side. Everything went well from then on until Neil's arrival. I didn't deal with being on the sidelines at all well.

"Football has been my whole life, especially when you have been at a club for such a long time, and to no longer be playing hurts so much more.

"No one could say anything to me. I was going in and training hard every day, but then I was questioning why I was doing it. I found it hard to relax and the whole situation was always going round in my head. I got depressed about it because I could not see any light at the end of the tunnel."

Even the sacking of Graham towards the end of last season did not bring Walker any hope of a reprieve.

After talks with new manager Glenn Hoddle, it was clear his only option was to sever his links with Spurs after 12 years at White Hart Lane. But Walker is grateful to Hoddle for not standing in his way.

The Watford-born keeper said: "When George left I didn't think things would turn round because it was too late.

"Neil had done well all last season and the first thing Glenn did was call me into his office and tell me that I was too good to sit on the bench. He said he would be fair to me if Neil got injured. So, for a couple of months, I went along with it, but then I went in and told Glenn I wanted a move.

"It wasn't just that it would be good for me but it would also be good for the club as I was just basically walking round in a mood everyday.

"It is difficult to remain upbeat when you know your time is up and you need to move on.

"In my last meeting with Glenn, he told me that Neil would be starting the season as No 1. However, he said that he would try to help me get a move and he was true to his word.

"I should also have had a testimonial but I didn't.

"They asked me to stay another year and take a testimonial, but I wanted to go. I'm not bothered about the money. I wasn't the No 1 goalkeeper so what was the point of having a testimonial?"

When Leicester came up with the £2.5m transfer fee, Walker jumped at the chance and signed while on holiday in America - especially after some career advice from football oddball Stan Collymore.

Former Foxes striker Collymore urged Walker to join City. Despite his ill-fated eight-month spell at Filbert Street, Collymore still had fond memories of the club.

Walker added: "When I was on holiday I saw Stan. He was driving around in a camper van.

"I bumped into him right out of the blue and although he had his ups and downs while he was there, he said Leicester was a good club with a great set-up. And it is true. They are getting a new stadium next year and the training facilities are superb."

Of course, he is not the only Spurs player to depart this summer, but the son of former Norwich and Everton manager Mike Walker believes Campbell has made a rod for his own back by switching to north London rivals Arsenal.

Walker said: "Spurs will do quite well next season. Teddy Sheringham had a great last season and Gus Poyet is a good player. They are a bit older but they have the experience and that is what Glenn is looking for. But I was surprised by Sol's decision to go to Arsenal.

"I was pretty sure he would leave Spurs, but all the talk concerned Barcelona and Inter Milan who were offering him huge wages.

"In the same situation I could have never have gone to Arsenal, especially after being at Tottenham so long.

"All the Arsenal fans will accept Sol, but the Spurs fans won't. It will almost be impossible for Sol to live a normal life because everywhere he goes, there are always people who know you and because it's such a high-profile move, he won't be able to go anywhere.

"Why would you want to put yourself under that much pressure? He must have thought about all the situations that might happen so I find it strange he went there. As for Steve Carr, he has come out and said there still hasn't been enough ambition shown by the club. His comments make it look like Spurs have someone else who is not happy and if he isn't happy then there is always the chance someone will come in and make a big offer for him."

However depressing his spell on the sidelines was, Walker is now focused on the future, as he put it: "I loved it at Spurs. We didn't win much but I loved the club. Now, though, my first priority is to get into the Leicester team and I haven't given up on England yet.

"I'm only 29. It's like a new start for me. I feel like a different man. I spoke to manager Peter Taylor and it was nice to be wanted again. He made me feel good about myself once more."

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